(57) A wagon train is designed or operated such that when it is completely filled with
new bulk material, such as ballast, it can at a longitudinal end simultaneously deliver
said bulk material and receive old bulk material by operation of conveyor means that
belong to the train. In one aspect, the train is longitudinally provided with stationary
containers for the bulk material and conveyor to convey the bulk material between
the containers and to load and unload. The conveyor means are adapted to longitudinally
move the bulk material in counter flow through the train, and this simultaneously,
wherein a flow follows a serpentine track. The conveyors are designed such that the
fed old bulk material is conveyed to a distal container, bypassing containers in between,
and is unloaded into it, and is subsequently removed there from to be unloaded into
a more proximal container. Alternatively, the containers can move/displace longitudinally
of the train during loading and/or unloading, while the train is stationary, in a
cycle of the containers in a closed loop.
|
|
