Car Types

Open-Top Hoppers

General Description

Open-top hoppers are used to handle heavy dry bulk commodities which are impervious to weather conditions and which will flow or pour through the hopper openings into underground storage pits. Some open-tops are equipped with rotary couplers, which allow the car to be turned over and unloaded from the top.

Commodity Types Shipped in Open-Top Hoppers

Commodities such as coal, coke, stone, sand, ores, gravel

Car Type Classifications

To classify our fleet more meaningfully, Union Pacific has created Car Type Classifications based on customer demand and shipping patterns.

Car Varieties

Open-Top Hopper
Open-top hoppers have fixed sides and ends. The bottom consists of divided hoppers, which allow for dumping between or outside the rails.

Rotary Coupler
Open-top hoppers equipped with rotary couplers are designated by yellow ends. These cars are used for unloading at rollover facilities. When rotary couplers are used, an entire train can be unloaded by a rotary dump without uncoupling the cars.

Loading and Unloading

Contact our Damage Prevention Engineers for planning assistance with loading or unloading.