(7/14/2009)

Miner Opens The Door For BNSF Railways New Ore Car Fleet

Geneva, IL – Miner Enterprises, Inc. has been selected by BNSF Railway to provide Miner Ore Car Mechanisms for 167 new ore cars built by FreightCar America. Additionally Miner will also provide high capacity Crown SE™ draft gears, long-travel constant contact TCC-IV side bearings and Miner Series 2008 brake beams. Miner’s customized mechanical longitudinal four-door mechanism was specified for the new cars due to its historic reliability, low maintenance costs, ease of use and compatibility with the BNSF infrastructure.

“The Miner Ore Car Mechanisms have performed with great success in BNSF ore cars,” said Ric Biehl, Miner’s Vice President of Sales. “The four-door design applied to these 167 new ore cars will allow greater unloading capacity while providing familiar and intuitive operation all along the BNSF line.”

The four longitudinal door design of the new ore cars, with two on each end of the car body, provides a maximum opening for faster, trouble-free unloading. A longitudinal crankshaft allows the four doors to open toward the center for easy, between rail unloading of iron ore. Miner also offers other automated ore car mechanisms.

From lightest weight, highest capacity draft gears to innovative ore car gate systems, Miner’s total engineering solutions represent a top to bottom approach. Recognized for their longevity, low maintenance and lifetime support of its products, Miner’s product line is an essential component of BNSF’s new fleet of ore cars.