A reinstall from A&O 1.0 is the scratch built barge loading Whiting Rotaside dumper. It has been rotated 180 degrees on 2.0 and is still missing its storage hopper-lift-conveyor-discharge chute, not to mention the barge and tow boat (sigh). But it has undergone some significant improvements and continues to be a very fun part of A&O coal operations.

For use on 2.0, the roll-away track had to be reconfigured and recessed.

Once again I imposed upon Bob Sobol to help in remotoring the dumper, using a silent stepper motor with belt drive. And, he was able to record off the internet the sound/cycle of an actual Whiting Rotaside in action. He choreographed it all together beautifully. To say it is pretty cool is a gross understatement.

The entire process is controlled by the push of a button. The ring around the button changes color to indicate any issues. A press of the button when in operation for Emergency Stop (ESTOP) turns the ring color Red, and Homer Simpson can be heard- “DOH!”

And why - “Formerly Arial Hamm and Sons”? When I told Bob, many years ago, I was going to build this thing, and that it would work, his response was simply- “When pigs fly.” They’re flying.

Another addition to the equipment safety of the dumper was the cross track sensor beam. No more will we have half of a hopper than didn’t get pulled back clear of the lift table being hoisted in the air, dumping coal everywhere. The control button shows Blue, and won’t work. Whew.

A small operator’s shanty now hides the sensor, and certainly looks as though it’s been there all along.

All that’s left is to do something about those darn flying pigs.