Forgot about Ely. As I recall, BHP is an Australian based international mining company that also owned the copper operations at San Manuel, AZ (including the railroad), but I seem to remember something about them closing it several years ago and since selling it to someone who is reopening it. Wendover is 120 miles straight shot from Ely and appears to be the nearest mainline rail reload.

The old Nevada Northern is still intact between Ely and Shafter the last I knew, but besides being out of service for many years (again) it is still light rail (75# ?). All the ore trains ran from the mines to the smelter in the Ely area, but the main to the north only saw the finished copper so didn't get near the tonnage to justify upgrading. Northern Nevada did run concentrate for a short while, but I believe they loaded the cars under capacity, then at Shafter unloaded one car to top of two to full capacity.

Several years ago, much of the track in the Powder River Basin unexpectedly went to hell after some extended wet weather. BN was not amused and discovered that the fine coal blowing off the loads was contaminating the ballast section so that it retained moisture instead of draining it. They began requiring the mines to begin spraying the top of the loads with an agent that wold provide a crust and reduce the load blowing off, or pay a hefty surcharge. The mines filed a complaint with the STB over the increased cost, and I believe the STB ruled in favor of the railroads. Basically the railroads are already taking action to eliminate coal dust to save their track despite environmentalists claiming action is needed. I am guessing that netting the few remaining woodchip loads is due tot he same reason, as I don't recall woodchips as being too hazardous.

Not sure tarping coal loads would ever be accepted by the mines considering how hard they fought just spraying something on the loads. Plus the tarps would have to be removed to rotary dump them.

Canada had some odd ore/concentrate cars years ago. They were shorter cylindrical hoppers with a couple small rubber tires sticking up on brackets off the trough roof hatches. At the mine, the wheels would hit an overhead ramp that kept the hatches open as they ran through the loader. Example: http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/sites/model-railroad-hobbyist.com/files/users/Toniwryan/RMGX%205510_Tacoma%20WA_Stan%20Lytle_2008-04-12_42384.jpg RGMX shows as a Montreal leasing company, so what were these cars doing in Tacoma?