Railcar Cleaning at Craig Field
Full-service railcar cleaning from our Craig Field facility in Selma, Alabama. Boxcars, closed hoppers, open hoppers — we return cars to service ready for their next load, cleaned and inspected with the disciplined approach that defines every Alleanza Rail service.
Cleaning Services by Car Type
Railcars arriving at Craig Field for cleaning receive a full interior inspection, systematic residue removal, and outbound documentation confirming readiness for reload. We handle the three most common car types requiring commercial cleaning: boxcars, closed hoppers, and open hoppers.
Boxcar Cleaning
Interior cleaning of standard and high-cube boxcars. We remove residual grain, mineral dust, paper fiber, food-grade residue, and general freight debris, then inspect floors, walls, and doors before the car is returned to service or staged for loading.
- Broom and mechanical sweeping of floor and walls
- Pressure wash where product type and liner permit
- Door track and seal inspection post-cleaning
- Outbound condition documented and recorded
- Common commodities: grain, paper, packaged goods, food products
Closed Hopper Cleaning
Closed hoppers carry grain, cement, fertilizer, and industrial minerals — commodities that cake, bridge, and leave stubborn residue on interior surfaces and gate mechanisms. We clean the full interior and inspect outlets before release.
- Interior pressure washing to clear caked or crusted residue
- Gate and outlet inspection and flush-through
- Liner condition noted and reported to owner/operator
- Vents and hatches inspected for obstruction
- Common commodities: grain, fertilizer, cement, soda ash, sand
Open Hopper Cleaning
Open hoppers coming off coal, aggregate, or mineral service carry scale buildup and compacted material that reduces payload and accelerates floor and slope sheet wear. Our cleaning process removes stuck material and restores usable capacity.
- High-pressure wash to break compacted scale and carryover
- Manual removal of bridged or adhered material
- Bottom discharge gate inspection and function test
- Slope sheet and floor condition assessed
- Common commodities: coal, limestone, ballast, sand, woodchips
What We Clean After
We routinely clean cars after grain (corn, wheat, soybeans), fertilizer (granular and dry bulk), coal (thermal and metallurgical), aggregate (limestone, ballast, sand), cement (Portland and specialty), and food products (packaged and dry goods).
Our Process from Car Arrival to Release
Every car that enters our facility for cleaning follows a documented workflow. There are no shortcuts on condition reporting — we tell you what we found and what we did.
1. Arrival Inspection
Incoming cars are visually inspected for structural condition, safety appliance status, and any pre-existing damage prior to cleaning. Noted defects are documented before work begins.
2. Work Execution
Cleaning is performed per the car type and commodity profile. Closed hoppers, boxcars, and open hoppers each follow specific cleaning protocols.
3. Post-Work Verification
After cleaning, the car interior is re-inspected and any gate, door, hatch, or outlet conditions are confirmed before the car is released.
4. Release & Documentation
Cars cleared for release are returned to the interchange or held for loading as directed. Documentation covering work performed, condition findings, and release status is provided to the car owner or responsible party.