AUTOMATED HATCH SYSTEM FOR HOPPER RAILCARS

An direct drive automated hatch system for a hopper rail car with a central longitudinal trough with coaming and a unitary hatch cover; a plurality of guide rail assemblies connecting one side of the top of the railcar perpendicular to and adjacent a corresponding longitudinal edge of the coaming to the hatch cover, wherein one guide rail assembly is positioned at each end of the trough and one or more guide rail assemblies are evenly spaced between the outermost guide rail assemblies; a cable network connecting the guide rail assemblies to the batch and external coaming of the trough; and means for activating the cable network to open and close the hatch and to align the opposing ends of the hatch cover during opening and closing. A hatch cover open/closed indicator visible from the side of the railcar is provided.