Abstract: Disclosed herein is railway apparatus or the like for mixing and transporting molten metals, particularly pig iron, which essentially comprises a longitudinal, refractory lined cylindrical vessel, provided at its opposite ends with removable cover members and also provided with a self-contained drive unit for rotating the vessel about its longitudinal axis. This vessel, with its associated self-contained drive unit, is removably supported beneath its ends upon two spaced railroad trucks, through ball joints associated therewith. The vessel and drive unit may be readily separated from the underlying trucks for installation, maintenance, and/or removal of the refractory lining in any desired vessel orientation, while the vessel is rotated by its self-contained drive unit.