This invention relates to a discharge trough for use in combination with a discharge gate of a railroad hopper car. The discharge gate has slanted side walls terminating in spaced, longitudinally extending lips which define a longitudinal discharge opening. The longitudinal trough has a somewhat rounded or circular cross section and merges with the lips of the slanted side walls to define the discharge opening. The slanted side walls are generally flat in the area adjacent the lips, with the lips having a rounded contour merging into the somewhat rounded inner wall of the trough. There is a rod-like discharge valve positioned within the trough adjacent and slightly below the lips to control the flow of material through the discharge opening.