Setting up an Intermodal facility (with crane) - suggestions?

[rha90272]

I just got a Lionel Intermodal crane, and intend to set up an intermodal transfer facility with it on my O-31 layout. It also seems that the new SuperStreets system can allow a paved track and adjoining area on which trains, trucks, and containers could be intermingled in such a facility.

But the options seem complex. I see references on various searches to Lionel Tractor Trailers (e.g., 6-12778), Lionel TTUX Flatcar Sets, Lionel Maxi-Stack Flatcar Sets (e.g., 6-16912), Lionel Trailer Frames (6-12852), and packs of three Lionel intermodal containers (e.g., 6-12826). And that's not even considering other manufacturers, like MTH.

Do all these pieces "play together", so that containers from a flatcar could be lifted and put onto a tractor-trailer (or a trailer frame), or onto the ground? Are some flatcars appropriate for containers, and others not? Are there other truck cabs that are compatible with moving these containers?

Does anyone know of any video showing an intermodal facility with a Lionel Intermodal Crane in operation, showing how trucking, storage, and rail car use of containers can be intermingled and interrelated?

(By the way: one suggestion for a CTT video in their series: one devoted to showing operating accessories such as the intermodal crane, coal and logging loaders, culvert loader/unloaders, etc. in operation, in "realistic" meaningful settings, on operating layouts.)

Thanks for any suggestions!
Bob Anderson

[cheech]

Hi Bob

I am in the early stages of constructing an intermodal yard. Take a peak at this link on u-tube. it is a German manufacturer who built the whole idea of what you are trying to do into one neat package, but alas it is HO scale only.  It will let you salivate anyway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tzsblR16Zg

I have thought of the K-line streets product, but the cargo trucks are apparently non-existent to operate on it.

I can try to help with some of your questions. First, the items don't play well together. The Lionel Crane works with a particular DTTX car set. The cars have a notch in the bottom/top to allow the crane to pick them up. None of the other container cars available by any manufacurer have this notch. I can't find the conatiners available separately. That said, i have thought of modifying the crane so it can compress the container as it picks it up.  I have also thought of an magnet, like the gantry crane has, but time will tell if i get to that. It may take more skills than i have and no one on either forum has offered to take up the challenge.

Space is your key constraint. I am building a yard that is 7 x 5. It will have the intermodal crane,  two gantry cranes on the GG track,  a Cox Dockside Crane set and Joal container lifts. and i am constrained with space.

Think about scale of the cars/trucks you use in the yard. 1:43 are too large; 1:50 seems ok, and 1:64 looks good. Some of these cars are die-cast and are models in their own right with hefty price tags....but the loads seem worth it. Most of the neat ones come from UK/Netherlands. Here's a picture of some of the trucks that will be in/around my yard.

There are several kinds of cars: TOFC-trailer on flat car. This is a container on a frame on a flatcar, two to a flat car; Then there's a two small trailers on flat car, principally used with the piggyback transport platform; DDTX-these are maxistacks-- which is a well car holding two containers, lots of variation-gunderson, thrall, size of container, etc etc; Then there are flats with containers and flats with a container/trailer set, one to a flat car.

Some containers come with the trailer, some are bought separately like the packs you mention. There are also sizes of containers,..20, 40 48 ft and tank-tainers of the 20 foot variety.

The cars, regardless of type of load, can connect with boggies into the customary 5 car set so six railtrucks for a five car set. the sets have nomenclature all their own A, B, A; Atlas gunderson is the most popular.

Hope this info helps. Keep posting if you find items of interest or questions.

ralph

 

 

 

 

[ChiefEagles]

using 4 054 switches [one to get off of mainline and 3 to make sidings] to give proper spacing for crane and trailers in between.

[lionelsoni]

The closest one to me is in San Antonio.  It is interesting because it is in the form of a reversing loop, which we tend to have on our layouts anyway.  You can find a satellite picture of it on Google maps.  It is bounded on the north by Duval St., on the south by Sherman St., on the east by N. New Braunfels Ave., and on the west by N. Pine St.  (I can't figure how to give you a link directly to that picture.)

[rha90272]

lionelsoni wrote the following post at 02-08-2007 7:46 PM:
The closest one to me is in San Antonio. It is interesting because it is in the form of a reversing loop, which we tend to have on our layouts anyway. You can find a satellite picture of it on Google maps. It is bounded on the north by Duval St., on the south by Sherman St., on the east by N. New Braunfels Ave., and on the west by N. Pine St. (I can't figure how to give you a link directly to that picture.)

Bob - I believe this is the facility you are referring to:

left half:



right half:



Thanks for the helpful comments!
Bob A.