Containerized Tires

[cefinkjr]

During a recent trip through the Panama Canal, I noticed these tires on a container ship next to us and thought they would make an interesting load.



I have no idea where they were coming from or going to but it's a safe bet that these containers were or would be, at some point in their journey, on rail cars. These were really big -- as in large construction equipment big -- tires; maybe even big enough for some of the super trucks used in open mines. Note that a couple of them actually project above the top of the container in which they are loaded.

Sorry about the quality of the photo but I was on a moving platform at the time (Celebrity's GTS Summit) and the subject (MV Maersk Duffield) just wouldn't pose for me.

Chuck

[tomikawaTT]

Looks like a fairly simple load to scratchbuild, just a couple of topless containers and tires (or wheel-tire assemblies) from some overscale toy store construction vehicles.

I wonder how they were secured inside the container. It's a safe bet they weren't just allowed to roll or flop around.

Chuck

[cefinkjr]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tomikawaTT
I wonder how they were secured inside the container. It's a safe bet they weren't just allowed to roll or flop around.

I think that vertical, bright yellow stripe you see on the furthest tire is strapping of some sort; perhaps braided nylon. I couldn't see down into the containers, of course, but I'm sure you're right that they were blocked or otherwise secured so that they wouldn't batter their way out of the containers. I suppose it's possible that the sum of the diameters of the tires in any one container is equal to the inside length of the container. No lengthwise blocking would then be required but that's not very likely and they would probably still require blocking to prevent lateral movement.

Chuck