Not sure what this is all about, but while watching the CN's Waukesha, WI. Sub., there seems to be quite a few N. bound container trains, with only one container in the well car. Is this maybe because of the weight of the container, or is the train headed for an area where there might be a clearance problem with double stacks, or was it loaded at a terminal without double stack capacity?
Just wondering what you think. Maybe I should post this in Trains, too.
Mike
My You Tube
Mike,
Very simple answer. They probably did not have anymore loads to fill the car out. In a case when loading, a three unit well, with only two containers, one must go on each knuckle end, center empty. Five pack well three containers, two knuckle ends, one in center. They probably had nothing else for that block. If they did, they usually would take something from another well to fill it out. They don't remove cars from a Intermodal stack train, because there is not enough to fill them out. They may need those cars at the other end, so they fill them out to ride.
Take Care!
Retired, Truck Driver, owner operator, crane operator CSX Intermodal
Frank
Mike,The main reason you see that is because of low clearance such as a road bridge,tunnel portal along the route(s) including the route used on a foreign railroad if the train is interchanged and some times that includes the locomotives-that's the "seamless" operation thing that is so common today with all types of unit and intermodal trains.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Thanks guys. I have read that the CN is busy with construction projects such as bridge, track and tunnel work, to clear the way for traffic to and from the port at Prince Rupert.
Mike.
I don't like to stray off topic, but talk of the loading procedure for 3 and 5 unit sets brings up a question I have been wondering about --- there are single cars, 3-car sets, and 5-car sets. Why no 2, 4, or 6 car sets?
cacole I don't like to stray off topic, but talk of the loading procedure for 3 and 5 unit sets brings up a question I have been wondering about --- there are single cars, 3-car sets, and 5-car sets. Why no 2, 4, or 6 car sets?
Good question..Maybe maintenance issues? That's the only reason I can think of other then a possible FRA restriction for some reason?
It mainly has to do with, loading, as I tried to explain above.
They did have, two 85ft and 89ft, draw bar attached pig flats, but found they were a night-mare, on the East coast. Like running Pass. HW's on 18'' radius.
I'd be pretty sure it has to do with the loads available, not clearance problems. Although container traffic goes both east and west, there are more loads coming from the west to the east than vice-versa (because so many consumer goods are made in China). If you're sending container cars back for more loads, and you don't have enough loads, it makes more sense to spread out and single-stack the loads rather than double-stack some of the cars with others running empty.
wjstix Although container traffic goes both east and west, there are more loads coming from the west to the east than vice-versa (because so many consumer goods are made in China).
Although container traffic goes both east and west, there are more loads coming from the west to the east than vice-versa (because so many consumer goods are made in China).
Yeah but the empty containers have to go back the other direction...
Chris van der Heide
My Algoma Central Railway Modeling Blog