How are containers on chassis loaded/unloaded from railcars? (Container to move on a chassis as a TOFC load.)
Is the highway equipment picked up by the top using the corner posts, as would be done for a container moving without a chassis?
Or is the highway equipment picked up by the bottom, as would be done for a trailer?
I've seen a good many containers marked "top lift only." I'm guessing that's pretty much universal...
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Usually on top. Container chassis tend to be built lightly without hard points anymore.
Occasionally, and it is getting more and more rare, you might see a 20 foot container that has two channels constructed in the bottom of the long side of the container that will permit it to be picked up by a fork lift that was designed for the purpose. These are being phased out of operation.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
I believe that the side channels in the 20-foot containers were used primarily for lifting empty containers. Balance could be a real issue in using a jumbo forklift to lift a loaded 20-foot container.
They have to lift them in some way that ensures that the chassis comes up with the container. I was able often to watch them putting containrs onto chassis, and no IBCs are used. The containers are matched to horizontal pegs at the forward end, then dropped down to vertical pegs at the hind end. I believe chassis have locations near both ends in which the go out to the width of the container, and it has to be there that the entire assembly is lifted from above.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
Thanks for that clarification, Carknocker! I guess I never saw them doing the twist. But your mention of the drop-down arms is definitely what I was attempting to describe.
Again, a picture is worth a thousand words:
BaltACD Occasionally, and it is getting more and more rare, you might see a 20 foot container that has two channels constructed in the bottom of the long side of the container that will permit it to be picked up by a fork lift that was designed for the purpose. These are being phased out of operation.
"No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld)
ericsp BaltACD Occasionally, and it is getting more and more rare, you might see a 20 foot container that has two channels constructed in the bottom of the long side of the container that will permit it to be picked up by a fork lift that was designed for the purpose. These are being phased out of operation. I saw a several of those today that had "Empty Lift Only" (if I remember correctly) above the channels. Also, most had 4 channels. Several had the channels but I did not see anything about using them only when the container is empty.
That is a wee bit confusing... if they are "empty lift only" then they must fill them after they are on the train car and empty them before taking the container off the train car. Isn't that just a boxcar?
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
Semper Vaporo ericsp BaltACD Occasionally, and it is getting more and more rare, you might see a 20 foot container that has two channels constructed in the bottom of the long side of the container that will permit it to be picked up by a fork lift that was designed for the purpose. These are being phased out of operation. I saw a several of those today that had "Empty Lift Only" (if I remember correctly) above the channels. Also, most had 4 channels. Several had the channels but I did not see anything about using them only when the container is empty. That is a wee bit confusing... if they are "empty lift only" then they must fill them after they are on the train car and empty them before taking the container off the train car. Isn't that just a boxcar?
I think that was referring to using a forklift to lift the container by the channels at the bottom.
Welcome back, Eric! Some of us never grew up!
Wizlish Again, a picture is worth a thousand words:
Thanks, Carl. I have been checking the forums most days and occasionally post.
mudchicken Piggy-Packer, not a Mi-Jack Straddle Buggy.
I was just showing an example of how an 'overhead' spreader could have drop-down components to engage the bottom of a container or trailer. It is surprisingly difficult to find a picture of the Mi-Jack version even though Walthers made a model of one.
I always thought the two 'forklift grooves' in the bottom were for the container handlers that are used to move and stack the empty containers.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.