How do railroads deal with an odd number of 20' containers when loading an intermodal train. I have always seen the 20 footers in pairs. - thanks
I can't recall seeing odd numbers of 20' containers on well cars, but I definitely have on flatcars and spine cars.
I have seen instances of a single 20' container in a well car (did not identify particular type). There are arrangements in at least some of these cars to support the inner ends of shorter containers.
As you know, you cannot stack two 20' on top of any existing 40' or 53' intermodal container, as there is insufficient structure in the center of those containers, but a pair of 20' can easily accommodate either of the larger size on top, which is why you usually see the effort to put the 20' containers in pairs -- it allows stacking, and facilitates the transport of stacked 53-footers in nominally 40' well cars (which the equipment could not transport directly unless stacked on top of something with functional corner castings at the outer corners of the 40' well...) When you have a single 20' in a well, that's pretty much 'it' for that well's loading, no more than a quarter of the cubage it 'could' accommodate; naturally, if a second 20' were to be loaded, it would be placed 'beside' the first 20' as this would open up the options for stack loading, and weight distribution and balance would be better.
The 20 foot container is the standard of the container shipping industry. Container ship state their capacity in TEU's - Twenty foot Equivalent Units.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
I work at an IMC that sometimes ships 20'ers. The railroads will hold the odd-20'er at the origin ramp until a bunk mate is found to cuddle up with it in the lower berth. If none is found after a few days [rare!] we may end up having to pay ramp storage
I've noticed that a large number of the "fileted" (single-stacked) container trains moving on CSX over the old C&O route east of the New Baltimore, OH IM operation (North Baltimore/Fostoria/Newport News via Ashland KY) contain single 20' containers in a well car - it looks as if the cars have some sort of spacers placed to hold the container in place. My guess is that the single-stacking operation at NBL is more focused on time than on maximizing car utilization. The trains are very long, and seem to run in two sections.
CatFoodFlambe I've noticed that a large number of the "fileted" (single-stacked) container trains moving on CSX over the old C&O route east of the New Baltimore, OH IM operation (North Baltimore/Fostoria/Newport News via Ashland KY) contain single 20' containers in a well car - it looks as if the cars have some sort of spacers placed to hold the container in place. My guess is that the single-stacking operation at NBL is more focused on time than on maximizing car utilization. The trains are very long, and seem to run in two sections.
CSX's National Gateway Project is working to create double stack clearances on the Eastern portion of the CSX network. At present only Chambersburg, PA has clearances that permit it to handle double stacks from N. Baltimore. The routes to Baltimore and Portsmouth can only handle single stacks at present. When the National Gateway Project is completed, Portsmouth will be able to handle double stacks. A clearance project is in the planning and financing stage for the Howard Street Tunnel in Baltimore which is required to handle double stacks from the Port of Baltimore.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.