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[quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by M636C [quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by futuremodal [quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by M636C [quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by foureasy How much trouble would it be to get all full hieght stacks together instead of a mish mash low/high consist. Seems the added time required would surely decrease fuel usage due to wind resistance.Am i wrong? [/quote] I wouldn't have thought that the ends of the containers would be close enough together on any of the double stack cars I've seen, to give a continuous flow around the upper containers. Given that there is at least one full truck length (say nine feet) between containers there will be considerable turbulence and drag, even if the containers are all double stack at the same height. There are a range of container heights from 8 feet to 9 feet 6 inches in general service, which gives the possibility of a three feet difference in height on adjacent double stack cars anyway. While an Amtrak train with a rake of Superliners has small enough gaps between cars to be effectively streamlined, this is not the case with double stack cars. Peter [/quote] Peter, The stack n' half is designed for semi-streamlining, as it takes care of the space between the double stacked containers by adding a 20' container in that slot. The wells are connected by either a mini-spine on which the 20' rests, or a standard drawbar over which the 20' "floats" between the wells. The end trucks are 70 ton and the intermediate trucks are 100 ton. [/quote] OK, I've checked out the patent drawings! This will fit four more twenty feet containers on a bar coupled five pack unit, and the aerodynamics will be better, if not up to passenger car standards. But if you use articulated cars, you get the basic double stack five pack with four fewer trucks (which must be a saving, even if you need 125 ton trucks at the articulation). You could then add a sixth articulated platform by adding one more 125 ton truck to carry the extra four twenty feet containers. The extra length would be small and the purchase cost would surely still be lower, (you are still three trucks ahead) and although the aerodynamics will be worse, how much will that matter? Have you run any wind tunnel tests? I don't know what the scale effects would be, but HO scale models would surely give you a comparison at pretty low cost! Peter [/quote] Peter, The stack n'half also allows the well cars to carry 160,000 lbs compared to articulated wells which only allow 120,000 lbs, give or take. How many times have you seen articulated well cars with two 20's in the well and nothing on top? That's because the unit has already maxed out on weight, and even carrying an empty on top can take it over the weight limit. So your load factor in weight is also improved with my design. As for wind tunnel tests, you'll have to inquire at Greenbrier. It's their baby now.
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