Three Platform Spine Cars

[greyhounds]

There are a few three platform spine cars in service.  

I need to know the specifications on these cars.  Particularly the length, light weight, and weight capacity per platform.  I have been unable to find this data.

I can find the five platform car data, but nothing on the three platform car.  Do any of you know where I can access this information?

 

[PNWRMNM]

Website gbrx.com. Select car type and scroll down to "Maxi-stack".

Sorry, they are well cars, not spine. Last I knew no one was making spine cars.

Happy New Year,

Mac McCulloch

[Wizlish]

greyhounds

I can find the five platform car data, but nothing on the three platform car. Do any of you know where I can access this information?

Saw several of them two days ago.  Will keep my eyes open for next time.

[ericsp]

http://www.steelcar.com/products/intermodal-spine

[samfp1943]

ericsp

http://www.steelcar.com/products/intermodal-spine

 

To add a link to the Post that ericsp provided:

linked @ http://www.google.co.in/patents/US5452664

"Articulated, low level railroad spine car with overlapping kingpin connectors
US 5452664 A"

This site is Patent information, and has numerous 'hot' links to drawings.
US 5452664 A

Hopefully, you can drill down in it and find the info you are looking for(?)

[greyhounds]

Thank you guys.  That helps a great deal.

Happy New Year.

Ken

 

 

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

Now I'm curious why you (Ken) wanted this info - you don't ask because you're in a trivia contest. 

Good info from those who replied - you guys are the best !  Collectively, it's amazing what is known and can be shared/ found here.

All in good time, though.

- Paul North.    

[greyhounds]

Paul,

I'll PM you.

 

 

[cacole]

Not related only to spine cars, but something I have often wondered about is why we have single well, 3-well articulated, and 5-well articulated sets, but no 2- or 4-well sets.

 

[Paul of Covington]

   This was discussed several months (I think) ago, and the discussion wandered all over till someone in the know answered it.   The brakes are designed so that one brake cylinder activates the brakes on two trucks, therefore you want an even number of trucks.   Since the wells in each set share a single truck between them, an odd number of wells results in an even number of trucks.

[erikem]

A simple answer that makes sense, though I would wonder about the braking effort on the end trucks versus the trucks under the articulation points.

[Paul of Covington]

  I finally found it:

http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/t/218434.aspx

   Erikem, i don't know, but my guess is that the pull can be compensated for by the relative lengths of the levers in the linkage.  We need someone who knows. 

[erikem]

Paul,

Thanks for looking up the link.

- Erik

P.S. The original point about the odd number of wells in the car reminds me of why radial engines have odd numbers of cylinders.

[Wizlish]

greyhounds

I can find the five platform car data, but nothing on the three platform car. Do any of you know where I can access this information

To bump this with the promised information: a three-well car presented itself this morning (DTTX 620490) and I photographed many of the markings on that car.  I don't have time at the moment to take the images off the phone and enlarge them for reading, and it was 7 degrees this morning so I didn't take notes (all my pens were frozen!) but will post some of the respective data.  One very prominent sign on each unit was that it was a non-interchange car -- see equipment data register.

A quick search reveals that a June 1, 2001 manufacturer's release letter from TTX (.pdf download) covers many of these cars.  It doesn't have hard information, but does mention the AAR classification (FCA), indicates that the cars were purchased from National Steel Car LTD, 602 Kenilworth Ave, Hamilton Ontario L8N 3J4, and has a list of the various number series.

 

 

[carknocker1]

There are s platform intermodal cars they are called twin runners ,also there are 4 we'll draw bar cars mostly CN but some DTTX . Braking is one of the main considerations when it comes to platform counts based on the length of the cars you have to a certain number of valves for the length of the car plus you need the extra braking because railroads constantly overload these cars weight wise . Having had to switch these cars when they are loaded it is nice having the extra braking .also as aside note the spine car regardless a 3 pack or a 5 pack are very much an endangered species as more and more intermodal freight is containerized I have heard estimates that in 5 years most will be retired

[greyhounds]

Wizlish

To bump this with the promised information: a three-well car presented itself this morning (DTTX 620490) and I photographed many of the markings on that car.  I don't have time at the moment to take the images off the phone and enlarge them for reading, and it was 7 degrees this morning so I didn't take notes (all my pens were frozen!) but will post some of the respective data.  One very prominent sign on each unit was that it was a non-interchange car -- see equipment data register.

I'm looking forward to your pics.

Ken