Gramp I wonder if using them in the US could reduce overall handling costs of delivering autos?
I wonder if using them in the US could reduce overall handling costs of delivering autos?
We already tried.. Specifically UP tried the concept back in the early 90's. As mentioned above cost and efficeincy ruled it out. Couldn't find any real photos so the model will have to do. This HO brass model is an exact of the prototype. I believe the car was built by Trinity or Thrall. Not sure who built the containers.
Trains did run a piece on this in its news section. I just can't recall what issue.
Don't forget that most autoracks already have three levels if they are hauling autos. If I remember correctly some are adjustable between three levels for hauling autos and two levels for hauling pickup trucks and larger SUVs.
Here is a link to Trinity Railcar that shows their autorack at 3 levels.
https://www.trinityrail.com/products/autoracks/
If you scroll down you will also see the Trinity bi-level for hauling pickup trucks and SUVs.
Here is a page from UP about autoracks and it shows in the article an autorack configured on two levels for pickups and SUVs. It gives a good explanation of types and vehicle capacity if the various types.
https://www.up.com/customers/track-record/tr081021-what-is-an-autorack-rail-car.htm
US railroads have been triplestacking autos for many years, just in purpose-built rail cars.
GrampI wonder if using them in the US could reduce overall handling costs of delivering autos?
Feature the 'mini' containers would be much more costly than the current bi-level and tri-level auto racks the US carriers are using to transport vehicles. Not just from the costs of the containers themselves, but for the necessary manpower and equipment to handle the containers on and off of the railcars.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
I can just see the heartburn in the railway engineering & mechanical sides when this was initially proposed without all the facts. They probably were asking how many of the operating and marketing/traffic people were running around in sweaters with extra long sleeves.
My Ford F-150 4x4 clears under 7' 0" height limits.
My wife's Mazda CX-5 is about 5'6" tall +/-.
I am 6' 1/2" tall and can easily see over the top of it.
They won't be able to haul pickup trucks and larger SUVs in a 6'4" container but many auto models will fit.
anglecock To move autos and auto parts between 2 city's...Next windstorm should quickly end this experiment just ask Buffalo
To move autos and auto parts between 2 city's...Next windstorm should quickly end this experiment just ask Buffalo
So autos move in 6 foot high containers in India?
OvermodPictures https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kGsqQ_r6dsQ What he did not mention is that these are on broad gauge and the containers are not ISO standard height. Presumably a better use of intermodal for things that load out before they would cube out in a standard-height container. Be interesting to find out where and how these containers are being fabricated. They are 6'4" in height, designed to allow double-stack operation on typical Indian flatcar intermodal stock (no wells) under conventional electrification. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indian-railways-gets-dwarf-containers-as-part-of-new-cargo-delivery-model-1880501 I surmise these triple-stack trains will run where the catenary has been taken up to greater height (as we discussed in an earlier thread a year or so ago).
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kGsqQ_r6dsQ
What he did not mention is that these are on broad gauge and the containers are not ISO standard height.
Presumably a better use of intermodal for things that load out before they would cube out in a standard-height container.
Be interesting to find out where and how these containers are being fabricated. They are 6'4" in height, designed to allow double-stack operation on typical Indian flatcar intermodal stock (no wells) under conventional electrification.
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indian-railways-gets-dwarf-containers-as-part-of-new-cargo-delivery-model-1880501
I surmise these triple-stack trains will run where the catenary has been taken up to greater height (as we discussed in an earlier thread a year or so ago).
Looks like the Indian triple stacks are nominaly the same height as double stacks operating with sea cans.
Pictures
I don't know about moving whole automobiles in these. GM tried a version of that with Cadillacs about a half-century ago, and while it seems to have worked, the existing film shows VERY close clearances, including driving in and out, and quite a bit of 'wobble' as the vehicles were handled... which with the soft springs then used on Cadillacs seemed a bit suicidal.
anglecockTo move autos and auto parts between 2 city's...Next windstorm should quickly end this experiment just ask Buffalo
Pictures, Pictures, Pictures - without pictures it is just a bit and byteathon.
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