Understanding ribbed boxcars

[tstage]

So, what advantage or use would a vertical ribbed boxcar have over a horizontal one?

Tom

[BRAKIE]

One consideration in designing cars — and highway trailers for that matter — is the abuse these vehicles get at the loading docks. Forklift drivers can be more concerned with getting the job done quickly and may not take the time to perform the task at hand without the occasional scrape, or worse!

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Having operated a forklift for several years I will tell you upfront that's the best way to get fired under careless operation and you will be subject of losing your OSHA forklift operator certification and nobody wanted to lose their "seat" since the pay grade was shall we say excellent with shift deferential?

Any damage a operator does the company insurance has to pay for that damage and that includes freight cars. The insurance company will raise it rates for every accident.

 

[gmpullman]

That's part of it, Tom.

I've been just as curious as you regarding methods of shipping and lading and the evolution of the same over the years.

Lots of those horizontal rails have notches in them for attaching various forms of hardware and strapping. I have found all sorts of "dunnage" when items arrive at my employer's docks. 

Inflatable bags, nifty plastic "shoes" that slip on the end of 2 x 4s and brace the load. Years ago we used to ship and recieve thousands of gas cylinders by rail. Our company would work with the railroads and various shipping companies to try to get the cylinders to their destination without looking like a jumbled mess of toothpicks upon arrival. No such luck! I think a "Do Not Hump" plackard was an invitation to couple onto the car at twenty miles an hour!

I'll take a look in some of the carbuilding books I have on hand and see if I can find examples of some of the load stabilizer ideas that have come and gone through the years. Pretty interesting stuff.

I know of a company called Evans that was big into this kind of stuff.

Regards, Ed

[tstage]

gmpullman

tstage

And why are some horizontal

Hi, Tom

One consideration in designing cars — and highway trailers for that matter — is the abuse these vehicles get at the loading docks. Forklift drivers can be more concerned with getting the job done quickly and may not take the time to perform the task at hand without the occasional scrape, or worse!

So, besides protecting the lading, much of the protective surfaces were designed to glance off any impact from the loading equipment.

Not that this is the only consideration, but it is part of the reason behind the horizontal orientation.

Regards, Ed

Ed,

Would that be similar to the use of horizontal metal bracing inside moving vans?

Tom

[tstage]

I appreciate the comments so far, fellas.  From the first link provide by Bear, it appears that the horizontal ribs (produced from 1937-1951) provided two things (See pg. 24):

1. Increased carbody strength
2. Unobstructed interior space for cargo

Also, from pg. 25, horizontal ribbed boxcars were made in "prefabricated subassemblies" then assembled together.  The roof "needed no car body parts to support its individual panels.  This maximized the internal capacity while minimizing the tare (tare) weight" [of the boxcar].  It also mentions that any modifications, design changes, and innovations could be made to any of the subassemblies independently from one another.

Thanks again, Bear, for that link.  VERY interesting stuff.

Tom

[gmpullman]

tstage

And why are some horizontal

Hi, Tom

One consideration in designing cars — and highway trailers for that matter — is the abuse these vehicles get at the loading docks. Forklift drivers can be more concerned with getting the job done quickly and may not take the time to perform the task at hand without the occasional scrape, or worse!

So, besides protecting the lading, much of the protective surfaces were designed to glance off any impact from the loading equipment.

Not that this is the only consideration, but it is part of the reason behind the horizontal orientation.

Regards, Ed

[tstage]

That I can undestand, Steve.  However, why are some horizontal ribs and others vertical?  Wouldn't the stiffening forces be different on each?  Was one advantageous for certain type of cargo over other types of cargo?

I'll take a look at Bear's link to see if they address that.

Tom

[Steven S]

tstage

What's the reasoning and purpose of the ribs?

 

One word: Stiffening.

 

Steve S

["JaBear"]

I hope you’re also in a reading frame of mind Tom.

http://www.riverraisinmodels.com/libraryData/milwhrbox.pdf

Don’t know how they compare to the ExactRail offering, but I obtained two kits from Rib Side Cars.

http://www.ribsidecars.com/

Cheers, the Bear.

[tstage]

I seem to be in a musing frame of mind today...

On ribbed boxcars: What's the reasoning and purpose of the ribs?  And why are some horizontal (as seen above) and others vertical?  Thanks.

Tom