I have some of these and they're pretty good. 57' spine cars.
http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH28916
I loved the explanation given by the CSX crane operator too!
Richard
Peter,
In this modern new age the 53ft Trailer/container is the norm for domestic use only. You won't see one of those being shipped to your country. For world-wide use the 20ft & 40ft is the norm. Some states until recently would not even allow a 53ft trailer on their roads. It would play hell in some New England states to deliver a load on a 53ftr, how well I know that.
I personally don't have any 53ft trailers or containers on my layout...I detest them. I think they look out of place, too long.
When I was leased to Continental Can Co. I would pick up sheet tin and take it to a stamp plant in CT, only seven miles in the state. I always made it in OK, just got caught at the scale coming out empty. The scale master would come out of the scale house and look at my fuel stickers and tell me that I didn't have one for CT, had to buy one right there before I could leave...then he would ask with a smile on his face, ''What length is that trailer?'' I would say 48ft. His answer with a laugh would be get the heck out of here. I got to know him very well. 53ftr's were not allowed in CT, but it appeared they did for Continental Can Co. for only seven miles.
Take Care!
Frank
Looks like the TTX TTAX class of spine cars handles 53ft, or at least TTX states that on their website:
TTX’s “conventional” fleet (non-double-stack intermodal cars) is used mainly to transport highway truck-trailers, or in some cases, intermodal containers over routes that lack double-stack clearances. Our standard intermodal fleet consists mostly of 5-unit, 53-ft, articulated spine cars (overall length of 270-ft per car). The cars are initialed TTAX for “all-purpose,” and their design permits handling of most trailer sizes, including 28-ft “Pup” trailers through 53-ft trailers and most container sizes (20-ft, 40-ft, 48-ft, and 53-ft). Similar to double-stack cars, the TTAX’s are articulated (meaning they share wheels between the car’s units), which provides a smooth ride for intermodal cargo by reducing slack action. The Spine Car® designation refers to the car’s minimal structure and the use of a central beam or spine, which saves weight and increases fuel efficiency.
As I understand it (from what I read, and even in questions asked around here), 53ft trailers are pretty much the domestic OTR standard (at least since the turn of the Century), with 48fters more or less relegated to local delivery. How the 57fters are handled, I guess that's via 89ft intermodal deck flats...
thanks frank..... i thought the 53 foot trailers ( not containers ) were the standard trailer......i have approx a dozen 89 foot flats with 53 ft trailers and approx 8 x atearn spine cars with 40 -48 foot trailers.... i thought i would try the 53 foot trailers because they look more modern.....peter
Are they 53ft actual Trailers or 53ft Containers? Being in the Intermodal Industry since 1983 a crane operator for 10yrs at CSX Intermodal. I have not seen a 53ft model spine car model made yet. What we used to do with JB Hunts and Schnieder 53ft trailers, would put them on a 48ft Five pack spine cars, with wheels slid up, so they would rest on the wheel platform and put one on each knuckle end and one in the center. If they were 53ft containers, we would put them in a 48ft well car the same way, but stacked on two 20ftr's, 40ftrs or a 48ftrs, one on each knuckle end and one in the center. We actually got to the point that we made sure how those trailers were loaded, demanded to know. One reason being, when you picked them up with the grappler arms, they were breaking in half, with freight scattered all over the place. You won't see many 53ft trailers like Swift or others running by rail, unless they are containers. The trailers are just too flimsy and ties up the loading and unloading of Intermodal trains.
Athearn at one time made 56ft well cars but discontinued them for some reason. Another MFG was supposed make 53ft spine cars, but I have not heard about it yet. I think Kato made Metal ones, but they are N-scale.
The Athean 56ft well car:
http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH91106
BTW: You could run the 53ft Trailers on 85/89ft flat cars with a 20ft container on one end, but those flat cars take up a lot of real estate, with not much revenue to justify their existance anymore. A lot of American Railroads have already got rid of them.
i recently made a mistake.... bought 20 ho scale 53 ft trailers and 5 x sets of walthers spine care..... i didnt know the walthers cars only hauled upto 48 ft trailers............. question... what model spine cars / flat cars are used to haul the 53 foot cars..... thanks peter