I was going through the 1992 #3 NS Special Instructions for the Virginia Division and came across this rule: "Beer moving in TOFC/COFC service wil not be humped and will not be cut off in motion in non-hump yards". Since hump yards use retarders and can control the speed of the car and in in non-hump yardsTOFC/COFC are shoved at a slow speed.
Beer is a Carbonated Beverage and is either in Glass Bottles or in Cans of Metal. They are under Pressure and if you shake them to hard things tend to go BOOM with them. Ever seen a Bee3r Keg explode I had one explode on me on a Miller Brewing load when someone cut me off on the 294 in Chicago. I almost hit the person as they were suicuding me and I stood on the binders. Next thing I hear is BOOM and had a hole the size of sheet of Plywood missing out of my ROOF and side on my trailer and the trailer is Buckling on me. The saftey Valve failed and sent that keg of Lite about 200 feet into the air after it left my trailer.
I can think of several reasons. First, glass bottles; don't want to break them open except by removing the cap in a safe and friendly environment. Second, stir, dont' shake; shake things up and there will be an explosion of sorts and the oder of fermented hops and barley is difficult to get rid of inside a box car or container. Third, possible partially loaded cars or loosely packed cars could mean a major shifting of the load which would lead to numbers one and two above. Four, railroad doesn't get Christmas present from the shipper, if you know what I mean; board meetings then become boring.
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Ok, then why not the same rule for insulated boxcars, or reefers with cushioned underframes, which beer is shipped in?
Possibley the tipping and extra shaking of a trailer or container on a platform as opposed to a car unto itself. But you might want to ask NS.
I am certain NS's loss and damage claim history on this commodity/vehicle pairing showed them this had to be done.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACD I am certain NS's loss and damage claim history on this commodity/vehicle pairing showed them this had to be done.
Very much the main reason. But I could also imagine that all the guys running around the yard with buckets full of beer cause an operating log jam, too. Like a leak in a pipe off a French champaigne tanker!
I have called NS and the gentleman took the informtion, will check into it and will let me know. I will post what he tells me when I recieve a reply.
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