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[quote user="TomDiehl"][quote user="futuremodal"] [quote user="beaulieu"]Iron Highway, now called Expressway is running twice daily each way between Toronto and Montreal on the CP. I think one train per day on weekends. CP tried running the train to Windsor(Detroit) but loadings never came up to profitable and the service from there was dropped. There were intentions of service between Montreal and Chicago, and Montreal to New York, but marketing could never develop enough interested potential customers. Running times between Detroit and Chicago over CSX were not fast enough to interest the truckers. The same problem for Montreal to New York. [/quote] There is/was a physical difference between the original Iron Highway concept and CP's modern Expressway.  The Iron Highway originated with New York Air Brake and CSX as a 1200 foot segmented platform car with hydraulic ramps at both ends.  The platform sections were short (28') with two wheel bogies attatched at one end (wheels attatched directly to the platform, no axles, so they turned independently) and the other end of the car resting on the next platfrom, semi-articulated at the two wheel bogie end. <A href="http://members.aol.com/jsundin357/ironhwy.html">http://members.aol.com/jsundin357/ironhwy.html</A> <A href="http://www.highbeam.com/library/docfree.asp?DOCID=1G1:10730996&ctrlInfo=Round19%3AMode19b%3ADocG%3AResult&ao">http://www.highbeam.com/library/docfree.asp?DOCID=1G1:10730996&ctrlInfo=Round19%3AMode19b%3ADocG%3AResult&ao</A>= CP's Expressway cars are more normal 50+' platforms articulated together with standard two axle bogies.  I think CP uses normal circus style ramps at it's terminals, so there is no on-car ramp. <A href="http://www8.cpr.ca/cms/English/Media/Photo+Gallery/Intermodal/default.htm?Show=Truck%20trailers">http://www8.cpr.ca/cms/English/Media/Photo+Gallery/Intermodal/default.htm?Show=Truck%20trailers</A> [/quote] So the "physical difference" between the Iron Highway and Expressway sounds like the railroads DID update the idea. By ratio, how many 28 foot trailers do you see on the highway these days? And I still see Roadrailers on the Interstate. It would be hard to believe that they're using them strictly as road trailers with the extra tare weight they carry. Ideas were tried, they didn't work in every situation, but found their niche. [/quote] I don't think the original "Iron Highway" is all that related to CP's Expressway nee Iron Highway, other than in general principle and name.  The use of 28' platforms and free turning twin wheelsets was for reducing  the tare and lowering the center of gravity of the consist.  That is the part of the concept the railroads gave up on, and the subsequent Expressway version of the general concept goes back to the heavier and higher center of gravity. And the use of articulated 28' platforms did not mean only 28' trailers could be hauled, they actually focussed on 48' and the later 53' trailers which would straddle the articulated section.  This is yet another area which the railroads have failed to take advantage of relatively simply engineering to reduce tare and fuel consumption.  Using single axles (or twin independent wheelsets), short platforms, and articulation helps to reduce the car body weight per a given length of consist, and works well for trucks which can straddle the area between the car bodies.  And single axles and smaller diameter wheels allow lower center of gravity.
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