Upper Intermodal Container Attachment

[CShaveRR]

To elaborate: heavier cars (the bulkhead stack cars) can't handle heavier loads. Well cars have a substantial advantage in load limits.

It's amazing how subtle the application of those IBCs can be. I have watched them load stack trains, and you have to be paying close attention to see anyone put those IBCs on the lower container. Then the upper container was set on them (a precise job, made to look easy by the crane operators!), and again, it didn't take much to give those IBC handles a twist and secure the top box.

[beaulieu]

An Inter Box Connector is what locks one container to another, just like on a ship. Sometimes called a Twist Lock. It sits in a slot on top of the corner casting. When the top container is set on top, the Connector is rotated 90 degrees to lock them together.

Cars with the support bulkheads are heavier and require more maintenance than the well cars that depend on IBCs to secure the upper containers.

[timz]

I bet 90+% of us are just as ignorant as you.

I'll add another question: what are the advantages/disadvantages of doublestack cars that support the upper containers on arms reaching up from the car itself, rather than on the lower container?

[travelingengineer]

Am revealing my ignorance on probably a simple matter, but can anyone here please tell me how the upper container on an intermodal car is attached to the lower container?  From my view as these cars rapidly pass my car window, I can see no attachment devices, but (of course) there must be something.