Are the bottom intermodal containers locked down to the floor of a railroad well car?
Just a guess, but probably held down by gravity.
A mystery to me is 53' domestic containers stacked atop 40' containers.
Are there events in which the top 53' slid off or wind caused an "event"?Ed
MP173Just a guess, but probably held down by gravity. A mystery to me is 53' domestic containers stacked atop 40' containers. Are there events in which the top 53' slid off or wind caused an "event"?Ed
Upper containers in double stack operation are locked at the 40 foot corners to the bottom level containers.
Twenty foot containers have locking posts at each of their corners. Forty foot containers have locking posts at each corner. Larger than forty foot containers have locking posts built in at the forty foot positions.
https://www.tls-containers.com/tls-blog/how-to-secure-containers-to-the-ground-or-deck
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
If anyone finds/has photos of the locks in the bottom of a well car, please post them (or a link to the site).
Thanks again.
Perry BabinAre the bottom intermodal containers locked down to the floor of a railroad well car?
You can confirm this easily by looking down into a well car and observing the locations that 'take' the corner castings. Often enough, these are just tapered posts that locate the containers, but only weight holds them down.
Use a good telephoto lens or binoculars/telescope (to avoid trespassing) and look at the 'junction' between the upper corner castings of the bottom container and the attach points on the base of the 'top' one. If there are twistlocks you will see the actuator that turns them.
My mobility is limited so I don't get out much but I've looked at a LOT of photos (even models that were supposed to be highly detailed) and never saw any sort of locks and in videos, never saw anyone unlocking anything when unloading. I've seen derailments where there were stacked containers and, even tilted, the bottom container was generally in the right position. There may not be enough clearance for them to move when down in the car.
Thanks for the replies.
BaltACD,
As the saying goes: "priceless"
To be clear, in double stack cars, the lower containers are held in by gravity. And positioned by guides. The upper containers are locked to the lower with IBC's (Interbox Connectors). These are placed at the 4 40' locations, as mentioned earlier.
I believe the old SP style double stacks (Gunderson bulkhead-style) do not need the IBC's. Not sure.
Also. You CANNOT place 20' containers on the upper level of well cars. Well. You can. In the same vein as that photo, above. You will be unemployed shortly, with perhaps criminal and/or civil charges following.
The above comments apply only to double stack well cars.
Ed
Wonder if the driver packed extra skivvies today...
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
AAR has a standard and a list of approved IBC models. Note that some of them are 'handed' and some are semi-automatic in engaging.
7j43kBaltACD, As the saying goes: "priceless" To be clear, in double stack cars, the lower containers are held in by gravity. And positioned by guides. The upper containers are locked to the lower with IBC's (Interbox Connectors). These are placed at the 4 40' locations, as mentioned earlier. I believe the old SP style double stacks (Gunderson bulkhead-style) do not need the IBC's. Not sure. Also. You CANNOT place 20' containers on the upper level of well cars. Well. You can. In the same vein as that photo, above. You will be unemployed shortly, with perhaps criminal and/or civil charges following. The above comments apply only to double stack well cars. Ed
Picture is from the head on collision at Goodwell, OK in 2012.
If the bottom containers are held only by gravity, I am surprised and the number of double stacks shown that are still attached to their cars.
I, too, am impressed.
Gravity. There when you need it.
In the early days of "Piggyback" (trailers on flatcars) there was great concern about keeping the trailers on the flatcar.
Trailers were chained down from both the sides and ends with binders, and fifth wheel plates were supported with adjustable jacks.
By the time the locking fifth wheel hitch was invented, they were figuring out that all these chains where not needed.
Today the fifth wheel plate holds the trailer, and the tires and suspension of the trailer actually absorb forces that might otherwise want to move the trailer.
As a side note about gravity, in a different application, if you look at the typical old Victorian era home, with its large wrap around porch, you might be surprised to learn that those porch columns were often held in place by nothing more that the weight of the roof they supported and a few finishing nails. Gravity is amazing....
Sheldon
ATLANTIC CENTRAL As a side note about gravity, in a different application, if you look at the typical old Victorian era home, with its large wrap around porch, you might be surprised to learn that those porch columns were often held in place by nothing more that the weight of the roof they supported and a few finishing nails. Gravity is amazing....
The same holds true with bottom and top plates, headers, joists, and studs. The nails position things, but most of load is just gravity transmitted. Rafters, of course, can be a bit more complicated.
I've seen some stairs framed by Victorian carpenters (1910), and they tended to think that nails could hold things UP (nail placed vertically, with head to bottom). And they do, for awhile.
Don't know if this is a follow up to what I had pictured whose link has now expired (entire truck, chassis and container hoisted by a container crane)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XLYEzKLROo
From the video description:
The driver is also responsible for checking their locks to make sure the container is not attached to the chassis. Maybe the driver forgot to check the locks, or maybe the machine was too fast and lifted before the driver could do that? I've also heard of drivers removing the locks while in line, then by the time they get to this spot the locks vibrate back into place.
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