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I have a prototype question about mixing containers and trailers in the same train. Generally, trains are one or the other and rarely are they both. I suppose it follows that if a facility has a means for (un)loading both, the trains that come out will be comprised of cuts of container cars and cuts of trailers on flats. Can anybody offer any insight here and any N-scale equipment suggestions?
Posts: 3 | From: Quincy, MA | Registered: Dec 2000
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Sparky, I'm in HO, so I really can't help you with the equipment request, but I might have some insight for you on the container v.tank car issue. Generaly speaking containers and tank cars are not mixed in trains because of costal and harbor shipping regulations, and insurance requierments. You can't have many of the substances shipped by tank car in too close of a proximity with many of the products shipped in containers. For example if a load of Nintendo junk happened to be in the same train as a load of high molarity sulfuric acid, and there was a wreck, even if the Nintedo container was not derailed or damaged, there is a good chance the would be ruined by the H2SO4 vapors. You get my drift. However, there are products that can be shipped in the same manifest, so comming across the southwest, I have seen east bound mixed trains, never got a count specificaly of what they were hauling---I would guess they would be relativly harmlewss products like processed vegtable oil or food manufacturing byproducts of some sort. Hope this rambling helps to some degree. I'm sure there are others out there with more info also. Later, Scott
Posts: 127 | From: Gunnison, CO, USA | Registered: Jul 2000
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Well most of the trains I have seen in Columbus Ohio are a mix of both containers and trailers. I think it just depends on the ultimate destnation on wheather it goes in a container or trailer. Only containers can be loaded on a ship, so all intercontinental freight will go on a container. But containers and their supporting dolly tend to weigh more than a similar sized highway trailer. Thats why almost all domestic freight will be put on trailers. They will be able to handle more product before they are maxed out. I think Walthers makes a 5 peice Husky stak set , and I know others make other different sets of cars in N scale, I have seen them at the local n scale layout.HTH.....Mike Posts: 97 | From: Columbus Ohio USA | Registered: Jul 2000
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All of the intermodal trains here in Atlantic Canada are a mix of COFC and TOFC. Double stacks, etc etc. I think what may have thrown you off is that depending on where you are, there are quite a few cross-continent container trains that are captive to the shipping companies, and similar trains for the larger trucking companies, so you see quite a few trains that are all one or the other. But mixed is probably more common
Posts: 4 | From: Saint John, NB, Canada | Registered: Dec 2000
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My confusion was caused by some old Conrail schedules I've seen. Namely, some trains were designated as containers only and some were trailers only.
(Note that doublestacks do not operate into Beacon Park yard due to height restrictions, although it is possible to see stacks on the Boston Line further west).
The CSX schedules that (somewhat) supplanted the CR schedules now list these trains as "Intermodal", reflecting the mixed consist that seems to be the general practice.
Regards, Sparky
Posts: 3 | From: Quincy, MA | Registered: Dec 2000
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A majority of the "lanes" allow for mixed traffic. This is perhaps a bit too prototype for the freelancing modeler, but it at least shows that Boston-Springfield or Boston-Worcester intermodal traffic *must* be on wheels -- i.e. trailers or container on chassis only.
Also shows that there are many permutations of intermodal traffic, including international and domestic containers. There is an ongoing modernization program to update terminals to accept a wider variety of equipment, except those which already deal exclusively in international containers.
Regards, Sparky
Posts: 3 | From: Quincy, MA | Registered: Dec 2000
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Sparky, I am in and around CSX's and Illinois Centrals's intermodal terminals at the Alabama State Docks (Port of Mobile). CSX can handle containers and trailers. They have two traveling, overhead cranes. IC has only one MIJACK for off loading trailers and containers. There are two types of containers. Sea going, 20' or 40' (these are the steel, ribbed sided one) and the domestic ones 45' and 48". In a well car, you will sometimes see a domestic on top of sea going 40'. You will never see a sea going atop a domestic. They are way too heavy and would crush the domestic container. It is common practice to double stack domestics and at the IC termina I have seen trailers in well cars and domestic containers without chassis riding on IMPAK cars. I have yet to see either type of container riding on a flatcar without being attached to a chassis. Most of the intermodal trains I see leaving CSX are mixed bag. I hope you find this information useful.
Posts: 2 | From: Mobile, AL, USA | Registered: Dec 2000
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Sparky, re. your original question about N scale intermodal equipment, check out my offerings at the link below. Spine cars and flatcars carry either containers or trailers.
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