Is there a new type of intermodal car that only carries one container? I’ve seen them mixed in with double stack wellcars and just curious if it’s a new development.
Railroad Forums
Moderator: John_Perkowski
Containers can travel on anything that has a flat deck, or even a center spine and just a few arms to keep them in balance.Not really true - only in a very general sense. A container, like any other 'free' load on a truly flat deck would have to be chained or properly welded down in accordance with AAR loading guidelines. Containers in normal intermodal service are always carried on their corner blocks, restrained either in well cars or locked down on twist locks (http://www.seabox.com/products/list/con ... connectors" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;). They do not 'balance' on spine car center sills, but are on corner block twist locks mounted on the 'arms.' The entire weight of the container is carried directly by the corners - rail, ship or highway. In this photo http://dev.model160.com/n-scale-resourc ... prototype/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; you can see the permanent locks above the end of the stub side sill on the (near) B end of the car. The locks at the other end of the car are retracted into the trailer wheel deck (to clear the tires of a 53' trailer or a long-base 45 or 48).