Have a quick question on how 20 foot intermodal containers are loaded. Did they load them nose to nose? Tail to tail? Elephant style - nose to tail? I’ve got a small handful of Model Power containers to add to some MDC Husky Stacks. Have looked at a number of different containers as well. Available in undecorated bulk via the bay! I know they were loaded one, or two per car, for weight reasons. Sometimes, with a larger container loaded on top. Not that the direction can be seen on a moving N Scale Train! Maybe more of a curiousity reason! Thanks!
If the train is not moving too fast you can see the 4 rectangular notches in the door frame piece for the door hinges. Of course most of my train watching is in dusk or night with NS roaring out of downtown Columbus at track speed. But from what I have observed, and how I load my well cars, is that the majority seem to be loaded elephant style. I don't know if they have to be or not. It might just be a terminal operations thing and how the NS terminal in town loads them. I'll pay a bit more attention tomorrow night when I'm out watching and the 2 nightly intermodals go by. You also might do a photo search on the web. If you can find some good side shots and looking for the hinge cut outs.
I'd check trains coming through town, but I do not see intermodal trains very often! Mostly freight and/or coal unit trains. Would have to consider Denver for photos. Something from the bridge at 48th Ave, overlooking the BN Intermodal facilities in Denver. Right by the old Rio Grande North Yard. I'll have to take an online peak later! Appreciate the information. Thanks.
most all containers are loaded elephant style. because the yard trucks line the containers in one direction to the cars and the lift crane picks them up and loads them on to the cars.
I sat at a RR crossing during a long intermodal passing by with UP powered 5+1 out of the Niles Canyon in the Bay Area, there was quite the variety of cars and containers. Don't think they really care much about container facing. Seems to be loaded any which way except for maybe powered contianers.
I can confirm they 20' containers are loaded different directions. Customers occasionally will request containers to be loaded door-to-door fir security reasons (cannot open the doors on transit). However, 20' tank containers are required to be loaded with valves facing the ends of the cars fir emergency access.
