Hi Solo Clipper, Welcome to Trainboard! There are a few topics on hand laid track here in the Z Scale forum, so just look through the topics till you find them. The topics here are never dead, so you can always ask questions in them. Also there are lots of pictures to help illustrate the topics. Enjoy!
Today Jeff Merrill and myself glued lettered containers on a dozen of my well cars. I still need to do more decals, as I still have a bunch more to do. -Robert
I finally found a double stack train that doesn't require decaling the containers, a trash train. I dont think anybody has try to model it in z scale yet.
John, Bryan and I were just talking about this at lunch yesterday while out watching trains. We see these on the RF&P every time we are trackside. The containers look like they are mostly flat surfaces, even the ribs, so this might not be that hard to scratchbuild. Not sure if they are on 89' flats or old 85' flats. Randy
The Rabanco trash train here in Seattle uses old containers (beat to hell) ... looks like the tops of the containers (at least the ones on top) are covered in tarps (at least some of them) ... but they all have Rabanco's logo on them http://www.rabanco.com/regional_landfill/intermodals.aspx
Gordon, The ones we see on CSX are smaller, somewhere between the size of a 3 CU YD (?) dumpster and a 20' container. I know Bryan has photos, maybe he can post some. Randy
If they are riding in the Gunderson or Thrall cars then they have to match ISO dimensional requirements. These cars are specifically designed to support the weight of the containers at the pin points as well as securing the load ... there was a discovery channel show (or history channel) that covered intermodal yards and the workers made a big point of the fact that if the load doesn't lock into the car at the pin points ... the train does not move. The exception to this is when the car is also set up to accept tractor trailers ... (well one tractor trailer) and then the trailer is attached at the 5th wheel point and posibly by chains at the wheels so the "dumpsters" you are seeing are probably 20 or 40' containers that have been "modified" maybe, but at least the four posts are located at ISO specified locations I might be wrong ... but I am pretty sure that OSHA and DOT have rules as to what can be hauled in these cars.
Gordon, Hmm, sounds like we've got a little variation here. Our east coast trash containers are mostly on flatcars 89' or possibly even old 85' cars, not in well cars. randy
nope no (or at least very few) flats here ... grungy containers double-stacked in well-cars is what we get. this is the only photo I could find online ... at night ... an interesting aside ... someone (some company rather) is making these in N scale for retail sale
I have pictures of the trash containers that we normally see here on the CSX. Nothing but dirty green containers on Waste Management and USA Waste flat cars. I'll try and post a few when I get home tonight.
My comments about trash train was started as a joke, since most modellers dont have decals on their containers. This discussion has made me wonder. How do they load the trash into containers. I envision trash being loaded like coal, but its probably not. Also, are the Gundersons cars dedicated to the trash train. I figure they are kind smelly.
The trash is loaded into the containers at the transfer station with front-end loaders ... they cram it all in ... The containers are then trucked to the intermodal facility where they are double-stacked onto rail-cars. As for the rail cars ... they are always dirty ... but the containers are pretty solid. You smell the train (especially on hot days) ... but they don't affect the cars any more than being constantly outside does. for more reading: http://www.wasteage.com/mag/waste_waste_working_railroads/index.html or search google for "Rabanco train"
John, Some days it seems like all CSX is fit to haul is trash. ;-) Even if you meant it as a joke, we see these a lot up here on the RF&P. Randy
Here are the lovely trash containers that we see here on the CSX/RF&P main in Northern Virginia: Sorry it took me so long. Took me awhile to get to my computer. Anyone else see anything like these?
Bryan, you know what they say. Variety is the spice of life. Actually I would prefer to model BNSF with their double stack trash trains, but still very educational. I hope you guys were not eating your lunch too close to the train.
