Tom, Thanks for the Education on Intermodal Modeling.
Joe Haughney _____ From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Tom Hawley Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 11:54 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [!! SPAM] Re: {S-Scale List} Intermodal Modelling Joe Haughney asked - Being new to intermodal, I was wondering if Tom or others can enlighten me on the rules of stacking and marking containers for intermodal transport. > > > > > > > > > > > > > I had been thinking that I shouldn't just leave my mostly negative critique of that intermodal train video and not offer some suggestions as to where to learn about the real intermodal scene. Joe's message prompts me to get on it. < < < < < < < < < < < < < . . . . .I have 5 intermodal cars. . . . . . . I would like to know what would be the appropriate modules [ I presume you mean containers. ] to use (e.g. size 20, 40, 50ft) > > > > > > > > > > > > > There are lots of exceptions to this, but in general there are two types of containers, international and domestic. First the international. They come in lengths of 20, 40, and 45 feet. These are, shall we say, globe-trotting containers. They may be seen in about any country on this planet that has any ability to move a container, and thus they are the containers that are carried in ocean-going ships. Domestic containers are generally restricted to the US, Canada, and maybe Mexico. They come in lengths of 48 and 53 feet. RTR S scale models of these are available from DPH/SSA. > > > > > > > > > > >> > and can they be double stacked ? > > > > > > > > > > They can nearly all be double-stacked. But never put 20 foot containers on top of a 40 foot or longer container. The posts to support the weight at the center just aren't there. It's physically possible to put two 20s above two 20s, as in that video, but it just isn't done. I'm not sure the reason. Almost always, when you have two 20 foot tank or "bulktainers" in a well, that's it. A 40 foot or longer container could be placed above them, but that's seen extremely rarely. I think it's because of weight limits. Two 20 foot tank containers, loaded, probably max out the weight capacity of a well car. Real intermodal trains do not have containers double-stacked in every possible well. One frequently sees wells with only one container, or sometimes none. Like the real world, you will have to take clearances into consideration. If you run your intermodal train on your buddy's layout which up to then has seen only old time trains, look out for low bridges. Doublestacks going thru the Detroit (Michigan) - Windsor (Ontario) tunnel can only take double-stacked container cars if both containers are 8½ feet high. If a well has one 9½ foot high container in it, it cannot have any other container above it. < < < < < < < < < < < < < . . . . . . how are they connected since I don't see any mechanism to do that . . . . . . . . > > > > > > > > > > > > > There are devices called, I think, interbox connectors (IBCs). There is a horizontal flat component, about an inch thick, with locking devices that stick out top and bottom. They fit into the holes at the bottom and top of the containers to be stacked, and then somehow they're twisted to lock the two containers together. This is done at all four of the stacking posts. Modellers usually don't worry about those IBCs, they just put one above the other with a little spot of glue or tape. But in S scale you could make something from sheet styrene and a short length of paper-clip wire. < < < < < < < < < < < < < < . . . . . . . .. Also are there any company references or procedures on the web on how they handle the [ containers ] . . . . . . .? > > > > > > > > > > > > > Probably, but I can't cite any off-hand. < < < < < < < < < < < < < Also has anyone seen any supporting kits for processing modules at the source and destinations . . . . . . . . . . . ? > > > > > > > > > > > > > HO has kits for cranes such as Mi-Jack makes in full size. See http://www.mi- <http://www.mi-jack.com/> jack.com/ S scalers have talked about taking an HO kit and lengthening the components, but I don't know that anyone has done it yet. And there was a man who said he was making a kit for an S scale piggy-packer. Once a year we e-mail him and ask about progress. There isn't any. There's a lot of stuff we need in intermodal S. For instance, 20 foot box containers, highway chassis for the 48 and 53 foot containers, plastic 53 foot semi-trailers, another well car distinctly different from the Gunderson Husky Stack car, maybe articulated. More intermodalistas will create the demand (we can hope). The more you learn about modern intermodal, the more you'll see how much is lacking in S. With a little creativity we can expand the limits, but that's for another message. Here are some sites I recommend for further study http://www.matts- <http://www.matts-place.com/intermodal/part1/sea_containers1.htm> place.com/intermodal/part1/sea_containers1.htm http://home. <http://home.xnet.com/~cmhewitt/photo/> xnet.com/~cmhewitt/photo/ http://www.apl. <http://www.apl.com/equipment/html/equipment_specs_standard.html#53HC> com/equipment/html/equipment_specs_standard.html#53HC http://en.wikipedia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermodal_freight_transport> .org/wiki/Intermodal_freight_transport And get into the Modelintermodal Yahoo Group. It's at http://groups. <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/modelintermodal/> yahoo.com/group/modelintermodal/ Tom Hawley - Lansing Michigan [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
