Post by boxcarwilly on Jun 15, 2017 10:57:54 GMT -5
Whenever I see an intermodal train, or a container on a semi chassis, I always wonder, how do these things stay on without falling off?
I tend to get a bit paranoid whenever I'm beside one of these while on the road feeling uneasy that if the truck makes a turn, that container isn't going to fall off and crush my car and my little fat self. When I look at these things I can't help but wonder, there has to be something more then 4 very short pins or gravity or sheer weight, holding the container on the chassis. Bur I never can get close enough to examine the situation more closely, and I don't know anyone in the industry, or who drives a container chassis to ask how it's done.
It's the same thing on the intermodal cars. Obviously the one on the bottom is secure because it's down in the well so it ain't likely to move, but what about the one on top? I look at these trains and it just boggles my mind how they are kept together. I can't see any visual way of holding the top container to the bottom, but again I can't get close enough for an inspection. This really is a mystery to me and admittedly, it's no big deal, but still I am curious.
Something else about intermodals. I have noticed that on some of these cars, there appears to be what looks like a motor on the deck at one end. I'm not sure if that's really what it is but it's on my intermodal cars too. Does anyone know if in fact that is a motor, or is it something else and what is it used for?
One final note, from time to time, I have driven to one of two intermodal yards here and just watched them being built or torn down. Those guys who use those specially build lift trucks, do an amazing job. They always seem to be spot on when loading and never seem to cause any accidents unloading. I think they are a special breed of lift truck drivers to be able to do it day in and day out without issues. The guys in the cranes at the docks are no amateurs either. My hats off to all of them.
I tend to get a bit paranoid whenever I'm beside one of these while on the road feeling uneasy that if the truck makes a turn, that container isn't going to fall off and crush my car and my little fat self. When I look at these things I can't help but wonder, there has to be something more then 4 very short pins or gravity or sheer weight, holding the container on the chassis. Bur I never can get close enough to examine the situation more closely, and I don't know anyone in the industry, or who drives a container chassis to ask how it's done.
It's the same thing on the intermodal cars. Obviously the one on the bottom is secure because it's down in the well so it ain't likely to move, but what about the one on top? I look at these trains and it just boggles my mind how they are kept together. I can't see any visual way of holding the top container to the bottom, but again I can't get close enough for an inspection. This really is a mystery to me and admittedly, it's no big deal, but still I am curious.
Something else about intermodals. I have noticed that on some of these cars, there appears to be what looks like a motor on the deck at one end. I'm not sure if that's really what it is but it's on my intermodal cars too. Does anyone know if in fact that is a motor, or is it something else and what is it used for?
One final note, from time to time, I have driven to one of two intermodal yards here and just watched them being built or torn down. Those guys who use those specially build lift trucks, do an amazing job. They always seem to be spot on when loading and never seem to cause any accidents unloading. I think they are a special breed of lift truck drivers to be able to do it day in and day out without issues. The guys in the cranes at the docks are no amateurs either. My hats off to all of them.