Rail roads and their tracks.

[bdhsfz6]

View attachment 762597

It's such a shame the railroads had to resort to using those enclosed auto carrier cars. As a kid, I used to like to watch the old open style railcars loaded with new vehicles and pick out the one I liked best as they rolled by.

Sadly, at some point in time, vandals decided it was great sport to throw rocks off overpasses and the damage to these new vehicles became costly enough to warrant these "armored" railcars.

 

[5030]

Actually the covered cars are to discourage vandals and provide a rolling billboard for the spray painters that like to cover them with graphics. Also why all locomotive windshields are made from bullet proof high impact resistant glass.

 

[5030]

View attachment 762597

If you saw the way the hostelers load the cars, anything is possible. I've watched them at Jeep in Toledo, it's amazing more don't get wrecked.

 

[MossRoad]

We dropped a few hummers and 5 tons between cars when the plates weren't secured. But they'd never leave the siding until inspected by military for two chains with load binders on each corner with the binder handles safety wired down.

I've never seen how they secure cars and pickups on rail cars.

 

[ArlyA]

We dropped a few hummers and 5 tons between cars when the plates weren't secured. But they'd never leave the siding until inspected by military for two chains with load binders on each corner with the binder handles safety wired down.

I've never seen how they secure cars and pickups on rail cars.

I believe there are bound with load binders and chains.

 

[5030]

I believe there are bound with load binders and chains.

Good question, All I know is they fill them pretty quick so I don't see how they could be tying them down but then I've only watched from a distance. I know back when the chip shortage was going on, they were moving Jeeps from various holding lots back the the main yard next to the plant and carrying the necessary chip with them so the engines would start. They drive them like they stole them too.

 

[/pine]

Inland Port woes...

I'm sure there is an advantage to this endeavor but the increased semi traffic may cause issues...especially where the intended routes north have been slated for upgrades yet there are sections that are still only 2 lanes...also there are some small towns that it is not financially feasible to build bypasses around them...

Northeast Georgia Inland Port - Georgia Ports Authority

The fastest growing port

gaports.com

 

[5030]

It seems like the big issue with that port is, the Panamax container ships keep running aground there. Evergreen especially had bad luck.
I can see the Pacific (California) ports getting less and less traffic. It's all wadded up out there, in the bay as well as portside.

Loitering ships cost lots of money for the owners.

 

[MossRoad]

Doesn't show anyone tying anything down in this one of the auto train. Watch near the end as the train sails by and a car alarm is going off inside.

 

[MossRoad]

This one says each wheel is strapped or chocked.

How to Load and Unload Rail Cars

Learn about the loading and unloading processes for autoracks, boxcars, centerbeams, coil cars, covered hoppers, flatcars, gondolas, intermodal equipment, open-top hoppers, tank cars and well cars.

www.up.com