±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: cgsimpson
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6645

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 772
Total: 772
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Community Forums
02: Community Forums
03: Community Forums
04: Community Forums
05: CPGlang
06: Community Forums
07: CPGlang
08: Community Forums
09: Photo Gallery
10: Home
11: Home
12: Community Forums
13: CPGlang
14: Community Forums
15: Home
16: Community Forums
17: Home
18: Community Forums
19: Photo Gallery
20: Community Forums
21: Your Account
22: Your Account
23: Community Forums
24: Community Forums
25: Community Forums
26: Community Forums
27: Photo Gallery
28: Community Forums
29: Community Forums
30: Community Forums
31: Home
32: Photo Gallery
33: Community Forums
34: Home
35: Community Forums
36: Home
37: Community Forums
38: Community Forums
39: Community Forums
40: Community Forums
41: News Archive
42: Community Forums
43: Community Forums
44: Community Forums
45: Photo Gallery
46: CPGlang
47: Photo Gallery
48: Community Forums
49: Home
50: Home
51: Community Forums
52: Photo Gallery
53: Community Forums
54: Photo Gallery
55: Community Forums
56: Community Forums
57: Community Forums
58: Downloads
59: Photo Gallery
60: Community Forums
61: Community Forums
62: Photo Gallery
63: Downloads
64: News
65: Community Forums
66: Home
67: Your Account
68: Community Forums
69: Community Forums
70: Community Forums
71: Home
72: Photo Gallery
73: Home
74: Community Forums
75: Home
76: Community Forums
77: Community Forums
78: Community Forums
79: Community Forums
80: Community Forums
81: Community Forums
82: Community Forums
83: Community Forums
84: Photo Gallery
85: Community Forums
86: Community Forums
87: Community Forums
88: Downloads
89: Community Forums
90: Your Account
91: Home
92: Downloads
93: Community Forums
94: Photo Gallery
95: Community Forums
96: Community Forums
97: Your Account
98: Downloads
99: Member Screenshots
100: Community Forums
101: Community Forums
102: Community Forums
103: Community Forums
104: Community Forums
105: Photo Gallery
106: Community Forums
107: Downloads
108: Community Forums
109: Community Forums
110: Community Forums
111: Home
112: Photo Gallery
113: Downloads
114: Home
115: Community Forums
116: Community Forums
117: Photo Gallery
118: Community Forums
119: Your Account
120: Photo Gallery
121: Community Forums
122: CPGlang
123: Community Forums
124: Community Forums
125: Your Account
126: Community Forums
127: Home
128: Home
129: Home
130: Community Forums
131: Community Forums
132: Community Forums
133: Downloads
134: Home
135: Community Forums
136: Community Forums
137: Community Forums
138: Community Forums
139: Statistics
140: Photo Gallery
141: Community Forums
142: Community Forums
143: Community Forums
144: Community Forums
145: Photo Gallery
146: Community Forums
147: Community Forums
148: Community Forums
149: Community Forums
150: Community Forums
151: Community Forums
152: Community Forums
153: Home
154: Statistics
155: Community Forums
156: Home
157: Photo Gallery
158: Community Forums
159: Community Forums
160: Downloads
161: Photo Gallery
162: Community Forums
163: Community Forums
164: Community Forums
165: Community Forums
166: Community Forums
167: Photo Gallery
168: Photo Gallery
169: Downloads
170: Community Forums
171: Community Forums
172: Downloads
173: Community Forums
174: Community Forums
175: Community Forums
176: Community Forums
177: Community Forums
178: Community Forums
179: Community Forums
180: Community Forums
181: Community Forums
182: Community Forums
183: Home
184: Community Forums
185: Photo Gallery
186: Home
187: Community Forums
188: Community Forums
189: Community Forums
190: Community Forums
191: Community Forums
192: Photo Gallery
193: Home
194: Home
195: Home
196: Community Forums
197: Photo Gallery
198: Community Forums
199: Community Forums
200: Home
201: Community Forums
202: Photo Gallery
203: Community Forums
204: Community Forums
205: Community Forums
206: Community Forums
207: Community Forums
208: Downloads
209: Community Forums
210: Community Forums
211: Home
212: Photo Gallery
213: Community Forums
214: Community Forums
215: Community Forums
216: Downloads
217: Photo Gallery
218: Community Forums
219: Community Forums
220: Community Forums
221: Community Forums
222: Home
223: Community Forums
224: Community Forums
225: Photo Gallery
226: Community Forums
227: Photo Gallery
228: Community Forums
229: Photo Gallery
230: Community Forums
231: Home
232: Community Forums
233: Home
234: Home
235: Community Forums
236: Community Forums
237: Community Forums
238: Home
239: Community Forums
240: Community Forums
241: Your Account
242: Community Forums
243: Community Forums
244: Community Forums
245: Community Forums
246: Downloads
247: Community Forums
248: CPGlang
249: Community Forums
250: Photo Gallery
251: Community Forums
252: Community Forums
253: News Archive
254: Community Forums
255: Photo Gallery
256: Community Forums
257: Community Forums
258: Community Forums
259: Community Forums
260: Home
261: Community Forums
262: Community Forums
263: Community Forums
264: Photo Gallery
265: Photo Gallery
266: Community Forums
267: Community Forums
268: Downloads
269: Home
270: Community Forums
271: Community Forums
272: Community Forums
273: Photo Gallery
274: Downloads
275: Community Forums
276: Downloads
277: Community Forums
278: Photo Gallery
279: Community Forums
280: Home
281: Community Forums
282: Community Forums
283: Community Forums
284: Community Forums
285: Community Forums
286: Community Forums
287: Photo Gallery
288: Your Account
289: Community Forums
290: CPGlang
291: Community Forums
292: Community Forums
293: Photo Gallery
294: Home
295: Home
296: Community Forums
297: Community Forums
298: Community Forums
299: Community Forums
300: Photo Gallery
301: Photo Gallery
302: Community Forums
303: Community Forums
304: Photo Gallery
305: Downloads
306: Photo Gallery
307: Community Forums
308: Community Forums
309: Community Forums
310: Community Forums
311: Community Forums
312: Community Forums
313: Photo Gallery
314: Downloads
315: Community Forums
316: Downloads
317: Home
318: Photo Gallery
319: Home
320: Community Forums
321: Member Screenshots
322: Member Screenshots
323: Community Forums
324: Community Forums
325: Community Forums
326: Community Forums
327: Community Forums
328: Community Forums
329: Community Forums
330: CPGlang
331: Community Forums
332: Community Forums
333: Home
334: CPGlang
335: CPGlang
336: Community Forums
337: Community Forums
338: Photo Gallery
339: Community Forums
340: Community Forums
341: Community Forums
342: Community Forums
343: Community Forums
344: Photo Gallery
345: Community Forums
346: Community Forums
347: Photo Gallery
348: Community Forums
349: Member Screenshots
350: Community Forums
351: Community Forums
352: Community Forums
353: Community Forums
354: Community Forums
355: Home
356: Community Forums
357: Photo Gallery
358: Downloads
359: Community Forums
360: Community Forums
361: Home
362: Downloads
363: Community Forums
364: Community Forums
365: Community Forums
366: Photo Gallery
367: Community Forums
368: Photo Gallery
369: Community Forums
370: Community Forums
371: Home
372: Community Forums
373: Community Forums
374: Community Forums
375: Downloads
376: Home
377: Community Forums
378: Community Forums
379: Photo Gallery
380: Downloads
381: Community Forums
382: Photo Gallery
383: Community Forums
384: Downloads
385: Community Forums
386: Photo Gallery
387: Home
388: Photo Gallery
389: Community Forums
390: Community Forums
391: Community Forums
392: Statistics
393: Community Forums
394: Community Forums
395: Statistics
396: Community Forums
397: Community Forums
398: Downloads
399: News
400: Photo Gallery
401: Community Forums
402: Photo Gallery
403: Home
404: Community Forums
405: Photo Gallery
406: Community Forums
407: Home
408: Community Forums
409: Community Forums
410: Community Forums
411: Photo Gallery
412: Photo Gallery
413: Community Forums
414: Community Forums
415: Community Forums
416: Community Forums
417: Community Forums
418: Photo Gallery
419: Community Forums
420: Community Forums
421: Community Forums
422: Community Forums
423: Home
424: Community Forums
425: Home
426: Photo Gallery
427: Community Forums
428: Home
429: Photo Gallery
430: Community Forums
431: Community Forums
432: Photo Gallery
433: Community Forums
434: Community Forums
435: Home
436: Community Forums
437: Photo Gallery
438: Community Forums
439: Community Forums
440: Community Forums
441: Photo Gallery
442: Community Forums
443: Community Forums
444: Downloads
445: Community Forums
446: Community Forums
447: Home
448: Community Forums
449: Photo Gallery
450: Community Forums
451: Community Forums
452: Photo Gallery
453: News
454: Community Forums
455: Community Forums
456: Photo Gallery
457: Community Forums
458: Community Forums
459: Community Forums
460: News
461: Photo Gallery
462: Downloads
463: Community Forums
464: Home
465: Home
466: Community Forums
467: Photo Gallery
468: Community Forums
469: Community Forums
470: Community Forums
471: Community Forums
472: Community Forums
473: Community Forums
474: Statistics
475: Community Forums
476: Downloads
477: Photo Gallery
478: Member Screenshots
479: Photo Gallery
480: Community Forums
481: Community Forums
482: Community Forums
483: Community Forums
484: Community Forums
485: Community Forums
486: Photo Gallery
487: Photo Gallery
488: Community Forums
489: Community Forums
490: Community Forums
491: Community Forums
492: Community Forums
493: Community Forums
494: Community Forums
495: Community Forums
496: Community Forums
497: Home
498: Home
499: Photo Gallery
500: Community Forums
501: Community Forums
502: Community Forums
503: Photo Gallery
504: Community Forums
505: Photo Gallery
506: Community Forums
507: Photo Gallery
508: Photo Gallery
509: Home
510: Community Forums
511: Photo Gallery
512: Community Forums
513: Downloads
514: Community Forums
515: Home
516: Photo Gallery
517: Community Forums
518: Downloads
519: Community Forums
520: Community Forums
521: Home
522: Community Forums
523: Community Forums
524: Community Forums
525: Photo Gallery
526: Community Forums
527: Community Forums
528: Member Screenshots
529: Community Forums
530: Community Forums
531: Community Forums
532: Home
533: Photo Gallery
534: Community Forums
535: Community Forums
536: Community Forums
537: Downloads
538: Community Forums
539: Community Forums
540: Community Forums
541: Community Forums
542: Community Forums
543: Member Screenshots
544: Downloads
545: Community Forums
546: Home
547: Downloads
548: Home
549: Community Forums
550: Community Forums
551: Community Forums
552: Home
553: News
554: Community Forums
555: Photo Gallery
556: Community Forums
557: Community Forums
558: Community Forums
559: Community Forums
560: Community Forums
561: Community Forums
562: Community Forums
563: Community Forums
564: Community Forums
565: Community Forums
566: Statistics
567: Community Forums
568: Community Forums
569: Community Forums
570: Community Forums
571: Photo Gallery
572: Community Forums
573: Downloads
574: Photo Gallery
575: Member Screenshots
576: Community Forums
577: Community Forums
578: Community Forums
579: Home
580: Photo Gallery
581: Your Account
582: News
583: Home
584: Community Forums
585: Community Forums
586: Downloads
587: Community Forums
588: Downloads
589: Community Forums
590: Community Forums
591: Community Forums
592: Community Forums
593: Community Forums
594: Community Forums
595: Home
596: Home
597: Community Forums
598: Community Forums
599: Photo Gallery
600: CPGlang
601: Home
602: Community Forums
603: Community Forums
604: Community Forums
605: Community Forums
606: News
607: Downloads
608: Community Forums
609: Community Forums
610: Home
611: Downloads
612: Photo Gallery
613: Photo Gallery
614: CPGlang
615: Community Forums
616: Community Forums
617: Community Forums
618: CPGlang
619: Home
620: Photo Gallery
621: Community Forums
622: Photo Gallery
623: Community Forums
624: Photo Gallery
625: Photo Gallery
626: Community Forums
627: CPGlang
628: Community Forums
629: Community Forums
630: Statistics
631: Downloads
632: CPGlang
633: Community Forums
634: Photo Gallery
635: Community Forums
636: Home
637: Community Forums
638: Community Forums
639: Photo Gallery
640: CPGlang
641: Photo Gallery
642: Community Forums
643: Photo Gallery
644: Community Forums
645: Member Screenshots
646: Community Forums
647: Community Forums
648: Community Forums
649: Your Account
650: Community Forums
651: Member Screenshots
652: Community Forums
653: Community Forums
654: Community Forums
655: Photo Gallery
656: Home
657: Community Forums
658: Community Forums
659: Photo Gallery
660: Home
661: Community Forums
662: Community Forums
663: Community Forums
664: Community Forums
665: Community Forums
666: Community Forums
667: Community Forums
668: Community Forums
669: Community Forums
670: Community Forums
671: Community Forums
672: Community Forums
673: Community Forums
674: Community Forums
675: Community Forums
676: Photo Gallery
677: Photo Gallery
678: Community Forums
679: Community Forums
680: Community Forums
681: Community Forums
682: Home
683: Community Forums
684: Community Forums
685: Community Forums
686: Community Forums
687: Community Forums
688: Your Account
689: Community Forums
690: Community Forums
691: Photo Gallery
692: Community Forums
693: Photo Gallery
694: Community Forums
695: Community Forums
696: Community Forums
697: Photo Gallery
698: Community Forums
699: Community Forums
700: Photo Gallery
701: Community Forums
702: Photo Gallery
703: Community Forums
704: Community Forums
705: Community Forums
706: CPGlang
707: Community Forums
708: Community Forums
709: Photo Gallery
710: Community Forums
711: Photo Gallery
712: Community Forums
713: Photo Gallery
714: Community Forums
715: Downloads
716: Photo Gallery
717: Community Forums
718: Community Forums
719: Community Forums
720: Photo Gallery
721: Downloads
722: Community Forums
723: Community Forums
724: Community Forums
725: Community Forums
726: Community Forums
727: Community Forums
728: CPGlang
729: Community Forums
730: Community Forums
731: Community Forums
732: Downloads
733: Community Forums
734: Photo Gallery
735: Community Forums
736: Photo Gallery
737: Downloads
738: Community Forums
739: Photo Gallery
740: Community Forums
741: Home
742: Community Forums
743: Community Forums
744: Community Forums
745: Community Forums
746: Photo Gallery
747: Community Forums
748: Community Forums
749: Community Forums
750: News Archive
751: Home
752: Photo Gallery
753: Community Forums
754: News Archive
755: Community Forums
756: Your Account
757: Photo Gallery
758: Community Forums
759: Community Forums
760: Community Forums
761: Community Forums
762: Photo Gallery
763: Community Forums
764: Community Forums
765: Community Forums
766: Photo Gallery
767: Community Forums
768: Community Forums
769: Community Forums
770: Community Forums
771: Community Forums
772: Downloads

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?
The AFV ASSOCIATION was formed in 1964 to support the thoughts and research of all those interested in Armored Fighting Vehicles and related topics, such as AFV drawings. The emphasis has always been on sharing information and communicating with other members of similar interests; e.g. German armor, Japanese AFVs, or whatever.
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board

View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
geoffsteer
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 114

PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 4:18 pm
Post subject: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?

Hi Guys-
Just when you thought I could not think of another railway question, yet another comes to my pointy little noodle! I've been studying all the photos I can find of freight on flatcars and, I cannot see what holds said freight in place. If the freight is vehicles, I can see blocks/chocks placed front and back of the tires, what is holding them (block/chocks) in place? On some, not all, flat bed trucks, I can see tie down rings and places to drop a peg to stop a block from slipping. I dont see anything like this on any railway flatcars. On the sides of the Dragon flatcars are rings which, obviously, are meant to serve as tie down points for frieght although, these would not help to hold wheel blocks/chocks. I mean to say, the railway flatbed is featureless so, if you put a block in front of a vehicle's wheel, what is there (on the flatbed) to keep the block from sliding?
With thanks-
Geoff Steer [;-{/) Rolling Eyes
Back to top
View user's profile
bsmart
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 2523
Location: Central Maryland
PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 4:30 pm
Post subject: Re: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?

- geoffsteer
Hi Guys-
Just when you thought I could not think of another railway question, yet another comes to my pointy little noodle! I've been studying all the photos I can find of freight on flatcars and, I cannot see what holds said freight in place. If the freight is vehicles, I can see blocks/chocks placed front and back of the tires, what is holding them (block/chocks) in place? On some, not all, flat bed trucks, I can see tie down rings and places to drop a peg to stop a block from slipping. I dont see anything like this on any railway flatcars. On the sides of the Dragon flatcars are rings which, obviously, are meant to serve as tie down points for frieght although, these would not help to hold wheel blocks/chocks. I mean to say, the railway flatbed is featureless so, if you put a block in front of a vehicle's wheel, what is there (on the flatbed) to keep the block from sliding?
With thanks-
Geoff Steer [;-{/) roll
It probably varies from country to country based on local custom. In The US on some older flat cars they would nail the blocks into the wood deck

_________________
Bob Smart ([email protected])
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Dontos
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3436
Location: Vine Grove, KY
PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 4:30 pm
Post subject: Re: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?

They are could be nailed into the flatcar, or the weight of the vehicle applies pressure. Chains can be applied to the tow hooks or around axles and then ratched down, to keep the vehicle from shifting.

HTH
Don

_________________
"Gonna hold my breath until Armor returns home..."
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger Photo Gallery
C_Sherman
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 590

PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 5:35 pm
Post subject: Re: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?

Depends on who you are talking about.

In the US, railroad rules require chains fore and aft. Depending on the type of flatcar and what you are loading on it (wheel or track, etc.), it may also require chocks and bracing. The chocks and bracing are normally nailed to the car decking using long spikes. The rules are fairly strict, and we always wondered if the railcars were actually going to be upside down at some point.

In Europe, they don't always require chains to secure the load. This may have something to do with the generally smoother roadbeds on Euro railways, and may also reflect the generally shorter distances for rail movements in Europe. I believe that the distance of the move can come into play; i.e., shorter moves require less extensive tiedown or blocking. Perhaps some of the folks here have experience with military rail movements in Europe and can comment further.

I recall reading that German armor was only secured by chocks fore and aft, during WWII. I'm less sure, but I believe that still holds true.

C

_________________
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it
will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
-Herm Albright

Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc!
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
geoffsteer
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 114

PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 5:39 pm
Post subject: Re: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?Thanks Guys.

Hi Don & Bob-
Nailed down? I must admit, I never thought of that, probably to simple and obvious. On the one hand, nailing down the blocks would cause wear and tear on the flatbed's wooden floor. On the other hand, it would not cause sufficient wear and tear to force the replacement of the wooden floor on anything like a frequent amount of occasions. Actually, being able to nail down blocks is most likely the reason for the flatbed having a wooden floor in the first place.
Thanks for your help, Don and Bob-
Geoff Steer [;-{/)
Back to top
View user's profile
L.Delsing
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Feb 10, 2006
Posts: 960

PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 6:14 pm
Post subject: Re: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?

For Leopards and YPR-765's you need a total of 8 chocks / blocks. Two in front of the track, two at the back against the track and and then 4 chocks / blocks to prevent sideways sliding. These will be placed at the inside of the track under the first and last roadwheels. So it can not move forwards, backwards or sidewards.

These last mentioned chocks / blocks are hanging at the back of the turret of the Leopard 2A5/A6.

Correct placement of these things is checked by railroadpersonnel and if OK nothing more is required. Of course the parking brake of the vehicle must be engaged.

Regards,
Lesley
Back to top
View user's profile
bsmart
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 2523
Location: Central Maryland
PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 6:19 pm
Post subject: Re: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?

- C_Sherman
Depends on who you are talking about.

In the US, railroad rules require chains fore and aft. Depending on the type of flatcar and what you are loading on it (wheel or track, etc.), it may also require chocks and bracing. The chocks and bracing are normally nailed to the car decking using long spikes. The rules are fairly strict, and we always wondered if the railcars were actually going to be upside down at some point.

In Europe, they don't always require chains to secure the load. This may have something to do with the generally smoother roadbeds on Euro railways, and may also reflect the generally shorter distances for rail movements in Europe. I believe that the distance of the move can come into play; i.e., shorter moves require less extensive tiedown or blocking. Perhaps some of the folks here have experience with military rail movements in Europe and can comment further.

I recall reading that German armor was only secured by chocks fore and aft, during WWII. I'm less sure, but I believe that still holds true.

C


Are flatcars loaded with vehicles ever 'humped'? ( Do they do that in Europe at all?) I know some types of cars are labeled 'DO NOT HUMP' and I always figured it was because of the shock loads involved in the process.

For those that don't know Hump yards are freight classification yards that are used to make up and break down trains. It centers around a large 'hill'. The train is pushed up the back side of the hill (or hump) by a switching locomotive. At the top each car is disconnected in turn and allowed to drift down the front slope where the tower personnel watch it and throw various switches routing the car into the stub track where they want it. I've seen a hump yard that had several cars all rolling down the slope at the same time with the appropriate switch being thrown just before the car gets to the point of the switch and each car slamming into the cars already on the stub when it reached the end of the run. There are brake plates along the rails that can be used to control the cars speed as it rolls down the slope but I understand that there is a reluctance to use them any more than absolutely neccesary since it slows the process of building trains.

If the cars have to be 'humpable' that could be another reason the more extensive chaining is required in the U.S.

_________________
Bob Smart ([email protected])
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Dontos
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3436
Location: Vine Grove, KY
PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 6:23 pm
Post subject: Re: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?

LOL....okay .

Its my understanding that it is due to the poorer condition of the US rail system.

European Rail system is far better maintained.

Don

_________________
"Gonna hold my breath until Armor returns home..."
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger Photo Gallery
Dontos
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3436
Location: Vine Grove, KY
PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 6:31 pm
Post subject: Re: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?

Here is a photo I took in 1993 at Ft Hood. We were railloading to Ft Bliss and Operation Roving Sands.

This is a typical tie-down scenario in the States.



Don

_________________
"Gonna hold my breath until Armor returns home..."
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger Photo Gallery
C_Sherman
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 590

PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 9:51 pm
Post subject: Re: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?

- bsmart

Are flatcars loaded with vehicles ever 'humped'? ( Do they do that in Europe at all?) I know some types of cars are labeled 'DO NOT HUMP' and I always figured it was because of the shock loads involved in the process.


Hi all,

Bob, military vehicles are nearly always carried as 'unit trains'* rather than a collection of individual cars. This is because most equipment moves more than one or two vehicles/railcars, but rather a full unit's worth of vehicles. So 'humping' is unlikely, since 'unit trains' usuually have a dedicated locomotive and the cars are rarely uncoupled from each other.

According to the schools and manuals, the chains, etc. are required in the US because the US rail system tolerates a greater amount of variation in roadbeds...in other words, our roads are bumpier. There are a variety of reasons for this, not just "lower quality".

The rules differ for military/DOD steel deck flatcars (chains only) and standard wood deck cars (chains and chocks). The DOD flatcars are designed to use the chains in the most efficient way, and are often the only way to move tanks and BFVs. What Dontos shows below are DOD steel deck flats, so no blocking/bracing is needed.

The rules are very tight, because of past experience and previous problems. For example, most people don't know that a rubber tire sidewall rubbing against a wood bracing block can actually start a fire...but it has, and it can. So there are requirements for separating the two (tarpaper, believe it or not). I've seen pictures of what happens when a vehicle or part of a vehicle (turret, crane, cargo, etc.) comes adrift during rail transport, and it ain't pretty. If you are lucky, no one gets kilt...and the best result is just extensive damage to unit property. Unlucky? Well, that can get really ugly.

C

* A 'unit train' is a railroad term for a train that has only one or two types of cars, that travel as a unit. In the western US, you can often see unit trains made up of 50-70 hopper cars, that carry coal from mines to power plants. There are other types, too.

_________________
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it
will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
-Herm Albright

Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc!
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
Doug_Kibbey
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 4678
Location: The Great Satan
PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 9:55 pm
Post subject: Re: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?

I love this board....I'm learning a ton of stuff about trains here that I never even thought of!

...just sayin'.....

Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
bsmart
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 23, 2006
Posts: 2523
Location: Central Maryland
PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 10:23 pm
Post subject: Re: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?

"According to the schools and manuals, the chains, etc. are required in the US because the US rail system tolerates a greater amount of variation in roadbeds...in other words, our roads are bumpier. There are a variety of reasons for this, not just "lower quality"."

Jeff Button - Make sure you pay attention in class. You are going to be our designated transportation expert in the future.

_________________
Bob Smart ([email protected])
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Roy_A_Lingle
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1997
Location: El Paso & Ft Bliss, Texas
PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 10:32 pm
Post subject: Re: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?

Hi Folks!

As best I can remember, every rail movement I was part of, the requiered number of flat cars would be placed against a ramp at the end of the rail line and each vehicle would drive from the ramp crossed all the flat cars until it reached the one it would be traveling on.

My 2 cents,
Sgt, Scouts Out! Smile

_________________
"You can never have too much reconnaissance."
General G.S. Patton Jr.
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
binder001
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 25, 2006
Posts: 363

PostPosted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 1:17 am
Post subject: Re: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?

[quote="C_Sherman"][quote="bsmart"]
I've seen pictures of what happens when a vehicle or part of a vehicle (turret, crane, cargo, etc.) comes adrift during rail transport, and it ain't pretty. If you are lucky, no one gets kilt...and the best result is just extensive damage to unit property. Unlucky? Well, that can get really ugly.

Back in the late 1960s I remember TV footage of a "problem" on the old Rock Island Railroad thru Lincoln, NE. The showed what happened when the barrel of an "Army tank" swung free and was perpendicular to the tracks. In fact the "tank" was an M109 SP 155 and that great big tube was knocking over signs and signals all thru the town until someone could get the train to stop. The RR had to reset most of their crossing signs and signals on that side of the right-of-way!
Back to top
View user's profile
Dontos
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 3436
Location: Vine Grove, KY
PostPosted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 1:46 am
Post subject: Re: What holds freight down on Railway flatcars?

In the 80's, in Germany, a situation occurred when the unsecured gun tube of a US M60 clipped a pole and then spinning wildly, slammed into a tunnel embankment causing the tank to dislodge and then the train derailed.

Not sure of exactly when, but 'rumor' had it ocurring in the Frankfurt (South) rail tunnel as the train headed to Graffenwohr.

Having been in 3rd Armored Div, I rode the train on many occassions and everytime we went thru that particular tunnel there was mere inches clearence, between the tanks and the tunnel.

On one occassion, we were held on a side rail near the Frankfurt Haupt Bahn Hof, because it was believed (by parties unknown) that our M1A1's would hit the tunnel walls. 9 hour delay, seemed a lifetime.

Don

_________________
"Gonna hold my breath until Armor returns home..."
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger Photo Gallery
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board
Page 1 of 2
All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Go to page 1, 2  Next



Jump to:  


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum