±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: HighestAce
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6648

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

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