PASSING TRAINS PT12; IC209 PT2

 The conclusion of IC209...

BTTX 880182 is a Thrall articulated bi-level autorack.

Its companion, BTTX 880175, shows off its "scribble".

ETTX 710380 is a tri-level autorack with a lot more graffiti than a "scribble".

TTEX 161178 is a "Long Runner" drawbar-connected pair of flatcars.

The center trailer straddles both flatcars. Note that the deck of the car the trailer wheels are riding on has been widened to allow for the trailer wheels to swing as the car-set navigates curves; this is the "B" car; it has the brake lever which sets the brakes for both cars. The "A" car has warning stripes to alert the loading crew to make sure the trailer's landing gear is raised -also to allow for swing clearance. This car actually has three hitches; the "B" car has two. The set can carry either four 45' or shorter trailers or three 48'-57' trailers.

The replacement for the Long Runner flats are the TTAX Twin 28'/Triple 57' spine cars. While longer than the Long Runners, they are lighter and much more versatile -they can also carry containers.

The "Twin 28" capability is shown here, as a variety of UPS trailers are loaded, including 28' containers on chassis.

Another look at the Long Runner flat, with its load of three 57' trailers. Trailer Train rebuilt standard 89' piggyback flatcars into Long Runners during the early 90's after 53' trailers became legal in all 50 states. By combining two flatcars, three long trailers could be carried, as opposed to only two (one per flat). With thousands of new 53'/57' spine cars being purchased, along with the growth of domestic 53' container traffic, the number of piggyback flatcars has declined dramatically since 2000; very few are still in service, with most having been converted to general service -especially hauling long steel and pipe loads.

IC209 has lots of UPS traffic headed back west.

The EOT flashes as the train rolls through. With the upcoming holiday season, and an increase in on-line sales and shipments, there will be plenty of intermodal traffic for the AP&W to carry!