ROADRAILERS PT2

Last week, we saw the arrival of a RoadRailer train. Now the rest of the train...

Another 53' plate-wall unit, this time with a AAR-compliant road number and "VERSA-RAILER" lettering. As the lettering states, this Roadrailer can be used in all three phases: road, rail, or TOFC (Trailer On FlatCar); note that it has lifting-rails on the sides above the wheels and landing gear, to facilitate pick-up by a straddle crane for loading on a flatcar or spine car. This was an attempt to increase the appeal of RoadRailers and expand their use beyond strict unit-train service.

A 53' refrigerator RoadRailer. Alliance Shippers dabbled with Roadrailers, as did a pair of trucking companies. Note the arrows showing the lifting points along the side.

Another "VERSA-RAILER", this time a reefer unit. Note, however, that the road number is, once again, non-AAR compliant!

Another plate-wall unit, this time with ASCZ reporting marks and a large "53' x102"" on the side, denoting the trailer size. These units were leased to UPS for use in select routes out of Chicago, including to Atlanta and New York City. Note the UPS-style rims.

There are a a few NS TripleCrown RoadRailers in the train as well.

A trio of Swift RoadRailers round out the train. Schneider also tried Roadrailers as well, mostly on the West Coast. The concept has been tried out by several railroads over the years, since the 80's. The main issue was -and still is- the fact that RoadRailers are heavier than conventional trailers, which lowers the load capacity. Plus most customers don't ship 75-125 trailers at once -the ideal size for a RoadRailer train. The final nail in the coffin is the embrace of the 53' domestic container; it can be double-stacked for maximum efficiency, unlike trailers which can only be loaded one at a time. TripleCrown has acquired the equipment of other companies as they have given up on RoadRailers, but even they are shrinking; by this Thanksgiving RoadRailer service to Toronto will be ended. The AP&W's own RoadRailer service is limited to the two routes out of Chicago, and both may soon be discontinued as well.