PASSING TRAINS PT 29; ROADRAILER TRAIN CN20RR

 

A black locomotive rounds the curve into Hillsdale...

It's NS C40-9 8888, the last standard cab GE locomotive ever built! Today, she's pulling a joint NS/AP&W roadrailer train, CN20RR, east from Chicago to New York City.

This late-90's era train features a large number of plate wall trailers, including the then-new Versa-Railers: these featured lifting pads to allow them to also be used in conventional TOFC service as well.

An Alliance Shippers reefer is among the many AP&W roadrailers.

A Swift unit, a CIE unit, and another Alliance Shippers roadrailer.

More AP&W roadrailers, followed by more Swift 'railers. Most of the Swift trailers actually spent most of their lives on the West Coast, but some have ventured east to be in this train.

A string of ACSZ roadrailers, leased to UPS. ACS is the AP&W's trailer leasing arm.

Behind the ACSZ's are a pair of Schneider National roadrailers.

Finally, the NS Triple Crown units!

More AP&W units round out the train.  Unfortunately, while great in concept, this train didn't last long, as the limitations of the roadrailers prevented the concept from catching on. The extra weight of the trailers reduced the amount of cargo they could carry, plus most shippers don't like specialized equipment unless they need it, and conventional trailers are both lighter, cheaper and less "exotic" -i.e. easier to maintain without the special suspension needed to allow the wheels to be lifted up for rail service and lowered for road service. They also had special underframes, to allow the trailers to be connected both to each other and to the rail boogies they rode on as well as a pair of trainline pipes for the air brakes. The final nail in the coffin was the 53' domestic container; versatile and lightweight - and able to be double-stacked. CN20RR and NC20RR (the return trip) only lasted from late '95-early 2001.