Roadrailer

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supersobes
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Roadrailer

#1 Post by supersobes » 09 Jun 2020 22:05

I've never seen anything like this before! It's a Norfolk Southern train with semi trailers. No, the semi trailers aren't on flatcars like an intermodal train, but rather this train is literally made out of semi trailers that are set on top of rail bogies/trucks.
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The Old Fart
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Re: Roadrailer

#2 Post by The Old Fart » 10 Jun 2020 00:46

supersobes, that's an interesting find, I've never seen anything like it either. There's a short but useful Wikepedia piece on RoadRailers. I had no Idea that CN is apparently still using these things as well. Strange indeed.
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J. Ritter
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Re: Roadrailer

#3 Post by J. Ritter » 10 Jun 2020 01:08

Ah yes, the roadrailer. I used to see them come out of the yard in South Atlanta all the time. I think they aren't as common as they used to be, especially in the states. The extra rail apparatus made the trailers heavy so therefore not as much could be hauled when they were planted on the road.
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supersobes
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Re: Roadrailer

#4 Post by supersobes » 10 Jun 2020 01:46

@J. Ritter Ah, the rail equipment stays with the trailer when it drives on the road? How does that work? Do the fold up into the chassis or something?
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Titan
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Re: Roadrailer

#5 Post by Titan » 10 Jun 2020 03:13

Never seen this before.

As a self professed train nut, it's pretty cool.
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kyfami
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Re: Roadrailer

#6 Post by kyfami » 10 Jun 2020 03:31

what baffles me is... what contraption links the train brake? :shock:
I see the lines, but they loop through punch holes in the trailer jack assembly and then go back up to the semi trailer.
how those don't just slack and slap on the ties is beyond my intelligence :D
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natvander
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Re: Roadrailer

#7 Post by natvander » 10 Jun 2020 04:01

The extra weight is in the equipment to secure the trailer to the rail bogie. The rear of the trailer has the mechanism to secure to the bogie, and a pin at the front of the next trailer is secured to a housing at the rear of the first trailer. The bogie stays on the tracks - it is not permanently attached to the trailer. There is also the added weight of the modified trailer suspension - all wheels are lifted while in rail mode and the trailer body lifted when securing to the bogie. Air lines normally run along the length of the trailer, with chains used to secure against slack.

They were pretty popular here during the 80s and 90s (especially on the trans continent services) but have since fallen out of favour and are no longer used.
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SmokeyWolf
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Re: Roadrailer

#8 Post by SmokeyWolf » 10 Jun 2020 05:24

Triple Crown is a shell of it former self. UPS uses a lot of their old trailers. I am pulling one now.
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bobgrey1997
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Re: Roadrailer

#9 Post by bobgrey1997 » 10 Jun 2020 05:53

I am honestly very surprised this is NS, not CSX. This just seems like something CSX would do...
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SmokeyWolf
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Re: Roadrailer

#10 Post by SmokeyWolf » 10 Jun 2020 12:57

Norfolk Southern owned Triple Crown. Triple Crown serviced the auto industry primarily. Think Triple Crown is down to a Detroit-Kansas City lane.
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