Containers going to Intermodal facilities

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

During the winter months I have a nice view of I-77 out my back window. On some day I observe a steady stream of shipping containers heading in both directions while other days there are just a few. I assume that these are going to the NS facility just south of Cleveland or to CSX Collinwood. Is there a specific time window that these container must arrive at the intermodal facility? And if so, how much of small of a time window?

Thanks

2

Yes. There is a cut-off time you have to be in the terminal in order to be lifted for a specific train. Typically, it’s about two hours ahead, but if your name is UPS…[:)]

3

What if the container shows up “too” early? Is there a holding area?

thanks

4

Not everyone can show up at the cut off time - arriving containers are ‘dropped’ in a parking slot along with their chassis and then loaded to rail cars when necessary.

5

In fact, there are some rather sophisticated computer systems that try to optimize where to park and when to load.

6

Depends on the level of service that’s desired and being paid for, too -most railroads have ‘tiers’ for that - “next train out” vs. “any time today” or “as long as it gets there in the next 5 days”, etc. Empties - which would be about half the volume you see - presumably go as “standby”, on a "space available"l basis.

  • Paul North.
7

Thanks to all for the replies. Curiosity is satisfied.