I have some questions about generator containers, or power packs as it appears they were also called, were used with reefer containers on double stack cars.
Let’s say that Southern Pacific was moving nine, or more, loaded reefer containers between the same two terminals in the early to mid 1990s. Would containers from different customers be placed in the same container car? If so, would SP provide the power for the refrigeration units? Would each customer provide a power container for their containers? Would the customers contract with a third party for the power container?
When did the generator containers give way to the nose mounted generators on each container?
Eric, I’m pretty sure the major container-shipping companies (e.g., APL, K-Line) owned their own generators, and ensured that containers requiring the power were placed appropriately adjacent to them. APL actually had a series of stack cars (some of the original 40-footers) modified with the necessary cables permanently installed. They were renumbered into the APLX 5000 series from the 2000s.
Thanks, so far I have found shipping companies and railroads (only CN and CP). I think that APL must have used those container cars with the generators on them to power their refrigerated containers since I have not found any APL.
The reefer containers I recall hauling in the late 80’s had the fuel and compressor under the trailer chassis.
Today’s containers can accept a Carrier, Transicold or other similar unit up on the nose. These units have thier own fuel and are connected via satellite to update Temp, status, failures or problems in real time. Should one unit develop a problem, one of the reefer repair companies can intercept and fix it fast. They are not much different than those seen on dedicated reefer trucks seen on the interstate today.
These units have been built to run reliably. One company said that they only kept 3 spares for 600 trailers one time long ago.
I see alot of stack trains on my area and will watch for the new iceboxes.
