Canadian Pacific “Expressway” is claimed to be a drive-on, drive-off trailer on flatcar service. Apparently the trains load very quickly. Are they “circus loaded” just as were the orginal piggybacks? If so, are the flatcars “parked” on a number of tracks to obviate the need for trailers to be backed the length of the train? The one picture I have seen shows a trailer being backed up a ramp that connects to one end of a flatcar.
The train splits into half and the trailers are loaded circus style by a yard tractor.
To elaborate: on the “Iron Highway” cars I saw, the center unit actually is split into two ramps, so the two halves are separated some distance on the same track (there was a locomotive at each end), and the trailers backed into position on each half. I don’t know if CP uses or used this type of equipment (I’d seen CSX’s train at its loading point in East Chicago, Indiana, when they tried the service).
Yep, it’s “circus” style, which takes up some time as each trailer or combo trailer set is backed up the loading ramps one at a time. CP has two tractor drivers per terminal.
What has been invented (by me), but not developed, is a way to load the trailers “elephant” style instead of circus style. This method would cut the loading time in half, since the two tractors could now each load a trailer/trailer set in tandem, then after the trailer(s) are hitched on the cars, the tractors can make a beeline for the next trailer(s) to be loaded. Circus style requires that only one trailer loading event can occupy the entire carset platform at a time from entry up the ramp as the trailer is backed onto the carset platform to securing the trailer on the car hitch to running the tractor back down the carset platform for the next trailer(s). The other advantage of loading elephant style is the ease of loading double and triple (or more) combo trailers. The CP guys have mastered backing double combo’s onto the carset platforms, but loading triples or more is for practical reasons not really possible.
Thanks to all of you for your answers. The elephant loading idea is very interesting. Would it be better if the flatcars had some sort of guide rails to contain the wheels of the trailers?
That should read “elephant-style”.
Probably don’t need them, the tractor drivers can keep the trailers on the platform. Once the 5th wheel hitch is up and the kingpin locked in, the trailers usually stay on the platform.
There were some problems with trailers being rocked sideways, the trailer wheels would slide to one side or the other of the flatcar, and some trailers got sideswiped at an overpass. Don’t know if they chain down the rear wheels now or not.