What were the most common types of intermodal car used in the late 70s early 80s? Today we have the well cars and front runners, but what about TOFC? Atlas makes an 89’ flat and there are others. When did they go out of style, what replaced them? When did the RoadRailer service begin, and by whom? And if anyone has any specifics about what the Southern did, it would be greatly appreciated!
I know that in the 70’s and 80’s Santa Fe was using/creating the 10 Pack fuel foiler. TOFC was started in the 50s. And C&O Started roadrailers in the late 50s but they never really caught on untill Triple Crown came around
89’ TOFC flat cars are still in used today and haven’t been entirely supplanted. The 89’ flat car was the bread and butter of the 70’s and 80’s. TTX (TOFC only) and TTAX (TOFC/COFC) were the most common Trailer Train varieties but there were 50’ flat cars converted from box cars or others also used and mixed in intermodal trains. The Front Runner spine cars were used starting in the mid-80’s.
In 1982/83, 45’ trailers were permitted on nationwide roadways and 89’ flat cars were converted to hold two 45’ trailers in stead of two 40’ trailers or one 40’ and one 45’ trailer. TTX becamse WTTX and TTAX became TTWX (the latter being all pupose TOFC/COFC).
For HO:
-Accurail has “all purpose” 89’ flat cars which are reportedly close to the ACF type flat car and have issued them in brown TTAX, TTX, and TTCX, Yellow Trailer Train STTX, TTWX and RTTX, and TTX logo TTWX, RTTX and KTTX as well as SP, SF, Sou and a few others.
-Atlas will be the “all purpose” style flat by ACF, first run to include the Trailer Train logo TTAX and TTX logo (1991 and after) RTTX and private roads.
Walthers decided to offer the less common TOFC only 89’ flat car maufactured by Bethlehem (no pedestals for containers) and offer them in TTX, WTTXand private roads - and this fall RTTX and KTTX (both Trailer Train and TTX logo’s) My guess is that the TTX logo versions were not that common since the WTTX cars were few in number by the early 1990’s, so by ext
I remember the old Tyco flats (I know, I used the “T” word) with 2 trailers on them. These are a lot shorter than 89’. Was there ever a prototype for these? If so, how long were the flats and the trailers?
Wikepedia is a nice intermodal starting point…
Freight Intermodal => http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermodal_freight_transport
Don’t overlook Auto Train - a form of passenger intermodal…
Auto Train => http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto_Train_(Amtrak)
Passenger Intermodal => http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermodal_passenger_transport
You’ll find the PRR’s TrucTrain history from January 1950 (founding) to November 1968 (PC merger) to be quite intermodal informative…
TrucTrain & TTX => http://kc.pennsyrr.com/freightops/tructrain_overview.ws4d
Modeling Flats => http://kc.pennsyrr.com/model/acm_f30d.ws4d
The Pennsylvania, Norfolk & Western, and Rail-Trailer Company of Chicago incorporated Trailer Train Company on November 9, 1955. The intermodal terminology is well-defined.
You would have seen a lot of TTX (Trailer Train) anywhere in the USA…
TTX Company #1 => http://www.ttx.com
TTX Company #2 => http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trailer-Train_Company
Roadrailer => http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadrailer
There are also (3) books listed at The Model Trains Magazine Index…
Don’t be embarassed by the “T” word Loathar, they made pretty realistic stuff “in the day”! Kids today won’t appreciate the 5 UP “T” flats I have with 24’ UP trailers on board!![:D]
Don’t laugh at the Tyco 50’ flatcar. With some work it can be made into an EL TOFC. The lenght is just about correct. It is a quick conversion. Just add the channel rails and a trailer hitch. I just did one for my layout.
Mike Dickinson
Tyco flat car?
Sometimes I wonder if I’m casting pearls as the old saying goes.