Track Centers Under A Mi-Jack Crane

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

What would be the correct track centers for two tracks under a Mi-Jack crane so that two trains will run under it?

2

I think there usually is only one track under the crane - the extra space is for the truck chassis that the container is going to be loaded/unloaded from. Maybe somewhere they transfer containers from one well car to another…

Jim

3

If You are going to have a scene with the walters Mi-Jack crane loading and or unloading a intermodal train, then it can only be one track under the crane, because the Walters crane is not long enough to span two tracks and still have room for the equipment that is spotted next to the cars… Real life scenario would be the crane straddles two tracks with room for the equipment on both tracks next to the cars…

I was a crane operator at the CSX Intermodal yard in Bedford park IL.

Hope that helps

Frank

4

Looks like MiJack does offer straddle-lifts which span 2 tracks + access road (MiJack MJ1000RDDS), but the interior width is specified as 71foot 6inches. Kitbash 2 MiJack models together, maybe?

5

The Walthers Mi-Jack crane spans one track with space for the trailes on one side. Since I will have two tracks and my Intermodal yard is 6 feet long, would I use two Mi-Jacks or would I use one Mi-Jack and one or two Piggy Packers?

6

Since the Walthers Mi-jack represents rubber tired equipment not a rail mounted straddle crane and the prototype is steerable, there is no reason to limiting it to serving one track it even serving a track at all. It can also be used for transfering containers from truck chassis to/from storage areas (all on pavement).

Depending on the volumn and timing of operations, one Mi-kack or piggypacker may be all that is needed in a small prototype intermodal yard. .