Today I followed a semi that had a huge piece of equipment on it. The configuration of the equipment was such tha all the weight seemed to be concentrated on one corner of the truck bed. The truck road with such a tilt, that you’d think it would tip over on a curve.
I know that a lot of over weight, and oversize loads go by rail. How do railroads compensate for unbalanced loads?
Norris,
Often we use counter weights.
Not unusual to see a transformer or a power generator with an offset base, so the load ends up with most of the weight all on one side of the flat, so they add all types of counter weights to compensate.
I have seen big concrete blocks, slabs of steel and even a huge steel bucket filled with iron plates to balance a load.
Would that have to be done on or near the scale? Or. would they simply add weight until the springs looked even, or the car was level?
If I pay to have my big honkin’ piece of off-balance euquipment shipped out with a buck of iron plates, do I have to pay to ship the plate back to their home? [:P]
On a similar note> does having all the weight at one end of the car cause any operating issues?
Would depend on the shipper and the railroad, most loads like that are loaded under the supervision of a loadmaster for the railroad and someone from the shipper…I can guess they are mostly looking for a even level ride on the car.
They will add the weights to the side and one end to make sure the car is level both side to side sand end to end.
Quite a few of the counter weights I have seen are added in such a manner it looks like removing them would be fairly straight forward…a few welds or a chain set up.
I have seen a depressed center flat car that has a semi-permanent counter weight on one end and side, it seems to show up about every other month with a transformer on it, then heads back out empty with the counter weight still in place.
The weight is a big set of concrete blocks in a “cage” made up of ¼" steel flat bar, the concrete is in slabs or slices that stack in the cage, so it looks adjustable weight wise.
As for who pays for hauling the dead weight back, I assume the railroad has figured the cost into the shipping overall tariff.
I am disappointed. I thought this was going to be about crazy hobos.
Well, Eric, when I find a big load of crazy, it’s best not to stir it.
Counterbalancing is the correct answer. If I see a load of any sort that looks unbalanced, I assume that it has shifted, and it gets reported.
ALL large over sized loads listed above would run as Dimensional loads with special instructions for he crew handling them and at low speeds, VERY careful route planning and perhaps a train ahead to check for obstructions such as bridge abutments, poles and signals next to the tracks.
see:
http://www.csx.com/?fuseaction=customers.news-detail&i=50506
This CSX customer notice states what happens with unbalanced loads.