IC PROVIDES ON-LINE, REAL TIME CONTROL TO PIGGYBACK TERMINAL

Illinois Central has provided on-line, real-time control for their intermodal exchange (IMX) piggyback facility. Control is obtained by a digital computer fed by five Automatic Car Identification scanners. Two ACI scanners check trains in and out, and three scanners are located at gates on the road entrance/exit points to check tractors and trailers. Teleprinters and cathode ray tubes provide for input/output. The control system controls twelve basic functions: trailer and flat car inventory, inbound shuttle and pickup, delivery, trailer reservation, patron release and pickup, inbound gate, parking, programming trailer loading on flat cars, cartage, trailer repair and credit reclaim, detention and yard storage, and performance measurements. Conventional automatic parking lot gates are used to control entry/exit of vehicles by road. About 300 trailers per day are handled through IMX. The control system has been a big aid to keeping outbound piggyback trains on time.

• Corporate Authors:

  Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation

  P.O. Box 350
  Bristol, CT  United States  06010
• Publication Date: 1972-1

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: p. 15-17
• Serial:
  • Railway System Controls
  • Volume: 3
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Business Press International Limited

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automatic car identification; Computers; Control systems; Intermodal terminals; Process control; Trailers
• Identifier Terms: Illinois Central Gulf Railroad
• Old TRIS Terms: Intermodal terminal control systems; Process control computers; Trailer utilization
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Railroads; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00041020
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Railway System Controls
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 9 1973 12:00AM