RAIL CONTAINER HANDLING -- GETTING ON THE RIGHT TRACK

J. D. Billington, former chief engineer of one of the pioneers of the rail container transport, Freightliners Ltd, outlines the development of rail container handling systems. The discussion principally concentrates on portal cranes, favored for road-to-rail transfer. The earliest types were 0-4-0 (i.e., four lanes between the legs). The need to keep the road vehicle lane outside the portal frame led to the development of cantilever cranes of 2-6-2 and 2-6-3 configurations, in which the portal frame straddles six lanes and cantilever extensions enable the lifting mechanism to cover two or three more lanes at each end. In large terminals, particularly where container storage is provided, more-mobile cranes may be required. The front loader, side loader, and straddle-carrier types are discussed. When comparing running costs, there can be no doubt that the portal crane is by far the cheapest and easiest to maintain. It is also the most reliable.

• Corporate Authors:

  Cargo Systems International

  Arun House, 201-205 High Street
  New Malden KT3 4BH, Surrey,   England 
• Publication Date: 1977-1

Media Info

• Serial:
  • CARGO SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL
  • Volume: 4
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Deutsche Bahn AG

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cargo handling; Container cars; Container handling; Cranes; Industrial trucks; Intermodal terminals; Intermodal transportation; Railroad yards
• Old TRIS Terms: Container trains; Intermodal operations; Jib; Portal cranes
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Railroads; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00156899
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 4 1977 12:00AM