Vol. 17 No. 1
January, 1987
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Keep the Ball Rolling
Stay Safe in 87
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Double-Stack Prototype Put
Through its Paces
Novel rail car incorporates two technologies.
CP Rail is currently evaluating two double-stack container
designs using a single prototype unit that incorporates both technologies.
The double-stack unit is designed to permit the efficient handling of more containers without
increasing train length.
CP Rail's prototype consists of three platforms coupled with rigid drawbars. The drawbars permit platforms to be
quickly added or removed as required.
INPUT VALUED
The middle platform of CP Rail's prototype is a bulkhead design with upright partitions at each end to support
and grip the top container.
The other two platforms are designed to carry containers outfitted with inter-box connectors (IBCs)
- corner castings that lock together the top and bottom containers for stability.
Both the bulkhead and IBC designs enable CP Rail to carry one 40-foot or two 20-foot
marine containers on the bottom. On top, both designs can carry a 40-foot marine container or a
44-foot, three-inch or 48-foot domestic container, but containers on the
IBC units have similarly-spaced connectors.
Most North American double-stack cars also use multiple platforms. But their
shared-axle design restricts them to a single lighter 40-foot container on the bottom
and one on top.
Test runs between Montreal and Toronto and between Toronto and Vancouver have "given us valuable handling
experience", said Mike Csaky, manager, equipment development, CP Rail Intermodal Services.
"They also provided an opportunity for input from ports and container terminal operators in key centres.
This will help us to identify the design best suited to our operations.
"Design analysis is an integral part of our evaluation of whether or not CP Rail should adopt the
double-stack concept", said Csaky.
This CP Rail News article is copyright
1987 by the Canadian Pacific Railway and is reprinted here with
their permission. All photographs, logos, and trademarks are the property of the Canadian Pacific Railway
Company.
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