How come sense the 1980s, their has been no piggybacks (auto racks are debatable, rare occasion) haven't been on mixed freights? im talking major shippers like NS, CSX, BNSF, UP ETC. Here's a pic to explain.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=339395&
those would be fun to have :-)
I'm guessing its more efficient just to ship a container rather than the whole trailer http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=333913 (http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=333913)
thats true but i woudn't mind to have them on my layout :D
i think the reason you don't see more piggybacks on general freights is that truck trailers and containers are usually higher priority freight than everything else. the general freights usually aren't as time sensitive. also, most railroads now have seperate yards for general freight and intermodal. thus, you are unlikely to see trailers go over a hump yard.
having seperate yards for intermodal and general freight keeps the intermodal moving fasteras well.
Come to Houston down by the ship channel , you will see them . Or off HY 610 by the I-10 E interchange .
Container freight is more cost effective.
On a recent program on History channel this was explained (I think it was on trucking).
Containers fit into a ships hold, and the new RR cars for containers have a deep well so the containers can be stacked two high.
Off loading has also been simplified with the containers.
Just a few of the reasons. Look for a repeat of the History program on TV.
Also a reason is most likely that since those flat cars only carry one trailer. Now, railroaders are a MUCH better solution, because it doesn't take nearly as much steel, since the trailers are suspended between two trucks. Just a thought.
even before double stacked containers became common, two trailers per flatcar was the norm. that's why they grew to 89' in length. this was fine with trilers up to 45', but once 48' and 53' trailers were introduced it was no longer possible to fit more than one on a car unless the car was articulated. articulated cars require special equipment to unload, so the number of intermodal terminals dwindled, but the survivors became huge. back in the 1970s it was still possible to have a ramp at the end of a siding, and drive trailers on or off the car.
they just off load the container body onto a trailer frame now, containers are so cheap they are often times only sent one way then sold or scraped, trailers have to be licensed stored loaded and sent back. Just makes more sence to do container for all the reasons mentioned
NM