FVM Intermodal

[Englewood]

Some of you guys know entirely too much about containers... 

[James Costello]

So, aside from the EMP Optimodal venture, was Schneider all trailers until '04?    I don't seem to have any containers showing up in my photo collection until 2005 (which of course doesn't mean they didn't exist, just not that common yet). 

I think that's probably right mate. They did test containers as early as '92 and also had a test set of roadrailers, but they were predominately trailers through the 90s and mid way through 00. I shot hardly any on my trip in '05 and even in '06 where I had a few consecutive days trackside on the BNSF Transcon, I would say the trailers were still more common than the containers. This could be a BNSF vs UP thing out west though too.

There was a group of shippers like Schneider (Dart, NFI, Swift etc) that dabbled in the 53' container transition alongside the IMCs (EMP, HUB, NACS, STAX, Pacer etc) but it seems to have been the corrugated steel container that got everyone onboard (Marten, Robinson, FedEx, UPS, UMAX, etc) and dominates today. I guess the durability issues of the aluminium platewalls and the low cost of Chinese steel drove this change.   

[Denver Road Doug]

Thank you @James Costello for the info.   

I had already sort of backtracked from my early 90's thoughts to something like "92-98" or something along those lines so that I still keep *some* BNSF.  I'm having a hard time giving up my 5161's.   If they appeared in Z, I would definitely cut out BNSF altogether in N.   But I could still do early/mid 90's and some JBH 53's.

The writing is on the wall that I think I'll go 100% Z at some point, but buying some JBH cans in N will happen and maybe will sway things back who knows.   Another big selloff of N this fall will also be key as to where I go.    As you can tell, I'm pretty conflicted about it right now.   At least I can get rid of anything post-1998 in N, there is no doubt about that part.

[Sokramiketes]

We really need to get Matt on here for these discussions. How about it @Sokramiketes ?

He's expecting another member of his family to arrive in the world today, so it's going to be a little hard to get him in here!  But I'll let him know when things settle down again.

[James Costello]

I've had a quick look at my photos and the FVM Duraplate artwork and based on the tie-down cup (or buttons) shown, it appears to be suitable for most of the JBHU 216501 - 224445+ series of 8,000 containers delivered between 2001-2004. The key spotting feature I am using is the group of 6 cups in the center of the container (3x2 pattern). There are 3 other pairs of cups in the rear third of the container, the bottom one closest to the door is lower than the others in that bottom row.

I happened to catch a Great Wall of Hunt at Tunnel 2 near Caliente in 2011 which netted these examples:
 




And just because the Maxi-IV has interesting weathering and the container has a replacement door:



The other container of interest in this train, is JBHU 223195 showing a different cup pattern - the center pair have been moved to near the front stacking posts - staged perfectly against the container below:



Another good broadside from 2014 near Highgrove CA



http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll3/Costellis/Intermodal%20Items/DSC_0939_zps42yy7suk.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll3/Costellis/Intermodal%20Items/DSC_0971_zpsdijnhkku.jpg

Mismatched doors in 2014:


Roof shots - 2014:



http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll3/Costellis/Intermodal%20Items/DSC_0996_zpse4utgnb7.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll3/Costellis/Intermodal%20Items/DSC_0290_zpskqz9svn5.jpg

This number series also appears to contain some cup-less cans, as per 221816 (Winslow, AZ April 2006):



http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll3/Costellis/Intermodal%20Items/P4240093_zps64evxelf.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll3/Costellis/Intermodal%20Items/P4240097_zpsahaea7fk.jpg
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll3/Costellis/Intermodal%20Items/P4240098_zpszfiqphgv.jpg

One day I'll find the time to split the series up and get a full photo album of the trains up online somewhere.... one day.

I really can't wait to have these in hand and weather them up - such variety!

[James Costello]

In terms of the other manufacturer's composite platewalls mentioned earlier, they're different in appearance from the FVM artwork and relatively rare.

Hyundai - looks more like a typical sheet and post



JBHU 230000-230098+ CIMC (2006) - virtually a clone of the Wabash cup-less Duraplate:

[James Costello]

There are some similarities between the later model Duraplate orders between Hunt and Schneider @ryan_wilkerson

JBHU 226762 at Cajon in 2014 (series 226500 - 226800s (300?) in 2006 - the last Duraplates delivered to Hunt):





Note the wider stacking posts and the 4-6-4 cup pattern (again the bottom cup near the door is lower than the rest).

And from SNLU 977661 - 977960 (300) from 2005?

 





Also with the wide stacking posts, but with different tie-down cup quantity and arrangement (4-4-6-4).

So, a little different from the FVM artwork and models shown to date.

[ryan_wilkerson]

Thanks James. I don't recall seeing any Schneiders exactly liked that but it's close enough for me. Thanks for taking the time to share your expertise and photos.

[GaryHinshaw]

More great research James.  If I were Matt, I would think about offering two versions: one with a common cup arrangement, and a cup-less one with a little bag of cups for the "cup counters" to work with.  This would be a really easy detail for the user to add, and it would make for a distinctive set of cans.

Lots of good NSC well cars in those shots too (second only to the bevy of Gunderson wells).

[Denver Road Doug]

it would make for a distinctive set of cans.

And we all love a distinctive set of cans.   

 

[Mike C]

and a cup-less one with a little bag .

Not sure this is a good practice .....          And it took me a while to figure out WTH "cups" were ......I'll stay in the 50's 

[jagged ben]

I support the bag of cups!      

James, you're remarkable.  Can you comment on the containers in this picture?
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3723519

[James Costello]

James, you're remarkable.  Can you comment on the containers in this picture?
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3723519

Sorry @jagged ben, I didn't even see this question.

Ummm.... well, they're all early 53' era platewalls. Duraplates started in '99 and Wabash switched from painting the top lift hardware red to blue during this time.

I think containers #3 and #5 are Pines (based on nose walls). #1 appears to be a Stoughton (posts) and #4 a Monon (nose wall). #2 might be another Stoughton.... but could easily be one of the Great Dane / Monon / Pines options as per below.

The Great Dane / Monon / Pines (early) are all fairly similar designs (thicker stacking post with flared top / bottom like the 48' designs) whereas the Stoughton has a typical stacking post with an additional plate reinforcement strip each side). The shadows on the stacking posts on #2 make it difficult for me to tell whats going on there... 

[jagged ben]

Thanks for the reply!