Special Cargo
Several types of cargo are not suited for containerization or bulk; these are transported in special cars custom designed for the cargo.
- Automobiles are stacked in open or closed autoracks, the vehicles being driven on or off the carriers.
- Steel plates are transported in modified gondolas called coil cars.
- Goods that require certain temperatures during transportation can be transported in refrigerator cars (or reefers - US) or refrigerated vans (UIC), but refrigerated containers are becoming more dominant.
- Center beam flat cars are used to carry lumber and other building supplies.
- Extra heavy and oversized loads are carried in Schnabel cars
Read more about this topic: Rail Freight Transport
Famous quotes containing the words special and/or cargo:
“The rebellion is against time pollution, the feeling that the essence of what makes life worth living—the small moments, the special family getaways, the cookies in the oven, the weekend drives, the long dreamlike summers Mso much of this has been taken from us, or we have given it up. For what? Hitachi stereos? Club Med? Company cars? Racquetball? For fifteen-hour days and lousy day care?”
—Richard Louv (20th century)
“Nitrates and phosphates for ammunition. The seeds of war. They’re loading a full cargo of death. And when that ship takes it home, the world will die a little more.”
—Earl Felton, and Richard Fleischer. Captain Nemo (James Mason)