Chapter 7. RAIL TRANSPORTABILITY GUIDANCE

TM 55-2330-200-15-1

CHAPTER 7

RAIL TRANSPORTABILITY GUIDANCE

Section I. GENERAL

7-1. Scope

7-2. Maximum Utilization of Railcars

This chapter provides transportability guidance for

Additional cargo, as approved by the activity of-

fering the semitrailers for transport, may be trans-

rail movement of the semitrailers described in

ported with the trailers.

chapter 2. It covers significant technical and

physical characteristics and safety considerations

and prescribes the materials and guidance to

prepare, load, tie down, and unload the semitrailers.

Section II. TRANSPORT ON CONUS RAILWAYS

7-3. General

7-5. Loading Semitrailers on General-Purpose

Flatcars

The transportability guidance contained in this

section is applicable when the semitrailers are

a. Semitrailers may be placed in the tiedown

transported on CONUS railways. Consideration is

position of the railcar by a crane or side loader, or

given to single multiple movements on the types of

they may be driven on towed onto the railcar, if a

railcars normally used for the movement of these

suitable ramp or bridge is available.

semitrailers. The semitrailers, when loaded on

b. The load shown in figure 7-1 is based on a

suitable railcars, can be transported without major

flatcar minimum width of 9 feet 6 inches, which will

sectionalization or major disassembly, except for the

accommodate all semitrailers described in chapter 2

M128- and M129-series semitrailers, which have a

except for the semitrailers, low-bed, M172 and

nonreducible height limitation requiring verification

M172A1, which will require a car minimum width of

of line clearances. These semitrailers, therefore, will

10 feet 3 inches. Figure 7-2 is a blocking and tiedown

require special routing under the provisions of

detail diagram for figure 7-1. Table 7-1 is a bill of

restricted rail movements. All other semitrailers,

m a t e r i a l s for blocking and tiedown of the

when at their respective reduced heights, are

semitrailers, and table 7-2 provides data concerning

transportable when within the limits of the

the application of materials required for securing

Association of American Railroads "Outline

semitrailers on general-purpose flatcars.

NOTE

Diagram for Single Loads, Without End Overhang,

on Open-Top Cars, " as shown in both the Railway

A staggered nailing pattern should be used

when lumber or laminated lumber is nailed to

Line Clearance Publication and the Official Railway

the floor of the railcar. Additionally, the

Equipment Register.

nailing pattern f o r an upper piece of

7-4. Preparation of Vehicles

laminated lumber will be adjusted as

The degree of preparation for the semitrailers prior

required so that a nail for that piece will not

to being transported by railcar is dependent upon the

be driven through, onto, or right beside a

operational commitment.

nail in the lower piece of lumber.

7-1