GUNDERSON "MAXI I" CONTAINER
WELL CARS (HO
Scale)
Overview
Since the early days of intermodal transport the
railroads and freight car builders have been looking for more efficient methods
of transporting trailers and containers. One of the greatest innovations in
intermodal transportation came in the late 1970s with the development of the
double stack container car by ACF Industries and Southern Pacific Railroad. From
that point onward the container was king and the railroads and car builders
searched for more efficient methods of transporting containers. In a
revolutionary step from the early stack car designs, Gunderson introduced their
Maxi-Stack 5-unit articulated well car in 1988. Evolved from their previous
5-unit Twin-Stack design, the Maxi-Stack (also called Maxi-Stack I or Maxi-I)
boasted a lower tare weight (accomplished in part by the elimination of the
bulkheads of the Twin-Stack), greater capacity, and greater versatility in
regard to container lengths and widths that could be carried.
Initial production of these cars lasted from May of 1988 through May of 1990
with approximately 270 cars built for Southern Pacific, Chicago Heights Terminal
& Transfer, Trailer Train, Maersk, and the Rail-Bridge Corporation. Despite
their design advances these cars were quickly overshadowed by newer and even
larger designs, and it appeared that the final chapter on the Maxi-Stack design
had been written. However, due to ever-increasing international container
traffic, moving in mostly 20’ and 40’ containers, the railroads took another
look at the Maxi-Stack. While the newer car designs with 48’, 53’, or 56’ wells
were more than adequate to handle this traffic the additional car length was
unnecessary for hauling these shorter containers with the corresponding excess
in train length and increased fuel consumption. As a result BNSF Railway placed
orders for new Maxi-Stack cars in 2000. While outwardly identical to the first
generation of Maxi-Stacks, these new cars featured minor cosmetic differences
compared to their earlier siblings. As
of 2007, the Maxi-Stack is still in production, with new cars built to date for
BNSF Railway, TTX, Northwest Container, and Arkansas & Oklahoma Railway. As long
as there are 20’ and 40’ containers to be hauled, the Maxi-Stack appears to have
a bright future on America’s rails.
fully assembled
|
ITEM # |
PICTURE (All Below Are 5-Car Sets) |
DESCRIPTION |
PRICE |
SHOP |
|
95032 |
 |
TTX (SP) Yellow |
$129.98 |
|
| 95035 |
 |
K-Line/Rail Bridge |
$129.98 |
|
| 95038 |
 |
Maresk Early |
$129.98 |
|
| 95040 |
 |
TTX Early |
$129.98 |
|
| 95041 |
|
TTX Early |
$129.98 |
|
| 95042 |
|
TTX Early |
$129.98 |
|
|
