US Car Float Operation

[flubrush]

One point made in the article that will add operational interest to your double track barge is the need to keep the load laterally balanced on the barge, avoiding, say, all loaded cars on one track and empties on the other.

 

Good point. As a dinghy sailor, I should fully appreciate the need for lateral balance on water. I dare say that when loading the barge, especially with fully loaded cars, the cars would have to be loaded (and unloaded) probably one at a time on each side.

 

Jim.

[Talltim]

Some locos used for loading carfloats often had vertically extended (eared) couplers, to allow for sudden changes in gradient

 

http://trainweb.org/AbandonedLIRR//nych/earedknuckle.jpg explains it best (from http://www.trainweb.org/AbandonedLIRR/NYCH.htm)

[pH]

Given the title of this old topic, I thought I would resurrect it rather than starting a new one. How's this for a rail barge (and for a photograph of one!)

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/597088