Method and apparatus for intermodal container handling

Abstract

A rail-road intermodal freight system. In an embodiment, a conveyor system is provided for placing rail cars in a position for loading shipping containers thereon, while an over-the-road trailer is secured to the rail car. Rail cars have a frame with a front end and a rear end, and a bogie having at least four flanged rail wheels is pivotally mounted to the rear of the frame of the rail car. A method for unloading the rail cars includes lifting the front of the frame of the rail cars and pivoting the rail cars by an angle alpha from the track direction at an unloading area, and lowering the front end of the frame to the ground to allow truck access to trailers on the rail car. By utilizing the method, efficient loading and unloading of train involved in intermodal shipments may save considerable time, and thus reduce costs.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A rail car for carriage of over-the-road trailers on railroads, comprising:
 a rail car, said rail car comprising
 a bogie, said bogie comprising a chassis operably supporting at least four flanged main rail wheels, said bogie comprising a suspension package between said four flanged main rail wheels and said chassis; 
 a frame, said frame having a front and a rear, said frame pivotally supported above said bogie, said frame generally L-shaped and having a front end and a rear end, said frame comprising 
 a deck for support of said over-the-road trailer, said deck extending between first end and a second end, said deck adapted to slope downward toward said second end during rail transit operation, and wherein said deck comprises a left track portion and a right track portion, said left track portion and said right track portion each sized and shaped for support of an over-the-road trailer having dual left wheels and dual right wheels, and wherein said left track portion has a first inner edge, and wherein said right track portion has a second inner edge, and where said first inner edge and said second inner edge define a gap between said left track portion and said right track portion; 
 a generally vertically extending bumper located at or adjacent the second end of said deck; 
 a rear base, said rear base located rearward of said bumper, said rear base having (a) a lower side and (b) and an upper side; 
 a front coupler and a rear coupler; and 
 a hitch, said hitch adapted for securing a selected over-the-road trailer to said rail car; and wherein said rail car is adapted for transport of an over-the-road trailer having landing gear, and wherein said right track portion and said left track portion are sized and shaped for passage through said deck of said landing gear.