Giant Swiss Transporter Car

From Modern Railroads November 1957

From Modern Railroads September 1957

The Swiss Federal Railways has had built a transporter car for carrying extra heavy and bulky loads, which incorporates several unusual design features. The car has been designed in collaboration with the Swiss Federal, and built by the Swiss Industrial Company (SIC). It is in two halves, and the load is carried between the two "half cars," which act as a giant clamp. The load is suspended between the two trusses which distribute the weight proportionately on three six-wheeled trucks on either side of it. The load thereby becomes a self-supporting part of the vehicle. Because of limited clearances on curves and such obstacles as tunnels and bridges, a hydraulic system is incorporated which enables the load to be displaced laterally up to 1.15 ft on either side. This lateral movement is directed from two control stands mounted at opposite ends of the car. Each truck is equipped with a complete air brake system with supplementary hand brakes. When the load has been delivered, the two halves of the car can be hooked together to form one unit. When no extra-heavy loads have to be carried, the trucks can be used without difficulty for ordinary depressed center cars. The vehicle's "maiden voyage" consisted of transporting a huge stator for an electric generator from the Brown, Boveri plant in Munchenstein to Frimmersdorf (West Germany) .The stator weighed 454,200 lb, had a diameter of 13 ft and a length of 33 ft. Maximum load capacity is 595,300 lb and the length of the car (without load and with the two parts coupled) is 110 ft. Tare weight is 198,500 lb, axle-load 44,100 lb.

SWISS FEDERAL RAILWAY'S new giant transporter car for the movement of extra heavy loads. In this photo the two 18-wheel "half cars" are hooked together. The load is carried between them.