Efficient, economical transportation of finished product from factory to consumer is one of the many services Southern offers its customers.
Aerial view of Southern's new 10-acre automobile distribution center near Columbia, S. C. Two spur tracks service the center and permit unloading of fourteen multi-level auto rack cars at one time. Parking for approximately 600 vehicles is currently provided. |
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Characterizing Southern's role in this distribution process was the opening in January of Southern's newest automobile distribution center, located near Columbia, S. C. The 10 - acre facility serves as a stopover link between the automobile manufacturer and his dealers, enabling the manufacturer to take economic advantage of volume rail movements of his vehicles to a centrally - located point for distribution to the dealers.
Inspecting the new facility were (from left): E. A. Eyers, assistant vice president sales, Southern Railway; S. T. Zimmerman, assistant general traffic director, Cheyrolet Motor Division, General Motors Corporation; G. T. Kuhn, administrator Transportation, General Motors Corporation; R. W. Hoelzle, manager of traffic, Dldsmobile Motor Division, General Motors Corporation; 0. M. Kujala, traffic manager, Cadillac Motor Division, General Motors Corporation; C. W. Gowl, senior assistant vice president sales, Southern Railway; R. C. Schallom, sales manager Automotive Industry, Southern Railway; J. A. Johnson, Director, Customer Service Engineering, Southern Railway; E. L. Boyd, district sales manager, Southern Railway; H. J. Bush, director of transportation, Anchor Motor Freight, Inc.; M. E. Lowe, staff assistant outbound, G. M. Assembly Division, General Motors Corporation; and A. J. Kosak, comptroller, Anchor Motor Freight, Inc. |
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The distribution center currently has five acres of paved parking capable of holding approximately 600 automobiles; five more acres are slated for paving as use of the center expands.
Inspecting one of the unloading ramps |
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Two spur tracks now serve the distribution center, with provisions for a third. A total of fourteen bi - or tri - level auto rack cars can be placed at one time for unloading from the two tracks. One "fixed" ramp, sliding sideways on buried rails, permits unloading of either spur track from the one end. A mobile ramp, mounted on wheels and self - powered, is also used to unload either spur track from the end opposite the fixed ramp, insuring front - end - first unloading of all automobiles. After unloading, automobiles are loaded onto highway trailers for delivery to dealers' show rooms. .