Man that gantry is old and slow CNR Toronto had them years ago but I operated overhead gantry and you can move them a lot faster. Yes I have walked the train many times unlocking the corner locks or twist locks as they were called.
That was not the most impressive display of technology I've ever seen, too much time is wasted with the cradle, or whatever it's called, swinging about. Also, as it translated it was also rotating and that rotation had to be removed by the operator. I can guarantee that this will be nearly 100% automated within a decade or so. Using vision systems and other sensors with fiducials on the top of the containers, train well wagons and truck chassis and this could be robotically done and likely in less than half the time. Again, I am quite disappointed in what passes for technology at these intermodal facilities.
Interbox Connecters is what I was told what they were called. That is what I knew them as but I'm just thinking right now maybe, they are actually called Intermodal Box Connecter. I worked in intermodal for six years. The IBC's have changed a little bit since the early 2000"s when I left intermodal. The handles on the latest IBC's stick out on the long side of the container. I guess it makes it easier for the Tie Down/ Groundman to lock or unlock the container from the ground with a long stick and keep walking. The old way you would stop walking, unlock the lock then move to the next one because the handle was on the inside (ex. the same end of the box the doors or the refrigeration unit was mounted on). Most of the time you could unlock the lock without slowing down much till you got to one who's handle turned to easily (the handle would flop back to locked position) or too hard. My co-worker who is now deceased would bug the car department every once in a while to take some rods they used to make grabirons and make a long stick to make a "Shepherds staff" which coincidentally, was my co-workers last name to help us unlock the boxes. A foreman once said, "Jimmy is always looking for a way to get out of work". referring to the "Shepherds staff" idea. Fast foreword to late 2000's maybe 2012 ish. The first brakesticks us conductors used I saw the label on one that said "Shepherds staff" and have not seen the label since then. Perhaps his family had rights to the name I don't know. Now when I look over at the Tie-Downs loading or unloading I see them using the long version of the brakesticks that we use. As a side note when we would load with two or more people while working with more than one crane a TieDown would go ahead and unlock the boxes from the chassis then "throw seeds" IBC's after the lead crane would load the bottom box in. Here in Illinois the nickname we use for stack cars is "tubs" and in California I know they call them "bays". We also call a train full of empty stacks, "repo" train. short for reposition of equipment. Perhaps some of this info could help with your Railfan and Model Railroading needs. Sorry to be so long winded but I was reminiscing at the same time.
you just answered the question they are called colms or corner castings or twist locks they go on each corner when the container is on a truck as a trailer, riding double stack on a train, or hitting the high seas on top of a ship. four of these secure the load and they are locked by pulling a ratchet level on the side. the only time they are opened is when the container is being unloaded.
this was filmed off a public bridge in a kinda sketchy part of town. what looked like a mentally disturbed homeless guy walked past. hard to tell what his issue was. he didn't stop, I didn't ask.
@@frostyorca Fair enough, I actually didn't expect a reply from you ;-). Just sounded like someone who was injured or something. Nice vid, don't see that sort of activity where I live. Cheerz
