High Winds and Containers

[MarkWi72]

As the wind ramps up outside, I recall a few incidents (2008 & 2015) where containers were blown off Freightliner trains (3 on WCML - Cheddington, Hardendale and Scott's Green). The other was at Deeping St Nicholas.

What developments with the spigots or fixing locks have been don since ? Where FEA-B wagons modified at all?

 

[66701GBRF]

As the wind ramps up outside, I recall a few incidents (2008 & 2015) where containers were blown off Freightliner trains (3 on WCML - Cheddington, Hardendale and Scott's Green). The other was at Deeping St Nicholas.

What developments with the spigots or fixing locks have been don since ? Where FEA-B wagons modified at all?

FEA-Bs and FEA-Ss were modified so spigots in the 20/40 configuration are welded in place so no carrying restrictions during high winds. In the 3x20 configuration some of the spigots are still moveable so empty 20fts are not allowed on those spigots during high wind. If high wind becomes apparent if the train is already in motion and those spigots are in use with empty 20fts then the train speed must be reduced (50 I think).

 

[MarkWi72]

Ok thankyou for that. Makes sense, as the trains which lost containers were all doing 75mph or thereabouts.

 

[greyman42]

Ok thankyou for that. Makes sense, as the trains which lost containers were all doing 75mph or thereabouts.

How exactly do the spigots keep the containers on the wagons? I have never come across the word "spigot" before i read this thread.

 

[swt_passenger]

How exactly do the spigots keep the containers on the wagons? I have never come across the word "spigot" before i read this thread.

The shape of the fixed spigot is such that the container can only be lifted on or off vertically with the wagon level. If the container base is not level as it lifts it will grip and jam on the spigots. The idea is that a strong wind would cause the container to rotate, rather than lift evenly. I think the RAIB report from the incidents mentioned might have a drawing of how it’s supposed to work.

 

[Ayrshire Roy]

How exactly do the spigots keep the containers on the wagons? I have never come across the word "spigot" before i read this thread.

Their proper name is twist locks.
They are kind of a rounded off T shape so a containers mounting holes fit over them.
Once mounted the twist locks are turned 90 degrees and it locks the container in place.

 

[3973EXL]

Their proper name is twist locks.
They are kind of a rounded off T shape so a containers mounting holes fit over them.
Once mounted the twist locks are turned 90 degrees and it locks the container in place.

Spigots and Twist Locks are two different things.

Twist Locks are as you described.
Spigots are like pins locating the container, which just sits on them. They have a narrow waist designed to lock with container if not lifted evenly.

 

[Geoff DC]

Twistlocks are those used on road trailers

https://www.conpargroup.co.uk/twist-locks.html

 

[Ayrshire Roy]

Spigots and Twist Locks are two different things.

Twist Locks are as you described.
Spigots are like pins locating the container, which just sits on them. They have a narrow waist designed to lock with container if not lifted evenly.

It's from working with trucks I know them from. I didn't realise the railway didn't also use them.

 

[swt_passenger]

Here’s the diagram I mentioned earlier:


From the RAIB report about the 2008 incidents here:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/547c9019ed915d4c10000177/R122009_090527_Containers.pdf

 

[edwin_m]

The linked RAIB report includes a good description of how they were intended to retain the containers - a pretty clever bit of engineering. Unfortunately the people that designed the wagons didn't appreciate this, and made the spigots hingeable the wrong way which meant the containers were only held in place by gravity.

 

[66701GBRF]

It's from working with trucks I know them from. I didn't realise the railway didn't also use them.

Twist locks are used on the railway, just on different wagons.