Rail transport: what is the volume of a railway car

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Rail transport is an important part of the economy of any country. It accounts for almost half of all transported goods. This is one of the safest ways to transport large volumes of cargo. Almost any type and volume of cargo is transported by rail, including bulk, liquid and oversized. For these purposes, there are various types and sizes of railway cars. The main disadvantage of railway transportation is the attachment to certain routes. In many ways, the cost of transporting a unit of cargo depends on the volume of a railway car.

Covered wagons

The purpose of covered wagons is the transportation of piece goods (household goods, household appliances, clothing, furniture, etc.) and a wide range of grains that need protection from atmospheric precipitation and mechanical damage. Covered wagons are equipped with hatches and doors to facilitate the process of loading and unloading. The volume of the covered railway car of the standard 4-axle model 11-066 is 86.4 m³ to the level of hatches and 120.15 m^{3 – fullvolume including the roof with overall dimensions (L x W x H) in mm: 13800 x 2760 x 2791. The carrying capacity of such cars is 68 tons. For the transport of special goods, such as animals, birds, there are specialized box cars with the necessary additional equipment.}

Covered hopper cars are designed to transport any bulk cargo. These are covered bunker-type wagons made in the form of a funnel. Loading is carried out from above, unloading - from below, through special hatches at the bottom, which are called "hoppers". The internal volume of the railway hopper car is 93 m3. Cars of this type are ideal for transporting cement, soot, grain.

Railway Gondola Cars

Railway gondola cars are designed to transport goods that do not require protection from atmospheric influences: vehicles, equipment and machinery, bulk and bulk cargo. Gondola - a railway platform with sides, but without a roof. The absence of a roof greatly facilitates loading and unloading, which, depending on the load, can be carried out by wagon dumpers. The volume of a railway car of this type is 75 m3 with a carrying capacity of 69 tons. In modern railway transportation, gondola cars with six and eight axles with a carrying capacity of 95 tons and 125 tons, respectively, are also used. The design of gondola cars can be different: straight blank walls, sloping walls, a flat floor with unloading hatches, without them, with hatches on the sides. Also used for bulk cargoself-unloading gondola hopper cars.

Isothermal and refrigerated cars

Railway covered wagons designed for the transportation of perishable goods requiring temperature control (meat, fish, fruit, etc.) - isothermal or refrigerated wagons. The volume of a refrigerated railway car, depending on the model, ranges from 75 to 130 m3. To maintain the required temperature, the body of insulated wagons is sheathed with special thermal insulation. Refrigerated cars are equipped with refrigeration units, with the help of which the required temperature regime is maintained.