CargoSprinter

[schweitzerdude]

This is something (as an American) I never have seen nor even imagined. But it makes sense. If you are British, German, Swiss, or Australian you may be familiar with this, but for the rest of us, check this out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CargoSprinter

 

[smash]

I only heard of them since starting trainz. It does make sense. But in my opinion not necessarily in the US. We are just too "spread out" to make efficient use of them.
Any way here is a video I found on youtube. Promotional type stuff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv4tIuIJzls

Kenny

 

[pfx]

They're used in the UK as track maintenance vehicles. As they are basically modular, the relevant sections can be added or removed according to requirement for each job.

Can't say I've ever seen one though.

 

[Timbu]

I have some red thing called "CargoSprinter" in my Trainz. I will post a picture if you want.

 

[nexusdj]

They are know as MPV's in the UK or Multi Purpose Vehicles .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_MPV

 

[magickmaker]

I'm speaking of this in the past tense, though I'm not sure if they still use the system.

In the 90's, Canadian National tried something similar to the Cargo Sprinter. This system, called the "Eco-Rail" system worked using special ultralight trailers and powered bogies which were pulled behind a purpose built "locomotive." I use the term locomotive in the loosest terms. The "locomotive" of the system had a regular coupling on the front of it, and could be pulled around by a standard CN engine. Due to numerous bugs, it often WAS pulled around this way.

On paper, CN hoped that the Eco-Rail system would free up locomotives from the trailer-train (road railers actually) intermodal service. Given the light weight of the trailers, it was expected that this lighter, self contained system, would be more economical, and "eco" friendly. Sadly, it wasn't.

By 1997, the system was experiencing a handful of crippling bugs, and though only two years out of the gate, the writing was already on the wall. One of the big problems faced by Eco-Rail, was the fact that the distributed power system didn't exactly work as designed. Intended to make the string of trailers operate as one train, nine times out of ten the distributed power would fail; causing the "locomotive" (which was under powered to begin with) to nearly grind to a halt. Thus, most photographs show the "locomotive" being pulled around by a GP9.

In the end, the longest train ever pulled by the system was all of 15 cars, and even then this was by a GP9 given the honors. At that point, CN had come to realize that the system was a bit more buggy than was worth the trouble, and though it had worked to begin with, the fact remained that double stack containers were becoming more popular at that point. Ultimately, ECO8004, ECO8003, the two locomotives, and ECO9004-9008, the four distributed power units, were quietly withdrawn from service. Their exact disposition is unknown, though scrapping is the most likely answer.

http://www.trainnet.org/libraries/Lib005/ECO8004.GIF
8004 with 9004 and 9005. DP units.

http://www.trainnet.org/Libraries/Lib005/ECORAIL2.JPG
8004 with 2 DP units being pulled by GP9 7066 after the lead DP unit suffered a heart attack.

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/tr_eco8003.jpg
8003 as she often was found in use.

 

[jnjkerbin]

I go past Tonbridge every day on the train and in the Engineers Yard (I think thats it) to the east full of about 6 of these. They're quite common in south east England. In fact something I found just the other day.. http://www.trainspots.co.uk/index4rhttregions.php?region=11
Joe

 

[schweitzerdude]

Re CN's problems

Perhaps CN tried to use too may flatcars between the two ends. The German designed Cargo-Sprinter seems to be designed for 5 to 7 cars max from what I read on wikipedia.

It's the old story of "if five works, lets try ten". And if Cargo-Sprinter is not viable in the USA, it's certainly not viable in Canada either - both countries are too spread out.

 

[magickmaker]

The thing with Eco-Rail, was that there weren't flatcars. This was a variation of the Road Railer system. The trailers were very specific in design, being of an "ultra light" system.

 

[kws4000]

Gotcha.

What were the tires for anyhow? was it so that it could be pulled around like a trailer behind a semi?

Sounds like a Trackmobile would have been a better investment.

 

[mrreet]

Gotcha.

What were the tires for anyhow? was it so that it could be pulled around like a trailer behind a semi?

Sounds like a Trackmobile would have been a better investment.

It looks as though the "engine" could be moved by semi trucks. Think of it as a roadrailer that is backwards and powered.