Help with Intermodal Transfer Facilities (ITFs)

[mapsgame]

My prototypical route has several ITFs. These are large facilities with multiple tracks that are just under a mile in length. The rolling stock at these facilities are well cars that are loaded and unloaded using straddle cranes. I am not sure how the operations work. I have see empty trailers lined up for loading/unloading without and with containers but not truck attached. Anyone know how the ITF functions?

What suggestions and advice do you have regarding building custom prototypical ITF's?

@norfolksouthern37 developed animated ITF straddle crane loading & unloading and posted videos. But it was never released to the DLS
His animations showed semi-trailers with truck lined up to load/unload which then drive away when loaded/unloaded.

 

[ricomon35]

@mapsgame

I have an MRR layout WIP that features two Intermodal yards. One Truck/Train, one Truck/Train/Ship/Railcar Ship Transfer. Semi-prototypical.

These pics show both yards > annotated.

 

[mapsgame]

@mapsgame

I have an MRR layout WIP that features two Intermodal yards. One Truck/Train, one Truck/Train/Ship/Railcar Ship Transfer. Semi-prototypical.

These pics show both yards > annotated.

@ricomon35
Nice work! I can see you put a lot of thoughtful planning into the IFTs. What did you use as a go-by to create them?

 

[ricomon35]

@ricomon35
Nice work! I can see you put a lot of thoughtful planning into the IFTs. What did you use as a go-by to create them?

@mapsgame >>> I used Google maps street and over-head views of the many yards/facilities at The Port of Portland.
I have delivered/picked-up to/from all of these yards, back when I was driving same-day fast freight for a living, all up and down the I-5 corridor, PDX to Northern California, and PDX to Vancouver, Canada, so I'm familiar with all of the facilities at Portland, Seattle-Tacoma-Everett and Vancouver.

Port of Portland Yards: This includes several different transfer modal facilities.

1.) UP Annex Yard
2.) UP Brooklyn Yard
3.) Albina Yard
4.) BNSF Railway Co,
5.) Portland terminal Railroad Co.
6.) BNSF Wilbridge Yard
7.) UP Railroad - Barnes Yard
8.) BNSF Ford Railyard

You can find them all here >>> Portland Rail Yards

The truck wash building (full interior) I based on the one at Brooklyn Yard, here >>> Brooklyn Yard Truck facility
The trailer parking line system as well.

Of note (and alot of fun to study) is the huge circular Grain Transfer Facility on the west end of the peninsula where the Willamette and Columbia rivers meet, here >>> Grain Facility PDX