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Old 07-09-2018, 04:20 PM
swaghauler swaghauler is offline
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Location: PA
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From the standpoint of actually loading the helo onto a flatcar, there is NO reason why you couldn't if it will fit. There are TWO types of heavy duty railcar used in both America and Europe. The first is the 89ft Specialty Flatcar (used for very heavy loads) which has no bulkhead and will allow "roll-on, roll-off" of the load from the front or rear of the Flatcar. The second is the 89ft Heavy Pipe Flatcar with a bulkhead at the front (to prevent cargo from shifting forwards in a rapid deceleration. Both cars can hold a 90ft/27.69m load (with overlap over the coupler) up to 25ft/7.69m high (a standard limit for tunnel and bridge clearance) with a maximum total weight of 239K pounds (259k with the car's weight included). The big issue here would be the cargo width. The maximum width is only 10ft 6 inches (3.23m) in order to clear structures by the tracks (and tunnels).

Just for kicks, here are some other dimensions in Shipping... Specifically Trucking (since I have some experience here);

Older US Trailers (before the 1991 DOT/CDL changes in the US): 96"/2.46m wide by 98"/2.51m high. Lengths vary and include 27ft/8.3m, 36ft/11.07m, 45ft/13.84m, and 48ft/14.76m.

Post '91 DOT/CDL Law Trailers: 27ft/8.3m "PUP" (the ones used in doubles & triples known as "wiggle wagons"), 35ft/10.76m "PUPS", 48ft/14.76m (mostly in Flatbed configuration), and the "newly authorized" (by the '91 bill) 53ft/16.3m "long platform." Almost EVERY post '91 DOT trailer was built to the newly approved (by the '91 DOT bill) Standardized Box Configuration of 102"/2.62m WIDTH with a SQUARE 100"/2.56m INTERIOR DIMENSION (both vertically and horizontally).

The MAXIMUM height for all loads in the US is 13ft 6"/4.15m (although "Oversized Loads" DO occur).

The Maximum Standard Load for Truck AND Cargo is 80,000lbs/36,363kg before an "Oversized Load Requirement" occurs.
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