Thanks for reactivating this topic. While we are pleased that Atlas-O’s introduced models of modern intermodal equipment, with their 53’ containers, Canadian Tire, a Canada-only, store-chain, has started testing 60’ long intermodal containers, earlier this year.
I can’t verify it but online articles claim that in 1994, Canadian Tire pioneered the introduction, testing & proved the viability of the 53’ intermodal containers and now many railroads & shipping companies in North America, use these 53’ containers. If Canadian Tire is successful with their tests with these 60’ containers, we might see more of them on trains in the future.
Before someone on this forum objects the legality of transporting these containers on trucks, here in the US, based on some local, state or federal law, I want to reiterate that Canadian Tire appears to only have stores in Canada, none in the US & we might not be seeing these containers on trains or on trucks, here in the US. The articles from the time of the press-release in May 2017, stated that these 60’ containers were only approved for road transport in the Canadian provinces of Alberta & Ontario, & only with trucks that had a day-cab, which leads me to wonder if Canadian Pacific might have had some influence in not getting the trucks with these 60’ containers to be allowed in the 2 provinces between them, Saskatchewan & Manitoba, requiring these containers to be transported by rail.
In the following photo, look how long the 60’ container looks, with the regular 53’ container in the lower position on the well car.
The custom 60’ containers were fabricated at a Mississippi company, American Intermodal Container Manufacturing Company (AICM).
The custom trailers that would be compatible with the current 53’ containers & these experimental 60’ containers were made by a Quebec company, Max-Atlas.
These are just my opinion,
Naveen
