Origin of intermodal transport, Metro Cammell container for LMS
I already published steel containers produced by Metropolitan-Cammell for LNER and LMS in 1929: OIT – LNER/LMS shipping container (1-148)
Here are now some more steel containers produced by same manufacturer for London Midland & Scottish railway, most interestingly the A-type containers (A-type, approx. 7’ long was that time the equivalent of todays 20’-containers) of LOT 762&818, of which 2×100 pieces were delivered in 1934. I found this design quite interesting due to the extensive use of corrugation. Also, the roof is much different to typical British Road-Rail-Container so it could show more diversity of containers used that time.
After designing the A-type I found that halfway to make the B-types where already done to, so I decided to create them as well. The B-type (13’+ long, today it would be a 40’-container) was ordered in three batches with some different design to strengthen the side walls: 50 pieces of LOT763 produced in 1934 have similar corrugation side walls, like the A-type, just vertical. For the 50 pieces of LOT764, which were interestingly produced earlier than LOT764 in 1933/34 the side walls were strengthened using diagonal L-frames. The final batch of LOT868 with 100 pieces produced in 1935 is a mix of both, with diagonal L-frames and smaller corrugation at lower part of sides.
All containers got at doors main data written in imperial and metric units, so these containers were prepared for shipping to the continent as well and it is therefore reasonable to travel them as cargo also in French, Belgian, Dutch or German railway layouts!
We found photo evidence, that these containers were still used in earlier days of British Railways – see picture.
Each container is available in two versions, one for resin printing and one better for FDM-printers. Decals are available for DIY-print as PDF-files. I printed them using white toner for my laser printer.
Hope these containers help to bring this interesting piece of history of intermodal transport on your layout or diorama.
I have to thanks Carlislecitadel2@Thingverse! He helped me a lot in getting more and better information about British road-rail containers. Many thanks to him!
As always, all models sized for British n-scale (1:148).
Conversion values:
Continental N-scale, 1:160 -> 92.5%
TT-gauge, 1:120 -> 123%
HO/H0-gauge, 1:87 -> 170%
OO/00-gauge, 1:76 -> 195%
S-gauge, 1:64 -> 231%
O-gauge, 1:48 -> 308%
Sources for modelling (including diagrams):
[1] R.J. Essery “An Illustrated History of LMS Wagons Volume Two“, 1983, OXFORD PUBLISHING CO (OPC), ISBN 978 0 860932 55 0
Credits:
Slanjonok
Download 3D models
| File | File size |
|---|---|
OIT – Metro Cammell container for LMS (1-148)
|
45 MB |