Rapido 1130001-1 - HO Vancouver Iron Works Piggyback Flatcar: Canadian National: Single Car #3: #688017

Rapido 1130001-1 - HO Vancouver Iron Works Piggyback Flatcar: Canadian National: Single Car #3: #688017

 The HO scale Canadian Piggyback Flatcars feature:

• Designed from original car drawings
• Durable die-cast sill for maximum weight
• Metal grab irons
• Detailed underbody brake piping
• Two styles of hitches: upright and lowered
• Semi-scale metal knuckle couplers
• Barber S-2 trucks with profiled metal wheels
• Minimum suggested radius: 18”

In the 1960s, trailer on flatcar (TOFC) operations was the newest railroad innovation. Traffic had grown substantially and Canadian National and Canadian Pacific saw a need to purchase TOFC-style flatcars that could handle both dual 26-foot and larger trailers. These flatcars were not limited to the Northlands, as they were often seen all throughout the United States. They were commonly seen in the Northeast, but often seen as far west as California! While they were often seen in intermodal consists, they were also commonly mixed into manifest freights.

Canadian National placed an order for 283 cars with Vancouver Iron and Engineering Works (VIEW). Delivery of these cars started in 1966, and operated well into the late 1980’s. In 1976, a major overhaul saw them receive a single hitch configuration which resulted in the cars being renumbered into the 687000 to 687184 series.

Canadian Pacific ordered 305 cars from Marine Industries Limited (MIL) in 1972. These cars wore road numbers 505625 to 505930. Over their lifespan they saw several rebuilding programs, as well as the removal of the second hitch and eventually container pedestals added for the option to haul containers. These flatcars operated well into the late-1990s all throughout CP’s Canadian and American service lanes.