FREIGHTLINER SHOW FOR TRANSPORT MANAGERS
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AFREIGHTLINER exhibition train attracted many transport managers from the heavily industrialized South Yorkshire area at Sheffield last week when details of forthcoming Freightliner services from Sheffield were given.
The new Rotherham terminal is expected to be operational by June 5. The service will leave Sheffield at 2200 hours and arrive at Kings Cross at 0150 hours, The return service leaves Kings Cross at 0255 hours, arriving at Sheffield at 0645.
In July the second service is planned to open to Aberdeen, via Glasgow. This leaves Sheffield at 2045 hours and arrives at Glasgow at 0423, leaving there at 0723 and arriving at Aberdeen at 1155. On the return trip at 1500 hours, Glasgow is reached at 1927 hours. Glasgow departure is at 2300 hours; arrival at Sheffield is 0700.
Eleven standard-dimension high-capacity Freightliner containers were mounted on five 65-I ft. long fiat wagons for the demonstration. The familiar container stock included an insulated 20 ft. x 20 ft. x 8 ft. container as used on the Aberdeeiv'London meat haulage service. Less familiar stock included a 500 cult. 10 ton capacity Demtank open-end door container with a tare weight of 1 ton 10-4 cwt used for minerals, fertilizer and corrosive powders. The Demtip is sheeted with a nylon hood and may soon be a familiar sight on tipping vehicles.
The 4,000 gal. capacity Demtank (tare 3 ton 1 cwt), with a carrying capacity of 15 tons, has six separate compartments and is designed to carry non-viscous liquids and aqueous solutions. Provision is made for gravity loading and discharge.
Most significant in view of the vast freight tonnages which move between Sheffield and Birmingham was a strong hint that British Railways hope soon to be competitive at this modest radius, there is no doubt that to other car producine centres the Freightliner service will provide a stimulating challenge to road transport.