Sunday, December 19, 2010

Trains delivering cars in the early 70's, packed, racked, and stacked.



Instead of using conventional rail cars, which carried just 18 automobiles, General Motors worked with the Southern Pacific Railroad to develop the Vert-A-Pac rail car, capable of hauling 30 Vegas per rail car. As the name implies, Vert-A-Pac rail cars hauled the Vegas nose-down, in a vertical orientation, after the cars had been bolted to Vert-A-Pac loading ramps that also doubled as doors. Once the Vegas had been secured, the ramps were lifted into place with heavy-duty forklifts, and unloading was as simple as reversing the process. Though the mere suggestion of hauling cars in positions other than horizontal typically horrifies auto enthusiasts, the Vega was engineered to be transported this way. Engine baffles prevented oil from leaking into cylinders, and special batteries with rear-mounted caps were fitted to prevent acid leaks. Any excess fuel left in the carburetor was drained via a tube to a vapor recovery canister, and even the windshield washer tank was oriented to prevent leaks.


those cars are Chevy Vega's

4 comments:

  1. Those were specially designed for the Vega to minimize shipping cost by maximizing space efficiency. Doesn't usually work in short term plans. It was largely a publicity stunt and was used in advertisements.

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  2. The Vert-A-Pac car, designed by the Southern Pacific RR and GM for toting sub compacts like Vegas in 1969...about 200 were eventually built. The pix pretty much say it all as for loading/unloading. Great find...

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  3. ...forgot to mention that a set of locks was built into the car that caught onto securing points built into the vehicles. They had plugs installed to keep the fuel in the tank while transported.

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  4. I worked at the Lordstown Assembly plant from 71-02. I had driven the Vega's to the shipping gates, and Anchor Motors took ownership of the Vega's to route them to truck or rail shipping. At 18 years old, it was an interesting career. Lots of memories looking at these pics.

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