Freight cars and containers

Railways carry enormous quantities of many things essential to our daily life such as foodstuffs, steel, coal, etc, that is why many and varied types of carriages and wagons are needed on a railway system. All these cars have different structure.

The freight rolling stock consists of boxcars¹, open-box cars², flat cars³ and many kinds of special wagons. The boxcar is the most common type employed to transport products requiring protection from weather. A special type of boxcar is a refrigerator car used for hauling food products. Another type of car is a tank car⁴ intended for liquid goods. Coal, gravel, ore and other similar goods are conveyed in open-top cars designed for mechanized loading and unloading. The simplest type of car is the flat car used to carry heavy machinery parts, steel rails, timber, as well as containers.

Special wagons are intended for transportation of certain freight (for freight in bulk, bucket wagons for bitumen, wagons with double decks, etc.)

Container traffic⁵ is a progressive method of delivering freight from door to door. It offers a solution in the eternal door-to-door competition of railways against road vehicles. Transportation of freight in containers gives the most positive results. Generally, goods are packed into containers at factories or warehouses⁶, and containers then loaded on ordinary flat wagons. There is also a special category of containers, which require specially adapted wagons. Containers not only protect the most delicate products but also reduce the cost of loading and unloading.

In the United States this container principle is now being carried a great deal further by what is known as piggyback⁷ transport. Modern methods are applied to the movement of freight so as to reduce to a minimum manual labour. One such method is known as palletization⁸.

Ukrainian railways are equipped with new high-capacity, multiple-wheel freight cars⁹. These cars with automatic brakes and automatic coupling ensure high-speed haulage¹⁰ of very heavy trains. Freight cars of today are made largely of steel, as it is stronger than wood and will not burn.

¹ box car – товарний вагон

² open-box car – відкритий товарний вагон

³ flat car – вагон–платформа

⁴ tank car – цистерна

⁵ container traffic – контейнерні перевезення

⁶ warehouse – склад, складське приміщення

⁷ piggyback transport – контрейлерне перевезення (перевезення навантажених причепів та вантажних автомобілів на залізничних платформах)

⁸ palletization – транспортування вантажів на піддонах або носилках до місця розвантаження

⁹ multiple wheel freight car – багатовісний вантажний вагон

¹⁰ automatic coupling – автоматична зчіпка

¹¹ high-speed haulage – високошвидкісні перевезення

Conversational practice

Exercise 44 While talking we use a lot of idiomatic expressions. Match a line in A with a line in B.

Model: -Hurry up, we’re late!

-Hang on a sec. I’m going to the loo.

A

a Sorry I’m late. I got held up in the traffic.

b Bye, Mum! I’m off to school now.

c Have you heard that Jenny’s going out with Pete Boyd?

d How long did it take you to do the homework?

e I don’t know about you, but I’m fed up with this weather.

f Who was that I saw you with last night?

g I’m tired. I’m having next week off.

h Right! Let’s go for a ten-mile jog in the park!

i Let me buy you a drink.

j Shall we meet this afternoon at 3.00?

k What a fantastic coat! Was it expensive?

B

1. No, no. It’s my round. What would you like?

2. That’s a good idea. The break will do you good.

3. Me, too. I’m just longing for some sunshine.

4. Never mind. You’re here now. Come and sit down.

5. Ages. What about you?

6. It cost an absolute fortune!

7. Really? I don’t know what she sees in him.

8. Sorry. I can’t make it then. What about a bit later?

9. Take care, my love. Have a nice day!

10. You must be joking!

11. Mind your own business!