Roadrailers: Half Train, Half Truck

There are many hybrid vehicles all over the world, but few are as fascinating as the American Roadrailer. These are basically truck trailers that have been attached to rail bogies, and are pulled behind a train. They are a cost-effective way for freight companies to move freight.
I have wanted to see Roadrailers for many years, and this spring, I could not believe my luck. I was in Lafayette, Indiana, when I saw a rake of Roadrailers roar by. This inspired today's video.

Trains Are Awesome!

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[Thom-TRA]

The end of an era: looks like Roadrailers are being pulled out of service for good summer of 2024 😢

[zackman]

NS shut down the roadrailers last week and switched to TOFC (trailer on flat car) with how they run these trains. Now they run from Kansas City to Toledo, OH and then truck it up to Detroit.

[dionwilliams]

NS has 2 roadrailer trains left. 255/256 run between Detroit and Kansas City hauling auto parts

[starrwulfe]

I'm from St Louis, MO and saw these all the time passing on the rail line near the house I grew up in in U-City. Didn't know there's just this one left now; it was kind of common to see these!

[edtierney]

Roadrailer trains are a common overnight sight in Oak Lawn IL with Norfolk Southern. Its annoying though when you're caught by one at 1am and just want to go to bed lol.

[HeatherLandon]

I grew up by a CSX line, that only used the flat car method- so I always thought that was the only way truck trailers went on the rails lol.

[entized]

I mean the obvious reason to combine different modes of transport into one is ease of access. it already feels great to board a regional train at your local stop that operates express for some of the distance to make your journey both direct and fast. And now imagine being able to use what is essentially a train while not actually living close to a railway station…

[oubrioko]

Most RoadRailer bogies are at/past their planned end-of-life. While the side frames, wheelsets and bearings are standard, RoadRailer bogies have custom bolsters, air reservoir tanks, brake line rigging, as well as the all-important skid plate, that are not present on standard rail road trucks. *Norfolk Southern* will operate the eastbound and westbound Detroit-Kansas City RoadRailer trains until the end of their contract with Ford. The fronthaul is westbound carrying auto parts for Ford's huge Kansas City Assembly plant in Claycomo, Missouri, which builds the popular _F-series_ pickup truck as well as the _Transit_ delivery van. The eastbound is made up of sub-assemblies produced at the K.C. plant destined for a number of Ford's Michigan assembly plants, along with various brokered truckloads from K.C. based shippers destined for consignees in the Great Lakes area at a backhaul rate.

All current RoadRailer equipment was built by semitrailer manufacturer *Wabash National* in Lafayette, Indiana. Auspicious that you happened upon this train in RoadRailer's hometown. Very nice video. Cheers

[josephriddle]

Thom, FYI Roadrailers are (were) built in Lafayette by the Wabash Trailer Corp.

[albert]

That was very informative.

In Australia, in the city of Adelaide, we have a bus/rail this thing where normal road buses travel on a guided busways like train tracks for part of the trip. It’s always fun riding the bus and the driver just lets go of the steering wheel with the bus travelling at 60 mph.

[jonathanbott]

Used to see them in Danville, IL, presumably the same line.
The key differences for the trailers are that they need the train's hydraulic lines installed along the underside and the chassis are more reinforced to handle the train pull and for the bogie mount. The front mount is the 5th wheel, but the back had a special attachment point.

[NonstopEurotrip]

Wow that's fascinating! And lucy you happened t be in the right place at the right time! Oh and Superalbs' has just been on the Bus-Train in Japan, he said it was AMAZING fun! Great video Thom!

[BHV]

I just saw these a couple weeks ago along the NS Lafayette District southeast of Champaign-Urbana, IL. Was so cool to see.

[PaulCashman]

That was quite a catch, since as you said, that's the last remaining roadrailer route in the U.S.
I remember seeing them many years ago on Norfolk Southern's Atlanta District. I really wish I'd savored that opportunity more back then, since alas, their time is numbered.
BTW, you probably already know this, but piggyback trailers are normally carried on "spine" cars, not conventional flat cars.

[dfwrider]

I believe there's one at amtraks 14th st yard. There's also a video online of them showing how they are attached to the back of passenger trains in that yard.

[GrownKetchup]

A week before the 4th of July I saw a triple crown NS under the pedestrian bridge in downtown Lafayette

[ianweniger]

Not quite piggybacks or even intermodal! Cool.

[SteveInNEPA]

Great video, Thom, as always.
Questions:
1. Have you ever been on a rail cart?
2. Have you ever done any rail biking?
Just curious...

[gailyncookMilwRR]

Think of the extra traffic if all those trucks and intermodal containers went down Main St. of every city that Train passed thru.😱

[migi]

Cool capture & spotting something rare. Also the weight & braking distance increase again but, maintenance cost eliminated. Overall win. Still working for now. I didn't know about these.