Walthers announces the arrival of its all-new 1970s-Era 40' Smooth-Side Container. These new models are perfect for container-on-flatcar service.
Fast Facts: In the early 1960s an arm of the International Organization for Standards (ISO) developed international size, connection and marking standards for containers. As containerized shipping gained popularity in the late 1960s and into the 1970s, most shipping companies with service to the US adopted the ISO standards with 20' and 40' containers being most common. Dry van, or basic "box" containers are the most widely used. In the 1970s and into the 1980s, these were made by many different companies and came in smooth and exterior-post styles. All containers feature 20' or 40' ISO connectors on the corners, or inset ISO connectors on larger 45', 48' and 53' boxes.
In the 1970s, railroads and shipping lines started offering land bridge service designed to reduce shipping times on transcontinental container traffic that would normally move via the Panama Canal. As a precursor of things to come, ATSF and PC teamed up to run a scheduled train from California to New Jersey for Seatrain Lines beginning in 1972, and a weekly train between Houston and the west coast. Containers typically moved aboard 89' flatcars with container pedestals or all-purpose cars with collapsible trailer hitches and collapsible container pedestals. By the late 1980s containers became the prominent international intermodal shipping method.
Features: The Walthers 1970s-Era 40' Smooth-Side Container is based on a typical dry van box. The detailed, ready-to-use model is patterned after a smooth-side container with riveted metal sides. Decorated versions wear paint schemes from the 1970s and 80s. The containers are ideal for use on Gold Line™ All-Purpose 89' Flatcars with ACF Hitches, 932-40800 Series, or with PS Hitches, 932-40820 Series, which are based on 1970s-era and later cars.
1970s-Era 40' Smooth-Side Container
Expected Delivery Date: January 2010
Scale: HO
Retail Price: $5.98
933-2151 Seatrain
933-2152 OOCL
933-2153 YS Line
933-2154 United States Lines
933-2155 Showa
933-2156 Sea-Land
933-2157 Maersk
933-2158 K-Line
933-2150 Undecorated
