On 14 November 1955, the Norfolk and Western Railway inaugurated "one of America's first piggyback operations" between the Bristol (Virginia) yard and points in the Northeast. Piggyback is another name for what is now known as "TOFC", or Trailer On Flat Car, the precursor to today's intermodal containerized freight.
A bit of research indicated that this was a joint service between the Norfolk and Western and its "big brother", the Pennsylvania Railroad. Thus, at one point in time, the PRR's TrucTrain TOFC operation was hauled by N&W steam locomotives. Ostensibly, this would have been done by the N&W's monster Class "A" articulated locomotives.
Another fabulous first for Precision Transportation!
Posted by Country Pundit at November 14, 2004 11:38 PM