March 5 - HLI Rail & Rigging has reached an agreement with Contractors Cargo Co to manage the latter's six-strong speciality railcar fleet including one 500 tonne capacity Schnabel railcar.
HLI partner, Ross McLaren says that the railcars will be used primarily to transport transformers from ports to power plant facilities around the USA.
HLI/CCC have been awarded four rail moves so far for 2010, with the first taking place in February involving a transformer moving from the port of Houston to Riesel, Texas.
The 385 tonne transformer was discharged onto mats before coupling the Schnabel railcar, secured for rail transportation, with HLI providing all the engineering and rail clearances and transportation of the unit to the final destination. A second similar transformer is currently being loaded in Houston.
The 500 tonne capacity Schnabel railcar also has a 45 foot (13.7 m) flat deck insert with a similar capacity.
