Containers

Shipping containers became a popular means to ship goods in the sixties, and have only become more popular since. British Rail introduced its own variant, Freightliner, in the mid-sixties, pioneered by Dr Beeching, better known for closing railways. It was originally envisaged as a domestic solution, however it was international trade where is took off.

An international standard, ISO-668, appeared in 1968, based at least in part on the UK standard, though not quite identical to it, and this slowly replaced the UK version.

Early international shipping containers were a variety of designs, but all the same width and height, and either 20', 30' or 40' long. Today the design has standardised on the corrugated sides, and 30' containers are rare, but there is some variation in height - which is a problem in the UK as many routes are not suitable for the higher containers.

The old UK shipping contains seem to have varied rather more, including 10' containers and 27' containers (lorries were limited to 27').

I have created a  number of styles, which I have given my own names to.

Corrugated

As far as I can tell, all modern containers are this style, but it is not out of place in the seventies either. I did 20', 30' and 40' versions, a dozen in total.


By about 1990 (or earlier?), 30' containers had become rare.

These two are open. the doors are so thin they are translucent. They were printed separately, and glued on.




Vertical ribbed

A lot of old containers were this style.



Smooth ends 

As corrugated, but the last two ribs are missing at either end of each side. This was often used for a logo.



Horizontal ribbbed 

A lot of freightliner were this style.


Chemical containers

At the back are three "tanktainers", and in front a multiple element gas container (MEGC), also known as a tube trailer.


Tanktainers are used for both gases and liquids, and possibly dry powders too. They have been around since the late sixties, originally under the trade name Isotank. I suspect they were fairly rare, despite originating in the UK.

One flow that was around back then was Guiness from Ireland. Here then is a Guiness tanktainer. I am not sure if this was the right style for that era.





MEGCs are more recent, possibly from around 2017, though the legislation seems to be from 2004. This version has two rows of five cylinders, but they seem to go up to three rows, with one less cylinder on the top row. There are used exclusively for gases, and can take much higher pressures (up to 180 bar or even 250 bar). For a compressed gas (as opposed to a liquified gas), that means you can put much more in.

Ordinary containers are used for liquids too, the liquid being contained in a bag. I would not be surprised if this was limited to non-hazardous liquids. Australian wine is one example.

References

Good images here:

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