We are excited to announce that we have acquired a complete Triple Crown RoadRailer unit thanks to a generous donation by Norfolk Southern and its subsidiary Triple Crown Services! Couplermate TCSR 960048, Bogie TCSR 5381 and Trailer TCSZ 468820 have made their way to Clinton over the past few weeks to become exciting new additions to our unique collection.
RoadRailer technology was first pioneered in Michigan in the 1950s by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway. The first trains operated from Grand Rapids to Traverse City, with service later extended to Detroit and various other cities as the service blossomed. The C&O eventually discontinued their own invention, but the technology lived on across a number of different carriers throughout the U.S.
The last version of RoadRailers, built by Wabash National and designated “Mark V”, were quite popular due to the ability to transition quickly between road and rail; however, as the equipment reached the end of its service life, it quickly became replaced by intermodal container service. The last remaining RoadRailer route, operated by Triple Crown Services and Norfolk Southern, connected Detroit and Kansas City hauling automobile parts. The very last trains operated on the weekend of August 25th and 26th, 2024 and crossed our own rail line at Raisin Center, MI. Our trailer, TCSZ 468820, served on the second to last westbound 255 train on August 24th.
In addition to the equipment, the office staff of the Triple Crown Service terminal in Detroit graciously donated a collection of technical information, promotional material, and design drawings for the equipment and RoadRailer service that will undoubtedly prove invaluable in the mission of preserving this important piece of railroading history.
Plans for this equipment and document collection include fully assembling the three pieces on rail for display at our Clinton Station as part of our growing static museum, and filling the interior of the trailer with a walk-through exhibit displaying artifacts, photos, detailed history and even video footage! We are excited and honored to become the caretakers of this unique piece of railroad history!
We would like to extend a big thank you to Norfolk Southern Corporation and Triple Crown Services for this donation, our transportation partners at Schlatter Boys Transport for the movement of the rail equipment, and Girbach Farms for the use of their semi tractor to move the trailer.
Are you interested in helping with this project, have ideas or items to contribute? Send us a message! Or, even better, become a member and volunteer your time in helping make this a reality!
