Rapido, 403022, HO Scale, 40' Fruehauf Volume Van, Lehigh Valley, #200021
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Lehigh Valley 1 (Tuscan, Piggyback Flag Logo)
The 40' Fruehauf Exterior-Post Volume Van Trailer, introduced in the 1960s, became a cornerstone of the emerging intermodal transportation system. Widely used throughout the 1970s, these trailers played a vital role in "Trailer On Flat Car" (TOFC) operations. This innovative method allowed entire loaded trailers to be transported by rail, eliminating the need for transferring goods between freight cars and local trucks—dramatically streamlining logistics and cutting costs.
While exact production numbers aren't easily accessible, these trailers were manufactured in significant quantities to meet the demands of the time. Ownership spanned across major players like the Pennsylvania Railroad—famous for its "TrucTrain" service—private trucking companies, and the Trailer Train Company (TTX), which emerged in 1955 as a leader in managing these trailers across North America.
The trailers were adorned in various eye-catching paint schemes, representing both railroads and private companies. Notable examples include Pennsylvania Railroad's TrucTrain branding, Lehigh Valley, and Penn Central, among others.
These trailers weren't just practical; they symbolized a transportation revolution, paving the way for the efficient movement of goods in an era when rail and road began working hand-in-hand to reshape freight logistics.
