HO ATH Gunderson Maxi-I Well Cars (5), SEAX #730077

Since the early days of intermodal transport the railroads and freight car builders have been looking for more efficient methods of transporting trailers and containers. One of the greatest innovations in intermodal transportation came in the late 1970s with the development of the double stack container car by ACF Industries and Southern Pacific Railroad. From that point onward the container was king and the railroads and car builders searched for more efficient methods of transporting containers. In a revolutionary step from the early stack car designs, Gunderson introduced their Maxi-Stack 5-unit articulated well car in 1988. Evolved from their previous 5-unit Twin-Stack design, the Maxi-Stack (also called Maxi-Stack I or Maxi-I) boasted a lower tare weight (accomplished in part by the elimination of the bulkheads of the Twin-Stack), greater capacity, and greater versatility in regard to container lengths and widths that could be carried.