{{Short description|Specialized railroad freight car}} {{more footnotes needed|date=May 2015}} [[File:CPOX820.jpg|300px|thumb|Consumers Power Company Schnabel car with an electrical transformer in Texas in 2008]]
A '''Schnabel car''' or '''Schnabel wagon''' is a specialized type of railroad freight car. It is designed to carry heavy and oversized loads in such a way that the load makes up part of the car. The load is suspended between the two ends of the cars by lifting arms; the lifting arms are connected to an assembly of span bolsters that distribute the weight of the load and the lifting arm over many wheels.
When a Schnabel car is empty, the two lifting arms are connected to one another and the car can usually operate at normal freight train speeds. Some Schnabel cars include hydraulic equipment that will either lift or horizontally shift the load while in transit (at very low speeds) to clear obstructions along the car's route. As of 2012, there were 31 Schnabel cars operating in Europe, 30 in North America, 25 in Asia, and one in Australia.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Vantuono|first=William C.|date=June 14, 2012|title=Kasgro builds "World's Largest Railroad Car"|url=https://www.railwayage.com/mechanical/freight-cars/kasgro-builds-worlds-largest-railroad-car/|access-date=December 29, 2021|website=Railway Age}}</ref>
[[File:Type of heavy capacity wagon.png|thumb|left|Types of heavy capacity railroad cars:<br/> '''A''': Depressed-center flatcar <br/> '''B''': Schnabel car (self-supporting load) <br/> '''C''': Well hole car.
<br/> In this figure, black indicates parts of the car and gray is the cargo.]]
== Examples == The largest Schnabel car in public railroad operation, reporting number WECX 801, was completed in 2012 by Kasgro Railcar for Westinghouse Nuclear and is used in North America primarily to transport reactor containment vessels.<ref name=":0" /> It has 36 axles (18 for each half). Each half contains nine trucks which are connected by a complex system of span bolsters. Its tare (unloaded) weight is {{convert|399.6|ST|t LT|lk=on}} and has a load limit of {{convert|1017.9|ST|t LT}} for a maximum gross weight of {{convert|1417.5|ST|t LT}}. WECX 801 has the ability to shift its load {{convert|44|in|m|2}} vertically and up to {{convert|40|in|m|2}} laterally on either side of the car's centerline.<ref name="RFNet">{{cite web| url=http://southern.railfan.net/schnabel/cars/wecx801/wecx801.html| title=WECX 801| website=southern.railfan.net| access-date=February 9, 2016}}</ref> When empty, this car measures {{convert|231|ft|m|abbr=on|lk=on}} long; for comparison, a conventional boxcar currently operating on North American railroads has a single two-axle truck at each end of the car, measures {{convert|50|to(-)|89|ft|m}} long and has a capacity of {{convert|70|to(-)|105|ST|t LT|abbr=on}}. The train's speed is limited to {{convert|25|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} when WECX 801 is empty, but only {{convert|15|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} when loaded, and the system requires a crew of six operators in addition to the train's crew.<ref name=":0" />
The second largest Schnabel car in service, owned by ABB, bears the CEBX 800 registration, and is used in North America. Built by Krupp AG, it has 36 axles (18 for each half). Each half has 9 bogies linked together by a complex system of span bolsters. Its tare weight (empty mass) is {{convert|370|t}}. When empty, this wagon is {{cvt|70.6|m|ft}} long. It can carry a load of {{cvt|34.5|m|ft}} long and {{convert|852.3|t}}.<ref>Tom Daspit, CEBX 800 [http://southern.railfan.net/schnabel/cars/cebx800/cebx800.html read] (Retrieved 2010-01-22).</ref>
== History == thumb|left|A {{lang|de|i=unset|Karl-Gerät}} self-propelled siege mortar with its pair of Schnabel-cars on rails The word ''Schnabel'' is from German {{lang|de|Tragschnabelwagen}}, meaning "carrying-beak-wagon", because of the usually tapered shape of the lifting arms, resembling a bird's beak.
In World War II, the German {{lang|de|i=unset|Wehrmacht}} used Schnabel cars for transporting the {{lang|de|i=unset|Karl-Gerät}} heavy-calibre (54 cm and 60 cm calibre) siege mortars. These were self-propelled with a continuous-track suspension chassis of substantial length to maneuver into a firing position over a short range, but depended on a pair of purpose-designed Schnabel cars for long-range transport by rail.<ref>{{cite book |last=Jentz |first=Thomas |date=2001 |title=Bertha's Big Brother: Karl-Geraet (60 cm & 54 cm) |publisher=Panzer Tracts |pages=8, 19 |isbn=0-9708407-2-1 }}</ref> The same system was also used at the same time for the rail transport of the French FCM 2C super-heavy armoured fighting vehicle.
In the United States, the first Schnabel car, WECX 200, was built for Westinghouse Nuclear by manufacturer Greenville Steel Car in the 1960s.<ref name=":0" />
A 1972 patent application granted in 1974 described a Schnabel car claimed to be simplified and easier to use. <ref>{{Cite patent|number=US3788237A|title=Schnabel car|gdate=1974-01-29|invent1=Dieckman|invent2=Albers|invent3=Mrozek|inventor1-first=R.|inventor2-first=B.|inventor3-first=J.|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US3788237A/en}}</ref>
{{As of|2025}}, there are few Schnabel cars in the world because it is a niche mode of transport and because moving huge loads at low speeds affects other railway operations. Heavy-haul and oversize transport companies prefer moving large loads on a hydraulic modular trailer, which works faster and cheaper than the railroad.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Streeter |first=Mercedes |date=2025-05-02 |title=Some Of The Wildest Trains Carry Million-Pound Equipment By Converting Them Into Gigantic Train Cars |url=https://www.theautopian.com/some-of-the-wildest-trains-carry-million-pound-equipment-by-converting-them-into-gigantic-train-cars/ |access-date=2025-07-19 |website=The Autopian |language=en-US}}</ref> Heavy loads from Schnabel cars can be shifted to a hydraulic modular trailer along with the arms and bolster, keeping the load intact.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.fagioli.com/en/pdf/07%20FAGIOLI%20TECHNICAL%20DATA%20HEAVY%20RAIL%20TRANSPORT.pdf | title=Heavy rail transport | website=www.fagioli.com}}</ref> {{clear}}
== List of selected Schnabel wagons == {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! Class number ! Maximum carrying capacity ! Tare weight ! Wheelsets ! Quantity<br />(DB as at 31 Dec 1997) ! Length over buffers ! Bogie pivot spacing <br> or<br> wheelset spacing ! Length of<br> low loading bay |- |Uaai 812<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.familie-linberg.de/bahn/archiv/tiefladewagen/db/html/ba812.html|title=Bauart 812|website=www.familie-linberg.de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deviantart.com/futurewgworker/art/uaai-812-559048690|title=uaai 812. by FutureWGworker on DeviantArt|date=September 8, 2015|website=www.deviantart.com}}</ref> |{{convert|159|t|abbr=on|disp=br()}} | {{cvt|41,000|kg|lb|disp=br}} |10 |1 | {{cvt|19,704|mm|ftin|frac=8|disp=br}} | {{cvt|8,970|mm|ftin|frac=8|disp=br}} | N/A |- |Uaai 820<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.familie-linberg.de/bahn/archiv/tiefladewagen/db/html/ba820.html|title=Bauart 820|website=www.familie-linberg.de}}</ref> |{{convert|157|t|abbr=on|disp=br()}} | {{cvt|83,100|kg|lb|disp=br}} |12 |1 |{{cvt|31,440|mm|ftin|frac=8|disp=br}} | {{cvt|19,100|mm|ftin|frac=8|disp=br}} |{{cvt|8,500|mm|ftin|frac=8|disp=br}} |- |Uaai 821<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.familie-linberg.de/bahn/archiv/tiefladewagen/db/html/ba821.html|title=Bauart 821|website=www.familie-linberg.de}}</ref> | {{convert|190|t|abbr=on|disp=br()}}<br> ({{convert|180|t|abbr=on|disp=br()}}<br> with suspension bars) | {{cvt|83,800|kg|lb|disp=br}} |12 |1 |{{cvt|30,124|mm|ftin|frac=8|disp=br}} |{{cvt|19,100|mm|ftin|frac=8|disp=br}} |{{cvt|8,000|mm|ftin|frac=8|disp=br}} |- |Uaai 823<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hellertal.startbilder.de/bild/deutschland~wagen~gueterwagen-der-gattung-u-sonder-silo-u-staubgutwagen/466141/tiefladewagen-mit-16-radsaetzen-der-gattung.html|title=Tiefladewagen mit 16 Radsätzen der Gattung Uaais 823 der NCS (NUCLEAR CARGO + SERVICE GmbH, Hanau), eingestellt als 35 RIV 80 D-NCS 9957 000-6, ... - Hellertal.startbilder.de|website=hellertal.startbilder.de}}</ref> |{{convert|230|t|abbr=on|disp=br()}} | {{cvt|102.2|t|disp=br}} |16 |1 |{{cvt|37,080|mm|ftin|frac=8|disp=br}} |N/A |N/A |- |Uaai 831<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.familie-linberg.de/bahn/archiv/tiefladewagen/db/html/ba831.html|title=Bauart 831|website=www.familie-linberg.de}}</ref> |{{convert|275|t|abbr=on|disp=br()}}<br> ({{convert|250|t|abbr=on|disp=br()}}<br> with suspension bars) |{{cvt|170,000|kg|lb|disp=br}} |20 |2 |{{cvt|45,120|mm|ftin|frac=8|disp=br}} |{{cvt|18,730|mm|ftin|frac=8|disp=br}} <br> {{cvt|28,330|mm|ftin|frac=8|disp=br}} | N/A |- |Uaai 836<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.familie-linberg.de/bahn/archiv/tiefladewagen/db/html/ba836.html|title=Bauart 836|website=www.familie-linberg.de}}</ref> |{{convert|317|t|abbr=on|disp=br()}} |{{cvt|82.870|kg|lb|disp=br}} |20 |1 | {{cvt|31,800|mm|ftin|frac=8|disp=br}} | {{cvt|15,300|mm|ftin|frac=8|disp=br}} | N/A |- |Uaai 837<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.familie-linberg.de/bahn/archiv/tiefladewagen/uebersicht.html|title=Tiefladewagen|website=www.familie-linberg.de}}</ref> |{{convert|398|t|abbr=on|disp=br()}} |N/A |24 |1 |N/A |N/A |N/A |- |Uaai 838 ({{convert|313|t|abbr=on|disp=br()}}<br> with suspension bars)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.familie-linberg.de/bahn/archiv/tiefladewagen/db/html/ba838.html|title=Bauart 838|website=www.familie-linberg.de}}</ref> |N/A |{{convert|341|t|abbr=on|disp=br()}}<br> |24 |1 |N/A |N/A |N/A |- |Uaai 839<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.georg-tropper.de/index.php/eisenbahn/tragschnabelwagen-uaai-839|title=uaai-839}}</ref> |{{convert|454|t|abbr=on|disp=br()}} |N/A |32 |1 |N/A |N/A |N/A |- |}
== Gallery == <gallery mode="packed" heights="130" caption="Examples of Schnabel cars"> File:Tragschnabelwagen mit Transformator (8789).jpg|ÖBB Schnabel car with an electrical transformer near Koblenz in May 2009 File:JRF Shiki810-2.jpg|Two Schnabel cars without loads in Japan File:FRM Shiki160.jpg|Empty Japanese wagon File:Db-Uaai687.9-9960005-10.jpg|Many wheels of a German schnabel wagon File:Db-Uaai687.9-9960005-09.jpg|Arrival of a Schnabel wagon at its destination with a large transformer. The load will now be transported by road on a lowboy. File:Trafotransport.jpg|Onward transportation of the large transformer by road to the electricity substation File:Schnabel car patent US4041879-1.png|US patent image<ref name="patent">[https://patents.google.com/patent/US4041879 US4041879A, filed December 1, 1975, issued to Charles R. Cockrell, with Combustion Engineering, Inc. as assignee, now expired.]</ref> </gallery>
== See also == * Class U special wagon
== References == {{reflist}}
== Further reading == {{refbegin}} * {{cite web| last=Daspit| first=Tom| year=2005| url=http://southern.railfan.net/schnabel/cars/cebx800/cebx800.html| title=CEBX 800| access-date=May 6, 2005}} (additional technical details on CEBX 800) * {{cite web |author=GATX Corporation |year=2005 |url=http://www.gatx.com/rail/equipment_types_specs/browse_by_equipment_types.asp |title=Car types |access-date=May 6, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050507010158/http://www.gatx.com/rail/equipment_types_specs/browse_by_equipment_types.asp |archive-date=May 7, 2005 }} (boxcar comparison figures) * {{cite news|last=Passi |first=Peter |newspaper=Duluth News Tribune |date=May 5, 2005 |url=http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/business/11568644.htm |title=Railroad Giant |access-date=May 6, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050506210703/http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/business/11568644.htm |archive-date=May 6, 2005 |url-status=dead }} (details on CEBX 800) * {{cite web |author=Railway Industrial Clearance Association |year=2000 |url=http://www.rica.org/ind_info/glossary.html |title=Glossary of terms used in railroad high and wide clearances |access-date=May 6, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050613075223/http://www.rica.org/ind_info/glossary.html |archive-date=June 13, 2005 }} (basic definition of a Schnabel car) {{refend}}
== External links == {{Commons category|Schnabel cars}} * [http://southern.railfan.net/schnabel/schnabel.html Schnabel cars] – photos and technical information on Schnabel cars used worldwide. * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928100314/http://www.alliancewestern.com/haul-basics.htm Heavy Rail Transport Basics]
{{freight cars}}
Category:Freight rolling stock