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Handling Costs--Rails to Ship-- Reduced on Seattle Dock By Robert C. Hill T MANY of the more impor- tant freight terminals throughout the country the use of electric trucks and skids is not uncommon but their adaptation to the movement of freight from rail to ship or vice versa necessi- tated a number of adjustments to provide a smoothly co-ordinated service in this new field. Experiments along these lines have been successful at the Ocean dock of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacifie railroad, Seattle. The usual type of electric trucks is in service in conjunction with a new style of skid. A careful survey was made by railroad officials in con- junction with the Elwell-Parker Electric Co.’s engineers and the Col- by Steel & Engineering Co. This study dealt with the railroad’s ma- terial handling operations, and re- sulted in the selection of the fol- lowing equipment: Five Elwell-Parker electric indus- trial trucks equipped with Exide batteries were installed. The types selected included two three-ton low lifts; one three-ton high lift and two fork trucks of 3500 pounds ¢ca- pacity each. For handling large eases, hogsheads of fish, bales of gunnies and all kind of bulky ma- terials the fork trucks have been The author, Robert C. Hill, is north- west representative for MARINE REVIEW with office in Seattle. Electric lift trucks and skids on ocean dock of Chica side cars. highly successful. When occasion demands, they have been used to good advantage as tractors, towing trailers. By this method, as an ex- ample, hardwood lumber is handled at a reduction of $1.00 per ton, rep- resenting a saving of 90 per cent of the former cost. The lift trucks handle all freight and eargo possible, both incoming and outgoing, on skids. Railroad tracks in the inboard side of the pier are provided with a platform at the level of car doors, which en- ables lift trucks to be worked in- Freight is loaded on skids which are placed either on the dock or transferred directly to the ship. Cargo delivered by motor truck is also placed on skids when it arrives and moved in the same manner. Using the Lift Truck While the lift trucks performed efficiently, as usual, it was appar- ent that in the transfer of freight from rail to water or vice versa the selection of skids would govern their effectiveness. It was obvious that a skid which could be handled by ship’s tackle in the same manner as a board sling would eliminate han- dling at ship’s side, both incoming and outgoing cargo. Such a method would make it possible to transfer freight from car to ship’s hold in skid units of from 2000 to 6000 pounds each. Experience in cargo traffic sug- gested the selection of a skid which could be handled by ship’s tackle in the same manner as a board sling. This resulted in the adop- tion of a combination skid and sling board equipped with four steel re- versible legs in order to harmonize with the requirements aboard ship, and at the same time reduce the amount of space necessary to store the skids in the shed when not in use. After considerable experimen- tation 200 patented Colby-Harbord combination skids and sling boards were furnished by the Colby Steel & Engineering Co. When the legs are in the down position, the de- vice is used as a skid and the cus- tomary clearance is provided be- neath the deck to permit the lift truck platform to run _ under it. When picked up by the lift truck the legs are relieved of their loads and are free to be reversed to a po- sition to receive the ship’s sling hooks. The skids selected have a deck 6 feet long by 4 feet 6 inches wide. The four steel reversible legs are hinged by bolts through the steel U straps and 4 x 6 inches continuous stringers to which the deck planks are bolted. The stringers run the entire length of the skid, providing ample bearing area to allow it to be landed on sacks or other fragile cargo without inflicting damage. The legs are held in any desired posi- tion by a simple locking device. The continuous iron binder around the deck protects the ends of the planks against damage and _ provides a smooth running surface for spotting the skids in close quarters. In the matter of conserving space this type of skid has an important advantage. When the legs are re- (Continued on Page 52) go, Milwau kee, St. Paul ¢ Pacific railroad at Seattle. At left—Delivering two loaded skids at ship side. Atr ight—Loaded skids stacked on dock 50 MARINE REVIEW—June, 1931