US-based Norfolk Southern Railway has ordered six Kuenz Freeriders – 11 Wide and 1 over 4, according to a 16 January announcement.
The cranes will be located at the Austell, Georgia facility. The capabilities of the Kuenz Freerider will enable Northern Southern Railway to be the first terminal operator in the US to utilize the stacking and movement of containers at maximum gantry travel speed, to and from the stacks with a rubber tired gantry crane.
Although they will be delivered for manual operation, with minor adjustments they will be ready for automation. With a wide travel gauge of 116 feet (35.4m), and the capability of gantry travel at maximum speed, while fully loaded, the Kuenz Freerider opens a new way of operating an intermodal yard.
The Kuenz Freerider is provides increased productivity, safety, reduced operations cost which offers a completely new kind of flexibility to Norfolk Southern’s terminal operations according to the company release.
