Micro-Trains - 468 00 031 - Container, 48 Foot - EMP - 280610

Specific Item Information: This 48’ rib side container is aluminum with yellow logo. EMP (Equipment Management Program) is a domestic container service offered jointly by Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. EMP is one of the largest container networks in the United State serving most major cities. CP, CN, KCS, and Iowa Interstate are all agent railroads participating in the EMP program.

Model Information: Micro-Trains released this as a new body style in November of 2016. MTL had previously released a 48-footer but that model was a redecorated Deluxe body with smooth sides. For their rib side offering, MTL made the decision to create their own tooling. With this new series, MTL further expanded its line of domestic shipping containers.

Prototype History: An intermodal container is a large standardized shipping container, designed and built for intermodal freight transport, meaning these containers can be used across different modes of transport – from ship to rail to truck – without unloading and reloading their cargo. Intermodal containers are primarily used to store and transport materials and products efficiently and securely in the global containerized intermodal freight transport system, but smaller numbers are in regional use as well. These containers are known under a number of names, such as simply container, cargo or freight container, ISO container, shipping, sea or ocean container, container van or (Conex) box, sea or c can.

The 48-foot (14.63 m) shipping container is a High Cube container in that it is 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) tall on the exterior. It is 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) wide which makes it 6 inches (15 cm) wider than ISO-standard containers. This size was introduced by container shipping company APL in 1986, and is used domestically in North America on road and rail, and may be transported on deck by ship. This size being 8 feet (2.44 m) longer and 6 inches (15 cm) wider has 29% more volume capacity than the standard 40-ft High Cube, yet the cost to move it by truck or rail are almost the same.

From Wikipedia

Road Name History: EMP is a subsidiary of Norfolk Southern Railway. EMP is one of the largest service networks for intermodal domestic containers, and it is offered by Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. Agent railroads including Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern also are part of the program. EMP provides customers access to an equipment fleet of more than 30,000 containers and chassis. Plus, EMP offers the flexibility to use the equipment in a dedicated assigned service or on a free-running basis as needed. Many different container sizes are available for individual loading preferences. A variety of equipment program products are provided to meet specialized requirements. Customized reports are generated with REZ-1 to help streamline the logistics process and improve container management. Ride quality is improved with 48 foot and 53 foot domestic containers (53 foot containers are available in high cube and ultra wide sizes).

EMP - (Equipment Management Pool) a domestic interline Intermodal freight transport partnership that provides shipping and logistics of containers, is owned by Union Pacific, along with Norfolk Southern Railroad and agent-owned partners Canadian National Railway, Canadian Pacific Railway, I&M Rail Link, Iowa Interstate Railroad, Wisconsin Central Ltd., and Kansas City Southern Railway. CSXI and Conrail were part of the group, at one time. EMP's fleet of more than 35,000 domestic 53-foot containers and chassis traverse major cities throughout North America.

Brand/Importer Information: Micro-Trains is the brand name used by both Kadee Quality Products and Micro-Trains Line. For a history of the relationship between the brand and the two companies, please consult our Micro-Trains Collector's Guide.

Manufacturer Information: Micro-Trains Line split off from Kadee Quality Products in 1990. Kadee Quality Products originally got involved in N-Scale by producing a scaled-down version of their successful HO Magne-Matic knuckle coupler system. This coupler was superior to the ubiquitous 'Rapido' style coupler due to two primary factors: superior realistic appearance and the ability to automatically uncouple when stopped over a magnet embedded in a section of track. The success of these couplers in N-Scale quickly translated to the production of trucks, wheels and in 1972 a release of ready-to-run box cars.

Micro-Trains Line Co. split off from Kadee in 1990 to form a completely independent company. For this reason, products from this company can appear with labels from both enterprises. Due to the nature of production idiosyncrasies and various random factors, the rolling stock from Micro-Trains can have all sorts of interesting variations in both their packaging as well as the products themselves. When acquiring an MTL product it is very important to understand these important production variations that can greatly enhance (or decrease) the value of your purchase.

Please consult our Micro-Trains Collector's Guide