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Carfloat and Floatbridge Anchoring Mechanisms

Carfloat Mooring & Pinning Procedures

(Carfloat & Floatbridge Pins, Toggles and Binding Wheels)

Please note:
not shown are track appurtenances;
i.e.: frogs, turnouts, guardrails, etc.

DIAGRAM
NOT TO SCALE

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Carfloat Mooring & Pinning Procedures

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..This chapter is here, to give the uninformed reader a better understanding of the procedures involved in mooring and unloading / loading a carfloat. These procedures, for the most part, would apply to all railroads operating carfloats.


   To unload / load carfloats at pontoon type float bridges at; the following procedure applies:

1.  Tugboat approaches float bridge with carfloat, and holds it in position for mooring;

2.  Locomotive would slowly approach onto the float bridge to weigh it down to match height of float bridge with deck of carfloat;

3.  Hawser lines attached to front mooring cleats on each side of carfloat and are tightened up to bring carfloat into initial alignment;

4.  The toggles (pins) are slid into carfloat receptacles and fastened with the block;

5.  Hawser lines would be heavily tightened again, and mooring lines from carfloat side cleats are attached to pier;

6.  Hand jacks on the rails on the float bridge would be turned to adjust the alignment of the rails on the float bridge to match with rails on carfloat;

7.  Locomotive pulls string of cars that are on left track, half way off the carfloat and into the yard; leaving half the string of cars still on float;

8.  The locomotive is switched to right track, and pulls all cars off carfloat into the yard;

9.  Locomotive returns to left most track and pulls string of cars off carfloat to clear the turnout (switch) on float bridge, for middle track;

10.  Points of turnout are thrown to middle track, and locomotive would push string of cars onto float, couple up to string of cars on the middle track of carfloat, and pull entire string (combined left and middle track strings) into the yard.
    
    Carfloat is now unloaded. To load carfloat, reverse procedure.
    

   Carfloat mooring and pinning procedures were a little different at electrically operated (seperate apron & contained apron) type float bridges; as those float bridges has electric winches for drawing in the carfloat tight against the float bridge:

1.  Tugboat brings carfloat in, and the float bridge is raised or lowered by bridgeman in control cabin to bring it into correct height alignment with carfloat.

2.  Hawser lines from power winch attached to front mooring cleats on each side of carfloat.

3.  Carfloat would be drawn in tight to float bridge.

4.  Toggles (pins) would be slid into carfloat receptacles and chocked in.

5.  Secondary hawser lines from manually powered winch added and tightened.

6.  Hawser lines from carfloat side cleats attached to "finger piers" on both sides of carfloats.

7.  Hand jacks on each set of rails would be turned to set the final alignment of float bridge rails with carfloat rails;

8.  Locomotive pulls string of cars that are on left track half way off the carfloat and into the yard, leaving half the cars still on float;

9.  The locomotive is switched to right most track, and pulls all cars off carfloat into the yard,

10.  Locomotive returns to left most track and pulls string of cars off carfloat which clears the turnout (switch) for middle track.

11.  Point of turnout are thrown, and locomotive would push string of cars onto float, couple up to string of cars on the middle track of carfloat, and pull entire string (left and middle track strings) into the yard.

12.  While this is taking place, the float bridge operator, located in the float bridge control cabin; will raise and lower the float bridge depending on the weights, tilt, tide, etc. The float bridge control cabin is elevated to the right and above of right float bridge track and had a bay window facing tracks for good viewing. 

To load carfloat, reverse procedure. See graphics & photos at following link:

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   All BEDT locomotives (both steam and diesel) could ride the carfloats as they did not weigh "much" at 64 tons (steam) and 99 tons (diesel) respectively. However for carfloat loads like a road locomotive or heavy / oversize load, it would have to be placed on the middle track with left or right tracks remaining empty.

Pictures of former BEDT floatbridge located in Greenville, NJ
(still in use by NY Cross Harbor Railroad)

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