Frequently Asked Questions

QUESTION: Are you selling the containers shown on this web site?

ANSWER: NO! I am not affiliated in any way with the owners of the containers, nor am I a container dealer. This is merely a photo collection. Click here to go to a list of container dealer web sites.

QUESTION: Can you quote me prices on used containers?

ANSWER: NO. I am not affiliated in any way with the owners of the containers, nor am I a container dealer. I cannot quote prices on containers. See above.

QUESTION: Can you provide me a CAD drawing of a container?

ANSWER: NO. I am not affiliated in any way with any container manufacturers so I do not have access to detailed container drawings. Such drawings are typically proprietary information so you probably won't be able to find them on the internet.

QUESTION: Can you quote me shipping rates?

ANSWER: NO. Once again, I am not affiliated with any shipping companies.

QUESTION: Can I use these photos on my web site?

ANSWER: Permission may be given, but you must first e-mail me with your request.

QUESTION: Can I use these photos in a publication?

ANSWER: No, not without express written permission from the original photographer. If you want to use any of these images in a publication you must first e-mail me. I cannot give permission for use of any images other than my own. Please note I generally will not grant permission to foreign organizations because of difficulties associated with payment and enforcement of copyrights.

QUESTION: Where do these photos come from?

ANSWER: Most of the Hannes collection comes from southern California. Other contributors live all around the world. Click here for a list.

QUESTION: What is the purpose of this site?

ANSWER: It's a photo gallery of shipping containers. It is used by transportation historians, scale modelers, and people in the shipping industry.

QUESTION: I am building a model railroad and I am wondering what containers are appropriate for trains in my time era?

ANSWER: Here is a detailed discussion.

QUESTION: I would like to submit pictures for the website. What format do you need?

ANSWER: First of all, please e-mail me before sending me pictures. I prefer .jpg format with the highest resolution you've got. The photos must be taken by you! I cannot publish copyrighted material or any photos not taken by you. Blurry, out-of-focus, or under/over exposed photos probably won't get posted since I have limited disk space and I can't waste it on poor photos. Also, check if I already have a photo of a similar container in the galleries before submitting. If I already have a photo of a similar container on the web site, then I probably won't use another one.

QUESTION: Do you accept advertising or banners?

ANSWER: No, not at this time. I want this site to be completely independent and advertisement-free.

QUESTION: Where can I find more information on containers?

ANSWER: First visit the Links section to see what the internet has to offer. Here are a couple books that are good resources as well, if you can find them:

The Box, by Marc Levinson, published 2006 by Princeton University Press.

Box Boats, by Brian J. Cudahy, published 2006 by Fordham University Press.

The Container Revolution, by Matt Hannes, published 1996 by Canterbury Press. (out-of-print)

Domestic Containers, by David G. Casdorph, published 1994 by the Society of Freight Car Historians.

Intermodal Freight Transportation, by John N. Mahoney, published 1985 by the Eno Foundation for Transportation. (out-of-print)

Intermodal Freight Transportation, 4th Edition, by Gerhardt Muller, published 1999 by the Eno Foundation for Transportation.

Intermodal Transportation - The Whole Story, by David R. McKenzie, Mark C. North, and Daniel S. Smith, published 1989 by Simmons-Boardman Books.

Piggyback and Containers: A History of Rail Intermodal on America's Steel Highway, by David J. DeBoer, published 1992 by Golden West Books.

Understanding Intermodal, by Ernest H. Robl, published 2002 by Ernest H. Robl.

Also be sure to check out the Model Intermodal group on Yahoogroups.