Sea-Land Service, the company who created the sea container as we know it today, started out with 35' containers in 1956. Sea-Land continued to use this size through the early 1980s. Even the early double-stack railcars from ACF and Gunderson were equipped to handle 35' containers specifically for Sea-Land.
Here are three views of SEAU 20507, a 35' refrigerated container, courtesy of Jim Eager:
SEAU 35' exterior-post dry van. This is typical of Sea Land's 1970s fleet. (Photo by Bill Hoffman, from the Michael McGowen collection)
SEAU 35' exterior-post dry van. This one is in Sea Land's original billboard scheme. (Photo by Bill Hoffman, from the Michael McGowen collection)
SEAU 42738. 35' exterior-post dry van. (Photo by Bill Hoffman, from the Michael McGowen collection)
SEAU 53181 (at the left) is typical of Sea-Land's early 35' dry van containers with the billboard logo. The Sea-Land container just to the right of it is a 40' unit with intermediate 35' stacking posts. And how about that classic SeaTrain 40' container on the far right? An excellent shot of vintage intermodal from 1978! (Photo by Bill Hoffman, from the Michael McGowen collection)
SEAU 54203. 35' exterior-post dry van. (Photo by Bill Hoffman, from the Michael McGowen collection)
An old Sea Land 35' exterior-post container. (Photo by Michael McGowen)
These ECDC open-top containers appear to be old 35' containers most likely of Sea-Land heritage. These containers haul contaminated soil to a landfill in Utah. (Photo by Michael McGowen)
ENVU 5004 and 5011 are likely ex-Sea Land 35' units used for carrying contaminated soil. ENVU 5014 and 5158. (Photos by Keith Belk).
PRMU 310712. I believe this reefer is a 35' unit. Owned by Navieras de Puerto Rico. (Photo by Bill Hoffman, from the Michael McGowen collection)
This Verbrugge bulk container is likely a 35' container. ISO code is NLX 8480. (Photo by Cor Rood)
Thanks for visiting.
