Warning: The slide show is not exactly running the way I would like, but it will have to do for now! Places to go and things to do. Hopefully, on the morrow I will be able to configure the slide show for optimum viewing pleasure! Thanks for your understanding!

There are five ultra-efficient intermodal cranes bound for the new Northwest Ohio Terminal Facility west of North Baltimore, one of the most advanced and energy-efficient rail terminals in the world.

These cranes are a major component of the National Gateway's commitment to the environment, and are part of a larger revolution in environmentally friendly freight transportation taking place in the Midwest. Once installed, the cranes will reduce emissions and improve the efficiency of the National Gateway, while helping the economic competitiveness of the entire country.

Manufactured by Hans Kuenz GmbH, the new cranes are nearly silent, ultra-efficient wide span cranes that will serve rail, truck and container stacks at the Northwest Ohio facility. When transferring cargo containers between trains and trucks, the cranes will use electric motors to reduce emissions and will store the energy from crane, trolley and hoist decelerations for future use.

The Northwest Ohio Terminal Facility will be the cornerstone of the National Gateway, a public-private partnership to link the Midwest with the rest of the nation through increased use of double-stack trains. The terminal will serve as the distribution hub for anything that can be bought at a retailer – from household electronic equipment to clothing.

This facility will have a tremendous impact on the Northwest Ohio region -- employing more than 200 people when fully operational in 2011, with 400 additional jobs to be created during the construction phase. Over the next 10 years, the facility will create more than 2,600 direct and indirect jobs.