Beeching proposed 55 depots placed strategically across the UK, serviced by fixed-consist permanently-coupled air-braked trains, with an average journey between depots of 150miles and a shortest distance of 50miles. British Railways progressed with the concept, envisaging 40 ft length wagons - later increased to 60 ft - carrying 8 ft by 8 ft standard sized international shipping containers in lengths to 10 ft to 27 ft, later adapted to 20 ft to 40 ft (NB: These BR UK adopted standards were formed on the basis of analysis of then current international intermodal practise, and latter adopted as the base of the internationally agreed ISO 668). Containers would be loaded at the dedicated inland terminals, using gantry cranes for transshipment between road and rail.