Abstract: A rail system and transfer vehicle for a storage retrieval system. The rails are fabricated to include a vehicle support surface that supports a transfer vehicle, a load support surface that supports the skid, tote, vessel, or pallet to be stored, a spacing surface that defines the distance between the load support surface and the vehicle support surface. Attached to the load support surface is an alignment surface that extends upwardly at an angle between 40 and 80 from the horizontal. When a misaligned pallet is lowered, it first contacts the alignment surface and as it continues to be lowered, interaction between the alignment surface and the misaligned pallet causes the pallet to move into alignment with the rail system before coming to rest on the load support surface. The rail system can be used in conjunction with a high weight capacity transfer vehicle. Load lift is provided by a plurality of interconnected screw jacks.