Western Railroad Discussion > UP 20-2 Autoracks?

I was driving along Valley Blvd. in Industry today and saw the headlight of an appproaching train. First thing I notcied was that the first car after the 2 engines was huge, even compared to the autoracks that trailed it. I was driving and couldn't get a pic or even the car number, but it was similar in looks to the articulated autoracks (like the BNSF KCS ones). But, it was just a single, huge unit, all yellow and labeled Union Pacific. In the top corner opposite where the numbers are, it said something like "UP 20-2 Rack". It was very clean and I haven't seen anything like this, are these new, and does anyone have any pics of them?

Here in Michigan we see solid trains of autoracks. The ones that are 20'-2" high are somewhat taller, but quite common in these parts. And they are big!

jackh wrote:
>
> I was driving along Valley Blvd. in Industry today and saw the
> headlight of an appproaching train. First thing I notcied was
> that the first car after the 2 engines was huge, even compared
> to the autoracks that trailed it. I was driving and couldn't
> get a pic or even the car number, but it was similar in looks
> to the articulated autoracks (like the BNSF KCS ones). But, it
> was just a single, huge unit, all yellow and labeled Union
> Pacific. In the top corner opposite where the numbers are, it
> said something like "UP 20-2 Rack". It was very clean and I
> haven't seen anything like this, are these new, and does anyone
> have any pics of them?

Hi Jack ,


Yes the UP 20-2 Autoracks are new and they are for SUV
& Pick up Trucks, I have just started to see them out
here and saw some at SP City OF Industry on Sunday Feb
4th 2001 and did get 1 on a w/b MWCDO On Sun 2/4/01 at
Pomona ca but Film is still in Camera .


Dave Dodds
UPHS Member #3282
EL Monte ca

I believe what you saw were the new "Q2" autoracks for SUV's.

L.G.

What's interesting about these autoracks is that there seems to be ownership by a single entity: UP. It's not the case with most autoracks. If you look at most autoracks, they may wear the logo of one road or another, but the actual railroad car may wear "TTGX" or something similar (look down at the sill). The rack that is sitting on the car may be owned by that road, but the car itself is owned by another outfit entirely. These new UP autoracks seem to break that mold.

UP is not the only ones with their own racks: SP, SSW, ATSF/BNSF, SOU/NW/NS, CP, CN, SOO, GTW to name a few.

I think you and I are talking about different things. A friend showed me a pic of what he thought I was talking about, an SP autorack that was 20'2" tall, but basically looked like the common auto rack with the side panels and such. The one I saw was very diferent, more like the BNSF articulated in appearance than anything else.

Nevermind rustedflange, I misread your post. But a good question is brought up. Who onws the racks when the flat car is labeled *TTX and the body of the car has a railroad name on the side?