Western Railroad Discussion > Does DODX own/use tri&bi level auto-racks?

Hello to All,

Does DODX own//lease/use any auto racks? I could see where they could ship a bunch of Humvees in one vs a typical flat car. Any photo, website or other info appreciated!

I don't recall seeing any with DODX reporting marks, the ones I saw in military trains were usually railroad pool cars. They were either ETTX or TTGX depending whether they were bilevel or trilevel cars.

DODX owns no autoracks, they most frequently use ITTX and their own 41000- and 42000-series flats for lighter vehicles,i.e:

http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=3327
http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=5275
http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=41854

Autoracks would complicate logistics by requiring additional equipment for loading/unloading at the railhead, and I believe this is only done in fairly rare situations. I wasn't aware of standard ETTX or TTGX racks being used in military service, but BNSF (and ATSF before it) maintains a small fleet (33 as of today) of old ATSF bilevels for military loading:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=968765
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=449122

Doug Stark

My unit never used autoracks when transporting wheeled vehicles, but I've seen other use the older ATSF semi-enclosed racks that Doug referenced. Here are three cars that I photographed outside of Fort Carson at the small yard where equipment is staged for military movements:

http://drolsen.rrpicturearchives.net/rsPicture.aspx?road=ATSF&cid=37

I have lots more photos of these three cars but haven't had a chance to edit and upload them.

Dave

I have seen standard bi-level racks used several times in military moves. You do have to have an adjustable ramp to load and unload and it is pretty restrictive as to the type of vehicle you can get on them. Units using CUVS (pickup trucks and blazers) have no problems. Basic hummers will just fit, but if you have an additional equipment or special bodies they won't go. I was at a loadout one time where they had a hummer with a utility box body to load into an enclosed bi-level. The Major was insistant that it would go on the car to the point of telling the grunts to let the air out of the tires. Still a no go. One NCO commented to me under his breath where he would like the Major to take the hummer and stick it.

Over the last 20 years I have seen bi-racks used to include UP, MP and ATSF with several being open top. Base model HUMMV (with all the doors and covers removed and shipped in a separate ISO containers) were all we loaded on them. The CUCV (Chevy Blazers and pick-ups) could also be loaded, but today they are pretty much all gone, and over the last 10 years, they were rarely found in mobilizing units, even in the National Guard.

>1019X Wrote:
>The Major was insistant that it would go
> on the car to the point of telling the grunts to
> let the air out of the tires. Still a no go. One
> NCO commented to me under his breath where he
> would like the Major to take the hummer and stick
> it.


Yea, you do have to watch those Majors! They always seem to think they are in charge...ain't it so Dave?

Rick Bacon
Windsor, CO