Eastern Railroad Discussion > Unusual autorack car.

Q237 yesterday at Hilliard, FL with autorack w/missing sides.

You must be a registered subscriber to watch videos. Join Today!

I remember seeing many open autorack cars like that when I was a kid in the late 50’s and 60s. I grew up near the C&O tracks on the west side of Detroit. They weren’t empty, though.

As a matter of fact, they used to be ALL like that!

ldstephey Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I remember seeing many open autorack cars like
> that when I was a kid in the late 50’s and 60s.
> I grew up near the C&O tracks on the west side of
> Detroit. They weren’t empty, though.
>
> As a matter of fact, they used to be ALL like
> that!

Yes they did, I remember those well. This is obviously an enclosed car that the sides were removed from, not sure why.

Uh-oh... gotta bad-order that car. All of the FEMA prisoners would easily escape!

Thanks for posting. I feel sorry for that guy waiting to get his
car through the RR crossing. How many vehicles would be on a train
of that length? And would it be destined for one location?
Frank30

Frank30 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks for posting. I feel sorry for that guy
> waiting to get his
> car through the RR crossing. How many vehicles
> would be on a train
> of that length? And would it be destined for one
> location?

The number of vehicles that fit in an autorack depends on the vehicles' size and (related) whether the car has two levels or three, with anywhere from eight vehicles to 18 per railcar being common.

I imagine that Q237 handles blocks of autoracks for several auto ramps along the way, but I don't know its blocking to be sure.

Autoracks with the side panels missing are definitely not in revenue service these days -- they're ultimately either to a shop or a scrapper.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/18 13:01 by toledopatch.

Like these - - NYC train ML12 in the background
Erie, PA 1964

---

toledopatch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> I imagine that Q237 handles blocks of autoracks
> for several auto ramps along the way, but I don't
> know its blocking to be sure.
>

Q237 goes to Baldwin (FL) yard and the autoracks are separated for different destinations.

RFandPFan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ldstephey Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I remember seeing many open autorack cars like
> > that when I was a kid in the late 50’s and
> 60s.
> > I grew up near the C&O tracks on the west side
> of
> > Detroit. They weren’t empty, though.
> >
> > As a matter of fact, they used to be ALL like
> > that!
>
> Yes they did, I remember those well. This is
> obviously an enclosed car that the sides were
> removed from, not sure why.


Heading to the scrapper. Some car shop took the sides off as they were in shape to reuse again.

Posted from iPhone

RFandPFan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> toledopatch Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> > I imagine that Q237 handles blocks of autoracks
> > for several auto ramps along the way, but I
> don't
> > know its blocking to be sure.
> >
>
> Q237 goes to Baldwin (FL) yard and the autoracks
> are separated for different destinations.


Into Baldwin, blocks for Tampa, Orlando and Miami.

gmojim



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/18 18:37 by gmojim.

Explains the big X's on the sides.

farmer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> RFandPFan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > ldstephey Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > I remember seeing many open autorack cars
> like
> > > that when I was a kid in the late 50’s and
> > 60s.
> > > I grew up near the C&O tracks on the west
> side
> > of
> > > Detroit. They weren’t empty, though.
> > >
> > > As a matter of fact, they used to be ALL like
> > > that!
> >
> > Yes they did, I remember those well. This is
> > obviously an enclosed car that the sides were
> > removed from, not sure why.
>
>
> Heading to the scrapper. Some car shop took the
> sides off as they were in shape to reuse again.
>
> Posted from iPhone

ML-12 often had 150 racks in those days, but the cars were shorter, 85ft versus 89 ft today (94 ft over couplers)

LOL. For clarification... The old 1960s style open autorack cars were shorter (most 85' whereas 89' or 167' today) but the cars (vehicles) they carried were in most cases longer than those of today...

CSX602 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> LOL. For clarification... The old 1960s style
> open autorack cars were shorter (most 85' whereas
> 89' or 167' today) but the cars (vehicles) they
> carried were in most cases longer than those of
> today...

Yes, those tail fins in the 60’s did become long, but 85’ is probably an exaggeration.

CSX602 and i talking about same thing;  The autorack CARS were 85 ft long then, not the autos, look at the photo, and you will see only 4 big cars on each deck.  Those autos were 20-21 feet in some cases on 85ft cars. That is when gas was cheap and cars could be gas hogs and no one cared. It is a great photo, esp with the NKP train with and Alco RS-3 in the consist which I think was rare. Enclosed auto racks now (89foot) often handle Five SUV's per level and tri's six small cars. RR's will price accordingly.