Eastern Railroad Discussion > An Army tank by rail question

When the Army ships tanks, Stryker units, trucks, etc by rail, are the flatcars customized for the loads? Only tanks go on these cars, only fuel carriers on those cars, etc ?

Or is it just a matter of weight and balance so any vehicle can be strapped down on any flat?

Thanks

Posted from Android

some of those tanks go on 6 axle flat cars

When the M1 tanks were in production, DODX ordered a series of 6-axle flatcars which could handle two of them, but I believe the military also loads other equipment on them.

They are represented by orders in the DODX 40000 series:

Department of Defense (DODX) Cars Page

Good info, thanks

Some of the multi-purpose container/tank flats that I handled were made by Fruit Growers when they were still in business.

Posted from Android

As already mentioned the DOD has a series of six axle, chain equipped cars that can carry two tanks. In addition to miltary owned equipment TTX has a number of chain equipped cars that can be used for hauling military as well as civilian loads such as bulldozers, tractors, etc. 
Charlie

There are quite a few TTX cars restricted to military service only.  When not in use, they are often stored on short lines.  Most are standard 86ft chain flats with circus ramps. They DO have restrictions on them like "Rubber Tired Vehicle Loading Only" or "Tracked Vehicle Loadng Only". 

When not in use, some flats are stored around military bases as well.

Posted from Android

ts1457 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> When the M1 tanks were in production, DODX ordered
> a series of 6-axle flatcars which could handle two
> of them, but I believe the military also loads
> other equipment on them.
>
> They are represented by orders in the DODX 40000
> series:
>
> Department of Defense (DODX) Cars Page

Yes.  I was working in Lima, Ohio, when M1 production started there.  Initially the M1 tanks were loaded on the older six-axle flat cars, but only one to a car.  I think they may have been solid/friction bearing cars, but I'm not sure anymore.

Jim



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/10/25 04:55 by Jimbo.

Are those still mostly JTTX flats? Years ago I'd occasionally hear those referred to as "Jeep flats" by some oldheads. Still means "Jeep-TTX" in my mind because of this.



scraphauler Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There are quite a few TTX cars restricted to
> military service only.  When not in use, they are
> often stored on short lines.  Most are standard
> 86ft chain flats with circus ramps. They DO have
> restrictions on them like "Rubber Tired Vehicle
> Loading Only" or "Tracked Vehicle Loadng Only". 

Posted from Android