Model Railroading > Age Limit of Freight Cars

The American Association of Railroads controls the free interchange of freight cars between railroads in the US. Among their rules is rule 88, that defines the mechanical conditions of a freight car in interchange. A part of that rule governs the age limit of the cars used in free interchange. Now railroads and shippers can establish agreements of interchange outside of the AAR rules, but for the most part everyone goes by the AAR rules.The rule specifies that for cars built before July 1974, it was a 40 year limit, but could be rebuilt under a rule 88 extended life rebuild and be good for 50 years after in ital construction. Cars built after July 1974 are good for 50 years. Now there is a new part of the rule that a car that undergoes extensive testing (I think ultrasound) to prove that it is structurally sound and allow a service life of up to 65 years. The rule also requires replacement of many compo nets for the 65 year service life application. TTX was really pushing for the 65 year limit for it's fleet of 89' flatcars used in autorack service.
50 years ago was 1971, so we are just starting to dig into the freightcar building boom of the 1970's stock still riding the rails. Seems like most of the cars built in the 1960's are already scrap metal.

https://www.up.com/customers/all/equipment/over-age/index.htm
 

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/24/21 18:23 by funnelfan.

All that appears to be left of the old (original style) piggy-back intermodal flat cars are the last run of Florida East Coast drawbared "long runners" with mid 1977 build dates. All the older Trailer Train/TTX variations are long gone. I kinda miss those. (Except those crappy ratchet hand brakes).


~ Mr. MRL

Considering how the 89' flatcar was the backbone of the intermodal fleet starting in the 1960's into the 1990's. It's interesting to see how few are left now. I still occasionally see those "long runner" connected flatcars, but those are getting to be scarce as well.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

Hard to imagine another rail car building boom anytime soon. Not to that scale anyway.

funnelfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Considering how the 89' flatcar was the backbone
> of the intermodal fleet starting in the 1960's
> into the 1990's. It's interesting to see how few
> are left now. I still occasionally see those "long
> runner" connected flatcars, but those are getting
> to be scarce as well.


A lot of them were converted to Auto Racks and pipe flats. TTX is very good at reusing equipment. The only reason it gets scrapped is if it's too old or damaged.

DevalDragon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> funnelfan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Considering how the 89' flatcar was the
> backbone
> > of the intermodal fleet starting in the 1960's
> > into the 1990's. It's interesting to see how
> few
> > are left now. I still occasionally see those
> "long
> > runner" connected flatcars, but those are
> getting
> > to be scarce as well.
>
>
> A lot of them were converted to Auto Racks and
> pipe flats. TTX is very good at reusing equipment.
> The only reason it gets scrapped is if it's too
> old or damaged.


Even the early 85 footers were recycled into other services when they became too short for TOFC service. TTX seemed to throw away nothing.