Auto Racks

[AztecEagle]

I'm Old Enough To Remember Open Air Bi&Tri Level Auto Racks.In Fact,The BNSF Stil Keeps A Few In Serevice For Military Equipment Moves To and From Fort Hood,Texas.My Question Is When Did The BiLevel Auto Rack Come Into Operation?Reason Being Is That My Layout Is Set In The 1959-60 Era.Your Reply Is Greatly Appreciated.

[nbrodar]

I think the auto racks entered service in the mid-60s

Nick

[Anonymous]

According to Walthers' "America's Driving Force" book, multi-level racks were introduced by Frisco and Santa Fe in 1959. The first Pullman-Standard auto racks were built in 1960; other manufacturers followed suit in 1961.

[SSW9389]

St. Louis-San Francisco #3000, the first tri-level, is at the National Museum of Transportation in Kirkwood, Missouri. It was built in 1960. I believe it is somewhat shorter than the current cars.

[waltersrails]

i think your right on that.

[Philcal]

Open auto racks ran into the 70's. The main reason for thier demise was the vandalism, ie: broken windshields, windows, etc, that occurred when the train ran through areas of some cities. Vehicles arriving at dealers in damaged condition led the automakers to deliver thier products by truck. With the enclosed autoracks, the railroads have regained much of this business.

[ShaunCN]

i have also found out that open auto racks ran well into the 1980's so you cold see a mix of open, semi-enclosed (sides like toadays racks but no roof) and the fully enclosed units we see todays, also for some very strange reason i have seen pictures of openautoracks running on the CN in the 1990's, fully loaded with new Ford vehicles.

[norfolk_southern_6591]

Just a modeling note: I seen a modern tri-level auto rack in mid Missouri in the fall of 2005 heading to St louis, it had all the protective panels removed. I think there is a rebuilder just out of STL located in Ill. Thats probally where it was headed, but it makes for an interesting visual effect, proving again anything is possible in Model railroading,