Max train car height

[trainmanMG]

Needing some info on the maximum height that a railcar can be. This would include all types of cars (box, flat [cargo}, engines, etc.) Any help here would be appreciated.

Thanks!!

[carknocker1]

TO THE BEST OMY KNOWLEDGE IT IS 20' 2" ON QTTX AUTORACKS .

[7j43k]

20'-2" is also the max height for double stack container cars.

BUT, the answer to your question is: "It all depends." 

Some routes have very tight vertical clearances.  Those routes might not allow the above cars to clear.

There are certain standard clearances for freight cars (both with and without loads).  They are called plates.  There is B (the tightest, with a vertical clearance of 15'-1"), C, E, F, and H.  H is 20'-2".

Widths are also mentioned in the specifications.  You didn't ask about those, though.

To further investigate "plates", get a copy of "The Official Railway Equipment Register".  They come out quarterly.  Various editions can be found used on Ebay.  Look through the back of the book, and you'll find the plate drawings.

 

Ed 

 

[trainmanMG]

Thanks for your info - - very helpful!!!!

[ndbprr]

Well there is the book answer and there is the real life answer.  For everyday run of the mill traffic the answer is correct however every railroad ran high and wide loads as required.  Many had specific routes where oversize loads could be transported safely.  They may have been round about and slow but the loads got there.  Many companies shipping such loads often had a car rider travel with them riding along in one of the engines to keep an eye on the car.  If I am not mistaken the PRR could handle high loads as much as 23' and change through circuitous routes.  Now this is not to say that you could get everwhere with them but close enough so a truck and crane could meet the load and transfer it for final delivery.

[railandsail]

carknocker1

TO THE BEST OMY KNOWLEDGE IT IS 20' 2" ON QTTX AUTORACKS

 

7j43k

20'-2" is also the max height for double stack container cars.

That is about 3/16" shy of 3".

So utilizing a 4" clearance, railhead to railhead overhead should be plenty.

[ROBERT PETRICK]

The published clearances are good for when everything is working smoothly, but you might want to include a little extra to allow the 0-5-0 to get in and clear up mishaps.

Robert

[joe323]

It’s going to depend on where the train is going Amtrak for example uses single level coachs (Viewliners) on eastern routes because of tunnel clearance and bi level superliners out west.

[cuyama]

Why exhume a nine-year-old thread when you asked the same question on another thread?

NMRA S-7

 

[DSchmitt]

http://www.icrr.net/plates.htm