When did fully enclosed bi-level Autorack cars (as we see them today) come into service? I'm trying to find if they would be appropriate for my railroad that is based in the mid 1980s
According to Wikipedia, the first fully-enclosed racks were developed starting in 1973. I would assume that by the mid-80s they would have been ubiquitous.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with JNR open auto racks)
I have seen enclosed auto racks and steel plated sides without the roofs in the late 1980s on many Conrail trains. Some locations may vary depending on route.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
It's true that open racks persisted, but in rapidly dwindling numbers, after the enclosing panels came into use. Shippers greatly prefered the extra protection from theft and vandalism. So while open racks weren't extinct, by 1985 you saw far more enclosed racks than open ones. If you're modeling around then, get a few open ones, but make the majority enclosed.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Thanks guys, I appreciate it
This site has a photos of open bi-level dated 1991 in caption, a bi-level with sides (no roof) also dated 1991 in caption (both have EL logos), a CN bi-level dated 5-29-01 on photo, an UP bi-level dated 2002 in caption.
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/intermod3.html
There are other photos are not dated , but can probably determine an approx date from autos where they are visible.
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
Interesting link, thanks for posting it D.
There are several aspects of the fading open rack population it illustrates. One is how what were originally open racks were converted to some sort of enclosure.
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/up_rack.jpg
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/cn710925.jpg
Another is how the persistence of open racks tended to favor bi-levels. One explanation is that trucks were a rapidly growing market segment and most traveled on bi-level racks, so these tended to be in shorter supply than tri-levels used primarily for cars.
It also pays to remember that photos are often taken because the subject is rather more unusual or scarce. By 1990, open racks fit that category, so their declining years are probably over representedamong pics taken of auto racks during that era.
Finally, it wouldn't surpirse me to see a few open racks floating around even today. I vaguely recall seeing some several years ago somewhere and being surprised they were still around.
I'd have to think that open racks by 1990 or so were extreemly rare!
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
More open Autoracks:
CN bi-level in Ontario 1998
http://freight.railfan.ca/cn/cn710657.jpg
CN open bi-level Pembroke VA 2000
http://www.krunk.org/~joeshaw/pics/cn/autorack/cn-open-bi-level-autorack-2.jpg
CN open tri-level in Glen Lyn VA 2001
http://www.krunk.org/~joeshaw/pics/cn/autorack/cn-open-tri-level-autorack.jpg
Thanks for the pics!! I have personally never seen an open Autorack that I can remember so its very interesting to see them still in use into the early 2000s.