Trains.com

With all the new freight cars being built in 2014 and 2015, what cars are being taken out of service?

3006 views
11 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Vicksburg, Michigan
  • 2,303 posts
With all the new freight cars being built in 2014 and 2015, what cars are being taken out of service?
Posted by Andrew Falconer on Monday, December 8, 2014 2:29 PM

On the News Wire for the past month there have been reports of new freight cars being built in 2014 and more that will be built in 2015.

 

What cars are being taken out of service in 2014 and 2015?

 

Andrew

Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 3,139 posts
Posted by chutton01 on Monday, December 8, 2014 4:14 PM

Probably a lot of stuff that's been in storage for 10 or more years.
Are there any more all-door boxcars or uncoverted 40ft airslides (some were converted to MSW service) in revenue service?
Probably any unrebuilt stuff from the early/mid 1970s needed to go by now (I think 1974 was the cut-off for unrebuilt FRA 40 year interchange end-of-life).
Is there perhaps a surplus of unupgraded oil-hauling tank cars now?

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: SE Minnesota
  • 6,845 posts
Posted by jrbernier on Tuesday, December 9, 2014 9:59 AM

  Since the last of the 40 year cars expired this year; if it has a build date before July, 1974 - It will be gone unless it has had a major rebuild.  Most Airslides, and PS 4740's fall into this bracket.  Cars built after July 1st, 1974 are 50 year cars.  I see BNSF has rebuilt/convered their larger Airslides into 'buffer' cars for ethanol and crude oil service.

  Older tank cars of any age will need rebuilding/replacing  due to new safety requirements.

  Most intermodal 'well' cars that had 45' or 48' wells, have either been shortened to 40'(international) or lengthened to 53'(domestic) container service(or scrapped).

Jim

Modeling BNSF  and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: WSOR Northern Div.
  • 1,559 posts
Posted by WSOR 3801 on Tuesday, December 9, 2014 12:05 PM

A fair number of RBLs have gone away due to the 40-year rule.  Not really anything built to take their place.  Other boxcars have been put into canned goods service, and can haul more product per car, but the lack of insulation makes them less desirable this time of year.  

The places that had their loading docks set up for the RBLs are much less impressed, as the other cars are bigger, and won't fit.  Then they have to move the cars around as they load them.  Instead of having 2-3 cars on spot, they can load one at a time.  

Mike WSOR engineer | HO scale since 1988 | Visit our club www.WCGandyDancers.com

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Vicksburg, Michigan
  • 2,303 posts
Posted by Andrew Falconer on Tuesday, December 9, 2014 6:47 PM

Because some railroads like CN and CP have a large, long system, could they simply use the 4740 Cu. Ft. 3-bay covered hoppers only for traffic on-line, until they get new hoppers?

Andrew

Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Vicksburg, Michigan
  • 2,303 posts
Posted by Andrew Falconer on Tuesday, December 9, 2014 6:48 PM

What about the orginal railgons, will TTX be selling or rebuilding them?

Andrew

Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 389 posts
Posted by corwinda on Tuesday, December 9, 2014 7:59 PM

I have seen a few all door boxcars in service this year. (Loaded on Central Oregon and pacific.)

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 24,862 posts
Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, December 9, 2014 9:01 PM

Perhaps the number of railcars being built this year should be compared to previous years.  Is it up?  Down?  Add to the equation relative business levels.

I'm sure the Class 1's replace a certain number of cars each year - are they replacing more than normal this year?

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Hope, AR
  • 2,061 posts
Posted by narig01 on Tuesday, December 9, 2014 9:18 PM
One place a lot of older railcars went was about 6-7 years ago the price for scrap steel shot up for about a year. As the economy contracted in 2007-2009 a fair number of railcars go cut up for scrap.
The markets have changed and the scrap steel prices are no longer pulling in older railcars.
Rgds IGN
  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Hope, AR
  • 2,061 posts
Posted by narig01 on Tuesday, December 9, 2014 9:19 PM
PS A lot of the per diem boxcars built in the 1970's were the main source.

Rgds IGN
  • Member since
    July 2014
  • 18 posts
Posted by GERALD A EDGAR on Monday, December 15, 2014 8:58 PM

You are correct - 40 yr rule has exception for equipment not interchanged or captive service.

 

  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: St. Paul, Minnesota
  • 2,116 posts
Posted by Boyd on Monday, December 15, 2014 9:18 PM

I'd love to have a PS2CD (high side) 4 bay hopper car painted C&NW green. It won't fit in my bedroom though. I guess I'll have to settle for the 3 O scale versions I have up on a shelf. What years were those cars made,, or are they still in production?

Modeling the "Fargo Area Rapid Transit" in O scale 3 rail.

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy