Modern Feight Car Trucks

[halifaxcn]

Hello,

I am curious as to what type of truck that modern era (1980-2004) fright cars ride on.

Thanks,

Frank San Severino
Amtrak NEC CP 198
Attleboro, MA

[M636C]

Frank,

As I understand the most modern cars use either a "100ton" truck with "F type" roller bearings, equivalent to 6.5" x 11" bearings and Ithink these have a 6' wheelbase, or the heavier cars have "125 ton" trucks with 7"x 12" roller bearings (called "G type") and these have a 6'6" wheelbase. I think F type wheels are 36" and G type wheels are 38".

This is from memory, so I 'll have to check my facts. The "weight" mentioned is the capacity of the total car, so a "100 ton" truck would carry about 60 tons, depending on the empty weight of the car.

All the trucks look pretty similar in appearance.

Peter

[Anonymous]

Peter,

sounds good but a Bethgon Coalporter has a weight of 143 tons and is equpped with 2 100 ton RB trucks.
I think that 100 ton means the real weight capacity but the tracks aren´t ready for 50 ton axles.

[M636C]

Ulrich,

I wouldn't run a car weighing 143 tons on 100 ton trucks!

I believe articulated double stack cars have 100 ton trucks at the end and 125 ton trucks under the articulation, which supports two cars.

As far as I know, AAR 125 ton trucks are the heaviest standard trucks. Special cars like steel ladles might have heavier trucks.

Peter

[Anonymous]

Peter,

I visit the web site of ASF-Keystone, Inc, founded in 1902 as American Steel Foundries.

http://www.asf-usa.com

100 ton trucks have axles with 50 ton capacity so its possible to run a 143 ton car.

[M636C]

Guys,

I've been able to check my extracts from AAR standards (in my case in the 1970 Car Builder's Cyclopedia), the data I provided above is wrong in a couple of areas. The F and G bearings are 6.5" x12" and 7"x12" respectively, and both types of truck have a 6' wheelbase, otherwise, i'll stick by what I've said.

I couldn't find any dimensional information on the ASF website, but since the AAR sets the dimensions, that's understandable.

Relating this to the recent Trains articles on car weights, I assume that 263 000 lb cars are those with 100 ton trucks, allowing 63000 lb (31.5 tons) for the empty car weight including trucks. The 286000 lb cars would have 125 ton trucks, allowing only 36000 lb (18 tons) for the empty car weight, This would suggest that 143 ton cars carry a bit less than 125 tons.

The car builder's Cyclopedia, in the introduction to the truck section, refers to cars as 70 ton capacity and 100 ton capacity.

A lot of 100 ton trucks are imported from the USA to Australia, where they operate with gross weights of about 94 tonnes.

Peter

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

The bottle cars that I've seen (Acme Steel) in the Chicago area were all equipped with four Buckeye 6-wheel trucks.