The sides of the auto-rack cars are well designed, so as far as I know any paint sprayed on the sides, especially from a fairly low-pressure dispenser like a spray can, doesn't reach the automobiles inside.
Powerless to stop it, don't care, given up? Probably a combination of all three.
Unfortunately the grafitti "artists" find those blank car sides an irresistable canvas, the Tropicana cars are in the same situation. Considering how complex some of those grafitti designs are I'd have to assume they're applied in yards, no way could you do it on a moving train.
Most auto rack cars have spent the last couple of months in storage. Ripe time to get tagged.
An "expensive model collector"
These days, most cars are sealed in (usually) white plastic wrap until they get to the dealer.
Saw one some years ago on which the entire side of the car was painted - top to bottom. The "background" was a nice blue, though. The lettering covered the entire side of the car. That's a lot of rattle cans...
Larry 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...
tree68Saw one some years ago on which the entire side of the car was painted - top to bottom. The "background" was a nice blue, though. The lettering covered the entire side of the car. That's a lot of rattle cans...
There was the famous (infamous?) STEEL set of 5 racks. I saw one of the Es once.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
There really aren't a whole lot of railroad cops compared to the large territory they have to cover. And it is very easy for trespassers to hide in between cars in yards.
I agree that most of the more detailed and complex graffiti is done when the cars are stored in unattended and/or outlying areas.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
n012944 Most auto rack cars have spent the last couple of months in storage. Ripe time to get tagged.
tree68 Saw one some years ago on which the entire side of the car was painted - top to bottom. The "background" was a nice blue, though. The lettering covered the entire side of the car. That's a lot of rattle cans...
rrnut282I want to know how they get that high up to paint the entire side of an autorack. That's 20' above the rail.
Maybe a better question is how they can get in, with a ladder, and do that much painting without detection, particularly in a manned yard. I can see it if the car is in storage in the middle of nowhere.
And it's not just here either! Several years ago a poster linked a photo of a freight train in Italy that had been tagged with the same kind of crap you see in this country!
Being of Italian extraction I was most disappointed and displeased! I might have expected well-executed replicas of work by Raphaello, Da Vinci, Michaelangelo, Caravaggio, Donatello, well, you get the picture! But noooooooo...
Whole world's going to hell in a handbasket!
Except Singapore. Don't try that stuff there!
Flintlock76 Except Singapore. Don't try that stuff there!
I visited or passed through Singapore four or five times when I lived in Australia. Cleanest streets and transit system that I have ever seen.
Flintlock76 And it's not just here either! Several years ago a poster linked a photo of a freight train in Italy that had been tagged with the same kind of crap you see in this country! Being of Italian extraction I was most disappointed and displeased! I might have expected well-executed replicas of work by Raphaello, Da Vinci, Michaelangelo, Caravaggio, Donatello, well, you get the picture! But noooooooo... Whole world's going to hell in a handbasket! Except Singapore. Don't try that stuff there!
I know how you feel. Imagine my disappointment when I saw photos of Norwegian train cars with graffiti vandalism. Not a single fjord on any of them!
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
Here's a solution to graffiti on Union Pacific's auto carriers -- burn it off.
https://nebraska.tv/news/local/north-platte-fire-dept-gives-details-behind-train-car-fire-at-bailey-yard
I didn't read what kind of new cars were in the carrier, but it has to be an expensive loss for UP.
York1 John
I asked my doctor if I gave up delicious food and all alcohol, would I live longer? He said, "No, but it will seem longer."
York1I didn't read what kind of new cars were in the carrier, but it has to be an expensive loss for UP.
In the seventies, it might have been Pinto hatchbacks.
ChuckCobleigh York1 I didn't read what kind of new cars were in the carrier, but it has to be an expensive loss for UP. In the seventies, it might have been Pinto hatchbacks.
York1 I didn't read what kind of new cars were in the carrier, but it has to be an expensive loss for UP.
Today, it is Teslas?
If GM "killed the electric car", what am I doing standing next to an EV-1, a half a block from the WSOR tracks?
The loss probably will be worn by UP's insurance carrier, which could subsequently impact UP's insurance premiums.
Pinto - the only car I've ever seen with a painted flame job on the REAR end.
York1Here's a solution to graffiti on Union Pacific's auto carriers -- burn it off. https://nebraska.tv/news/local/north-platte-fire-dept-gives-details-behind-train-car-fire-at-bailey-yard I didn't read what kind of new cars were in the carrier, but it has to be an expensive loss for UP.
Just the cost of doing business as a Class 1 railroad.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACD York1 Here's a solution to graffiti on Union Pacific's auto carriers -- burn it off. https://nebraska.tv/news/local/north-platte-fire-dept-gives-details-behind-train-car-fire-at-bailey-yard I didn't read what kind of new cars were in the carrier, but it has to be an expensive loss for UP. Just the cost of doing business as a Class 1 railroad.
York1 Here's a solution to graffiti on Union Pacific's auto carriers -- burn it off. https://nebraska.tv/news/local/north-platte-fire-dept-gives-details-behind-train-car-fire-at-bailey-yard I didn't read what kind of new cars were in the carrier, but it has to be an expensive loss for UP.
Balt, I think I remember reading that the major railroads take care of these kinds of accidents, rather than having insurance.
Is that correct?
York1 BaltACD York1 Here's a solution to graffiti on Union Pacific's auto carriers -- burn it off. https://nebraska.tv/news/local/north-platte-fire-dept-gives-details-behind-train-car-fire-at-bailey-yard I didn't read what kind of new cars were in the carrier, but it has to be an expensive loss for UP. Just the cost of doing business as a Class 1 railroad. Balt, I think I remember reading that the major railroads take care of these kinds of accidents, rather than having insurance. Is that correct?
My understanding is that the Class 1's only have insurance for catastrophic incidents. I have heard various figures for the 'deductable' being between half a million and a million (and what the railroads are calculating the damages on are not the retail value of any of the products involved).
My understanding of the auto biz is that owing to the various fix costs and overheads in running an auto company, there really isn't any one set "price" for an automobile.
There is the sticker price (manufacturer suggested retail price or MSRP), the dealer invoice price, the "real" dealer price after various kinds of dealer rebates to "move the metal" not revealed to the customer and the price for bulk fleet purchases, which are often argued to be below the "economic" price to recoup the fixed costs and overheads of keeping an auto company going.
Back many more years than I care to admit, there was a rock-bottom "internal price" when someone inside the company needed a car to test engine tunings and what got charged against your department budget for that. So car pricing is much like railroad rates in that railroads too have fixed costs and overheads that have to be paid by somebody, an argument that gets lost on some in the passenger rail advocacy community.
So if the UP wrecks a bunch of automobiles, what price do they compensate the auto company? If things were done rationally, the railroad might have an agreement to compensate for the auto company's "internal price" inasmuch they crank out a few more cars that they have already "sold" to dealers or customers custom ordering? If the compensation was higher, that would have to be reflected in a higher freight rate?
Not saying such things are done rationally, though.
Here's a solution to graffiti on Union Pacific's auto carriers -- burn it off. https://nebraska.tv/news/local/north-platte-fire-dept-gives-details-behind-train-car-fire-at-bailey-yard I didn't read what kind of new cars were in the carrier, but it has to be an expensive loss for UP. Just the cost of doing business as a Class 1 railroad. Balt, I think I remember reading that the major railroads take care of these kinds of accidents, rather than having insurance. Is that correct?
Large corporations and other similar entities always have large deductibles on their insurances. $1,000,000 is common for property and casuality losses. Many of the bigger ones also use their own "captive" insurance companies for various amounts as the first layer of protection before outside insurance kicks in. Usually there are various "layers" from different insurance companies. Its common for Lloyds to write the top layer.
York1 ....I think I remember reading that the major railroads take care of these kinds of accidents, rather than having insurance. Is that correct?
To know for sure how much of the loss, if any, is covered by insurance, one would need to look at UP’s insurance policies and provisions for loss reserve accounts.
Murphy Siding Flintlock76 And it's not just here either! Several years ago a poster linked a photo of a freight train in Italy that had been tagged with the same kind of crap you see in this country! Being of Italian extraction I was most disappointed and displeased! I might have expected well-executed replicas of work by Raphaello, Da Vinci, Michaelangelo, Caravaggio, Donatello, well, you get the picture! But noooooooo... Whole world's going to hell in a handbasket! Except Singapore. Don't try that stuff there! I know how you feel. Imagine my disappointment when I saw photos of Norwegian train cars with graffiti vandalism. Not a single fjord on any of them!
In my experience graffiti is not only more pravalent in Europe, the quality of it is much lower. We have some really good taggers in the U.S--true artists--while most European graffiti is something written in black spray paint.
Like others here, I've always been very impressed by the taggers who manage to cover the entire side of an auto rack.
PsychotLike others here, I've always been very impressed by the taggers who manage to cover the entire side of an auto rack.
Well, we should qualify that.
I'm impressed with the effort and execution, a lot of it's very ingenious and makes great use of color and style, BUT, anyway you slice it, it's still vandalism.
Imagine if they put that kind of effort onto traditional canvas. And don't say "They probably can't afford regular art supplies." Uh-uh! Spray paint doesn't come cheap either, especially in the amounts they use.
One way to discourge the little hoodlems is a 12 gausge round filled with rock salt. Won't kill them as well as salt in an open wound hurts like hell. Also when they can't sit down for a month it might also help discouage them.
caldreamer One way to discourge the little hoodlems is a 12 gausge round filled with rock salt. Won't kill them as well as salt in an open wound hurts like hell. Also when they can't sit down for a month it might also help discouage them.
Yeah, no.
Besides, you have to find them first. Good luck.
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