BOXCARS

[Juniata Man]

I doubt the Class 1's are looking to expand their boxcar fleets or replace cars when they are retired. The new business model seems to be leased boxcars from GATX or pool cars through TTX. Now; some shortlines, particularly those serving paper mills, may be adding boxcars. Just as an aside, I'm beginning to see a lot of new Crab Orchard & Egyptian boxcars (reporting marks COER).

CW

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Probably not.  Much of what used to be shipped in boxcars is now in intermodal trailers or containers.

[Fred M Cain]

Does anybody know if North American railroads – or anybody really – plans to buy more boxcars?

 

I am an assistant purchasing agent at a small trailer factory in Indiana, and we use a lot of plywood, OSB and treated plywood.  These items are dependent on boxcar shipments from the Pacific Northwest.

 

Lumber can be easily shipped on center beam flatcars but plywood and gypsum board cannot be.

 

My supplier has informed me that it’s getting harder and harder to secure equipment to get the plywood with.  The North American boxcar fleet appears to be shrinking according to articles I’ve read in the past in TRAINS Magazine.

 

Is there any hope for a turnaround in this trend?