Last open air I saw was in Brunswick Maryland in 1998. Seen them on old Pentrex Videos of Rio Grand Ry in Colorado with covered mixed in.
Unsure of an exact date, but they seem to have lasted until at least 2000 in some locales:
http://www.railpictures.ca/upload/before-condos-started-sprouting-like-dandelions-this-vantage-point-on-the-west-side-of-union-station-made-for-a-nice-lunch-time-destination-fifteen-years-later-its-almost-completely-filled-in-so
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
The last one I had to pre trip was January of 2004 ,
it was a CN bi-level rack
The open top railroad car carrier was a 'target' every time the Teamster's Union 'went out' or some other worker's group went out on a strike. The news media, and the industry 'gossip' seemed to carry 'stories of 'incidents'. Debris being 'thrown or dropped' off overpasses onto loaded, open car carriers. Liquids being used to destroy paint of vehicles in transit. Those stories, and those tales were out there.
Seemed as if,it was in the late 1990's(?) that cars started to have structures built over their top decks. And over time, the current type, encclosed, auto transport car has evolved. Covered, shielded on their sides and with three decks; all to protect, and provide more room to transport the autos, and/or light trucks, throughout North America, and Mexico.
was '
samfp1943The open top railroad car carrier was a 'target' every time the Teamster's Union 'went out' or some other worker's group went out on a strike. The news media, and the industry 'gossip' seemed to carry 'stories of 'incidents'. Debris being 'thrown or dropped' off overpasses onto loaded, open car carriers. Liquids being used to destroy paint of vehicles in transit. Those stories, and those tales were out there. Seemed as if,it was in the late 1990's(?) that cars started to have structures built over their top decks. And over time, the current type, encclosed, auto transport car has evolved. Covered, shielded on their sides and with three decks; all to protect, and provide more room to transport the autos, and/or light trucks, throughout North America, and Mexico. was '
It wasn't unknown for open racks to arrive at distributon centers with their automobiles missing wheels and tires.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACD samfp1943 The open top railroad car carrier was a 'target' every time the Teamster's Union 'went out' or some other worker's group went out on a strike. The news media, and the industry 'gossip' seemed to carry 'stories of 'incidents'. Debris being 'thrown or dropped' off overpasses onto loaded, open car carriers. Liquids being used to destroy paint of vehicles in transit. Those stories, and those tales were out there. Seemed as if,it was in the late 1990's(?) that cars started to have structures built over their top decks. And over time, the current type, encclosed, auto transport car has evolved. Covered, shielded on their sides and with three decks; all to protect, and provide more room to transport the autos, and/or light trucks, throughout North America, and Mexico. was ' It wasn't unknown for open racks to arrive at distributon centers with their automobiles missing wheels and tires.
samfp1943 The open top railroad car carrier was a 'target' every time the Teamster's Union 'went out' or some other worker's group went out on a strike. The news media, and the industry 'gossip' seemed to carry 'stories of 'incidents'. Debris being 'thrown or dropped' off overpasses onto loaded, open car carriers. Liquids being used to destroy paint of vehicles in transit. Those stories, and those tales were out there. Seemed as if,it was in the late 1990's(?) that cars started to have structures built over their top decks. And over time, the current type, encclosed, auto transport car has evolved. Covered, shielded on their sides and with three decks; all to protect, and provide more room to transport the autos, and/or light trucks, throughout North America, and Mexico. was '
They are still in use in Europe. I've seen a train load of Citroen vans go through Dresden once, coming from thier plant in Slovenia. There are some auto-trains in Germany where you can take your own car, these are open also. I saw one of these in Munich a few years ago being loaded. One of the cars was a yellow Checker, of all things. I've seen them in the U.K. as recently as a month ago.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.