My guess as why the 40 year rule exists is that some railroads were interchanging old cars that were on the verge of falling apart like the Blues Brothers' car at the end of the movie (maybe not quite that bad).
The 40 years only applies to cars built before a particular date in 1974. They can be rebuilt per AAR Rule 88 to extend their interchange life. I have heard there is a 50 year limit for cars built after that date, but I cannot find anything in the AAR Interchange Office Manual.
UP still has R-70-15 reefers in service. They were built in 1965.
"No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld)
Is this a hard and fast rule... can never be broken... or is this a fluid situation where cars can be overhauled etc and get an extension?
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