THE SEARCH FOR DURABILITY

The current state of freight car design and construction is described, along with forecasts of future trends. While shippers, railroad traffic officers, chief mechanical officers and carbuilders may have differing interests, some common concepts do emerge. There is increasing attention being given to light weight, increased reliability, maintainability and a vehicle which is part of a total transportation package. It is concluded that tomorrow's cars will look much like those of today but there will be significant differences in the way components go together and work together. Associated reading includes discussion of aluminum as a carbuilding material, a new car testing capability at Union Tank Car, and descriptions of three vehicle design innovations: the North American Car Roadrailer, the Santa Fe Ten-Pack piggyback train, and General American TankTrain.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1586268
• Corporate Authors:

  Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation

  508 Birch Street
  Bristol, CT  United States  06010
• Publication Date: 1980-5-26

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 29
• Serial:
  • Railway Age
  • Volume: 181
  • Issue Number: 10
  • Publisher: Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation
  • ISSN: 0033-8826
  • Serial URL: http://www.railwayage.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aluminum cars; Carbuilders; Dual mode vehicles; Freight cars; Freight trains; Lightweight materials; Maintainability; Marketing; Reliability; Tank cars; Test facilities; Traffic managers; Trailer on flat car; Trucks; Vehicle design
• Uncontrolled Terms: Roadrailer; Shippers
• Old TRIS Terms: Freight car design; Tank trains
• Subject Areas: Design; Freight Transportation; Motor Carriers; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00315012
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 27 1980 12:00AM