RE: (erielack) Auto Racks

["Paul Brezicki" <doctorpb_@_bellsouth.net>]

Pat,

I would amend your statement to read, "The list of Class 1 RR's..." Like 
autoparts cars, autoracks were in assigned service, accounting for the high 
empty miles. The tiedowns were specific to model groups. The racks were 
owned by all the RR's in the pool participating in a particular model's 
movement. I believe in more recent times, they've figured out how to make 
the tiedowns more adjustable to reduce empty miles, but they're still not 
free-runners, and the opportunity for return loads has been limited by the 
restructuring of the domestic auto industry since the 1980's; the fleet 
"racks" up most of its mileage between Midwest and West Coast, where 
assembly plants have been closed.

Paul B

Ed,

I'll say that Paul B. summed it up quite nicely.  Another big rack maker was 
Paragon.  I think they differ in the way the upright braces are arranged.

As for roadnames of the racks, you could see just about anything.  The list 
of railroads that didn't have racks was a lot smaller that the list of 
railroads that did.  I get the impression that more of the racks were "free 
runners" so to speak?  That is in contrast to the Hi-Cube boxcars that were 
typically assigned to dedicated service pools, if I am not mistaken.

That said, I seem to recall seeing some roads more than others, mainly N&W 
and Penn Central.

- - -pat moore
 


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