You railroad’s covered coil car fleet just got bigger.
We switched 20 brand new Thrall coil cars, (built 06/2006) today.
Numbered as CSS 1200 and up, they had the CSS logo on the lids…
Not a bad looking logo, either.
The cars came in on the UP.
Fresh red oxide paint, not even dusty yet, no dings, dents or dirt, and the wheels are still “rusty” from being so new.
http://www.southshorefreight.com/
Pretty nice short line, from what I read.
Ed
But Ed, Thrall hasn’t made cars for years! I know that the SouthShore (as the freight operation styles itself) is supposed to be getting 100 such cars, but I’m not sure yet who’s building them.
Can’t wait to see them.
And you’re right about the operation. The freight side is doing all right, but the passenger service is something very, very special around here. C’mon up sometime and we’ll show you why!
Saw three of the new coil cars on a southbound KCS train at Shreveport, LA last week.
They sured did look nice and spanking new.
Carl,
I could have sworn it said Thrall on the plate…never enen clicked it cant be, but if they are there tomorrow, I will double check and see who really built them.
They were new, not rebuilds…the stencil said New 06/06, and the condition was excellent.
Ed
Ed:
Take a look at the next cars you see and double check.
Thrall was bought out by Trinity Industries about hmmmm six years ago. My guess is that it was Trinity. The Thrall name, I believe is gone, but they may use it for coil cars.
If it was Trinity…you saw decals I sold them.
South Shore is an interesting operation, different from yours, not nearly as much business concentrated in a small area, but it is an interesting operation with the freight and the commuter trains.
ed
I wish I could remember where I saw the article about their 100 new coil cars.
If the builder is Trinity, try to get the lot number off the car (should be in the 3000s), located just above or below Indiana Ed’s decal. (If the Thrall name appeared, it would be the first time since they quit!)
As far as I know the Thrall name was last used here in the UK when Ed Burkhardt persuaded them to set up a car construction works in York to provide coal cars for his EWS operation here.
Thrall disappeared at about the same time as Mr. Burkhardt, leaving a lot of workers without money or a future.
Their designs are now produced by Greenbrier from Lodz, Poland. UK minimum wage equates to $7.00. Polish minimum wage? There is’nt one.
Ah, I forgot all about those Thrall Europa decals we made for them!
I am wondering if those are Thrall cars which were built years ago with new coil covers on them. I know the consolidated decal said 6-06, but was that “new” or “rebuilt”?
ed
Ed, they’re new cars, according to the release I can’t find…
Never did find the release I was looking for, but finally saw one of the cars.
CSS 2100-2199, built 5-6/06 by Trinity Industries in Fort Worth.
Strange color for them–boxcar red, with white lettering.
This be one of 'em. Caught a couple weeks ago at sunset at Eola going out Ottawa/LaSalle Peru-way via Illinois Railnet.
That would be one of the critters I switched…we had 20 of them in a solid block.
The South Shore logo is quite eye catching in person, orange on the red oxide, stood out quite well.
Look at the end hand rail and grab iron, they are pretty easy to ride with that set up.
Ed
I took the photo because I knew it was a new car and wanted to get a picture before the spray-can brigade got their greasy hands on it. Plus, I think the South Shore has one of the best-looking RR logos in the biz. Much better and traditional than that new BNSF swoosh.
Pop Z
ZZ Popp–
I have to thank you for that photo, too–as usual, I didn’t notice all of the details on the car when it went by me. I have friends who are going to want to know the lot number (or job number) for those cars, and I didn’t get that, either (directly above the white builder’s decal, if anyone can help!).
Shot photo as dusk w/telephoto. Lot number looks like 3073.
Ed:
You’re a man after my own heart. Having grown up only 100 yards from the South Shore, it has always been a fascinating operation for me. New coil cars suggests that the freight operators are seriously going after additional business, which is nice to see after it looked like their freight traffic was down to unit trains going to NIPSCO and some odd carloads on one local freight turn. CSS reporting marks used to be quite scarce off-line, now it seems that it’s not that unusual to see them just about anywhere.
Pops, 3073 sounds very plausible. Thanks!
I like the paint scheme,boxcar red with the old South Shore hearld in orange.Looks really great.[8D]
No one has noticed that these ar single hood cars. I expect that will prevent steel mill rocket scientists from putting their hoods on other cars.
Actually, single-hood cars are fairly common nowadays, and there are plenty of railroads out there owning cars whose hoods could probably be exchanged with these (unfortunately).
The