when where the open autoracks last used? I have seen pictures of both open CN bi and tri level racks operating in service as late as 1998 and 2001, running along with enclosed racks.
At least 2003.
I have not seen open auto racks in aleast 10 years and the last ones I saw were on the CN&W carring brand new post office trucks.
I saw some open CN racks moving through Atlanta GA in Spring 2005. Had to pinch myself. Thought I might be halucinating.
I too have seen CN autoracks that lack the more or less solid sides ends and roof, but they were not truly open as they had a wire mesh on the sides.
Last year on the WC/CN I saw a flatcar with two nice new white trucks on it – not really an auto rack but they were totally open.
Dave Nelson
As the use of open autoracks went up so did damage to their cargo [cars and trucks]…It was objectys from overhead that were dropped opr thrown that did damage. So the shippers demanded and got enclosed cars to cut down on illegal riding in vehicles and damage done while in transit…
…Wow…open auto racks…Have to think on that one. I’d say have not seen any in a decade plus in time…Can’t remember when I might have seen them being used in a consist of new vehicles being transported. Yes, I’ve seen special new vehicles on cars other than reg. auto racks simply that’s where they would fit and out in the open but that’s about it…
I have not seen an open autorack science the 80s. And even then they were uncommon. Although I spent most of the 80s on the Modoc line and autoracks themselves were a rarity on that line. But I remember seeing them down on the ex WP.
The last time I remember seeing an “open” auto-rack,
had to be in the mid '90s;and that was at the scrap yard
here in the city.
I think it’s been a couple of years since I’ve seen one (and, believe me, I see altogether too many auto racks around here!). Surprisingly, the last completely open ones I saw had racks owned by UP or a predecessor (not CNW). I think I saw one of those mesh-covered CN racks more recently, though.
%@^^n track-eaters!
There are only 4-5 open autoracks left. The rest have been converted into enclosed autoracks, or have been scrapped.
I think I saw my last one approx. 18 months ago, it was a CP specialised(CP used the “imperial” spelling of specialized) Carrier. I fondly recall NYC train ML12 rolling along with 120-150 open tri-levels! The best carrier load I ever saw in it had 15 Pontiac GTOs on it, including some with the “Judge” package (454 c.i. engine,dual carbs,stiffer suspension,5 speed tranny) all but one in the orange. But I wanted the Black one. Well, a 17 year old kid wasn’t going to get one of those unless dad had a ton of money,and trusted his son.[xx(] Well, I was cooked on all counts,there[}:)]. The motive power? a pair of GP40s,a U28B, TWO more GP40s and a C430! All were in NYC paint some months after the NYC surrendered to the PRR! Oops,merged with the PRR.[:p]AHA! I found the numbers: 3077,3102,2823,3055,3073and2053. On the rear: a Pennsy cabin car (I missed the number).
GM in Oshawa hasn’t shipped or received anything in open auto racks since the late 90’s. PBenham, I wish I saw a car load of GTO’s back then. Pontiac put 455’s, Tri-Power(3 2 barrel carbs) and 4-speeds in some of the old Goats but no GTO ever came with a 454, dual carbs or a five speed.
The last open auto racks I saw were carrying new army humvees somewhere in 2000-2002. (BNSF on UP trackage rights in Nevada.)