General Info

Note that the prototype-alongside-model photos on this page were selected only as initiations to the varied car types that can be found in each category.

The Model Railroaders Guide to Freight Cars (*.pdf book)
Common Types of Contemporary Freight Cars (*.mp4)
Choosing a Model Freight Car Fleet (*.pdf)
AAR Freight Car Codes (*.pdf)
About COTS and ACI (*.pdf)
AAR Reporting Marks (*.pdf)
Relabeling Secondhand Rollingstock (*.pdf)
A Modeler's Guide to Hazardous Material Markings (*.pdf)
| Example of a Mine Explosives Transport Car (*.pdf)
Freight Car Hand Brakes (*.pdf)
Low Speed Trucks (*.pdf)
Hot Boxes (*.pdf)

Even though these cars cannot operate at high speeds due to wheel limitations, they can still arrive at their destination quickly if given "priority routing".

The case against more detailed cars (*.pdf)
Standards for model freight cars (*.pdf)
Tank cars and covered hoppers for a small layout (*.pdf)

Flat and Intermodal Cars

| Flat Car (*.pdf)
| Bulkhead Flat Car (*.jpg) - {bulkhead protects other cars from shifting loads}
| Center-beam flat cars (*.pdf) - {to prevent tipping, car must be unloaded from both sides evenly}
| Depressed Center Flat Car (*.jpg) - {necessary for tall loads}
One car can carry cargo for multiple destinations (*.pdf)
| Example of an Automobile Rack fitted to a Flatcar (*.jpg) - {the car and the double-stack racks are usually separately owned}
| Integrated Autorack Car (*.jpg) - {the thin side panels screen the double-stacked automobiles from debris}
Early Intermodal (*.pdf) - {stackable containers for liquids also exist}
| Trailer On Flat Car (*.jpg)
| Well Car (*.jpg) - {accommodates container double-stacking}

Coil, Gondola, and Hopper Cars

Gondolas and Hoppers differ mainly in the height of their walls, and in that most gondolas do not have bottom unloading hatches.

Coil Steel Cars (*.pdf)
| Coil Car (*.pdf)
Transition-Era Gondolas (*.pdf)
| Gondola Car (*.jpg)
| Side Dump Gondola Car (*.pdf)
| Iron Ore Car (*.jpg) - {small size, because iron ore is very heavy}
| 100-ton Hopper Car (*.jpg) - {often in coal service}
Plastics Cars (*.pdf)
| Airslide Covered Hopper Car (*.jpg) - {often in plastic pellet service}
| PS-2_Covered_Hopper_Car (*.jpg) - {often in powdered cement service}
| Cylindrical Covered Hopper Car (*.jpg) - {often in grain service}

Box, Reefer, and Livestock Cars

Livestock cars always have slats for ventilation, whereas Refrigerator cars (reefers) are always insulated and kept tightly sealed.

Boxcar Roofs (*.pdf)
Boxcar Ends (*.pdf)
Boxcar and Reefer Doors (*.pdf)
Example of a Grain Door fitted to a Boxcar (*.jpg) - {top gap allows filling, but usage superseded by covered hoppers}
Non-Standard Boxcars (*.pdf)
| End Door Box_Car (*.jpg)
| Double Door Automobile Box Car (*.jpg) - {superseded by flat cars fitted with automobile racks}
| Thrall Door Box Car (*.jpg)
| Hi-Cube Box Car (*.pdf) - {car end sports a white stripe to denote the extra height}
| Iced Meat Reefer (*.jpg) - {un-iced iced reefers with their hatches propped open become Ventilated Cars for root vegitables}
| Mechanical Produce Reefer (*.jpg)
Pacific Fruit Express (*.pdf)
Beer Reefer Loading Method (*.pdf)
| Caged Poultry Car (*.jpg)
| Small Animal Double-Deck Livestock Car (*.jpg)
| Stock Car (*.jpg)
How Many Cows? (*.pdf)
Loading cattle on the train (*.mp4)

Vat and Tank Cars

Emptying a tank car without first opening the vent could cause the tank to collapse.

The Pickle Vat Car (*.pdf)
| Vat Car (*.jpg)
All About Tank Cars (*.mp4)
Tank Car Basics (*.pdf) - {tank cars used in tar service are equipped with heating coils}
Multiple compartment tank cars (*.pdf)
| Triple Dome Tank Car (*.jpg)
| Milk Tank Car (*.jpg) - {insulated like Reefers}
| Pressurized Tank Car (*.pdf)