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)
1951 US Freight Car Census (*.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 (*.jpg)
| 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)
| Spine Car (*.jpg)
| Well Car (*.jpg) - {accommodates container double-stacking}

Gondola, Coil, and Hopper Cars

Gondolas are essentially flat cars with low side walls. Hoppers have taller walls, but their bottoms are sloped to allow gravity-funneling of course loads to an exit chute. The center of gravity is lower in gondolas, but unless they can be side-dumped (or rotary flipped), or they are equipped with side-spilling drop bottom hatches, their loads have to be shoveled out.

Transition-Era Gondolas (*.pdf)
| Gondola Car (*.jpg)
| Drop Bottom Gondola Car (*.jpg) - {often in sugar beet service, or used to lay ballast}
| Side Dump Gondola Car (*.pdf)
Coil Steel Cars (*.pdf)
| Coil Car (*.pdf)
| 100-ton Hopper Car (*.jpg) - {often in coal service}
| Iron Ore Car (*.jpg) - {small size, because iron ore is very heavy}
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)
| Cushioned Box Car (*.jpg)
| 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 (*.jpg) - {car end sports a white stripe to denote the extra height}
| Insulated Reefer (*.jpg) - {since beer and milk can be canned, and some produce "top-iced", hatchless insulated reefers are often suitable}
Beer Reefer Loading Method (*.pdf)
| Iced Produce Reefer (*.jpg) - {un-iced iced produce reefers with their hatches propped open become Ventilated Cars for root vegitables}
| Iced Meat Reefer (*.jpg) - {equipped with meat hooks}
| Mechanical Produce Reefer (*.jpg) - {also used for frozen meat and dairy}
Pacific Fruit Express (*.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 cars used in tar service are equipped with heating coils}
Tank Car Basics (*.pdf)
| Milk Tank Car (*.jpg) - {insulated like Reefers}
Multiple liquid compartment tank cars (*.pdf)
| Triple Dome Tank Car (*.jpg)
| Pressurized Gas Tank Car (*.jpg)