Flat Cars
by Ivan W. Baugh
They are cars with flooring laid over the sills without sides or ends. The
name "flat car" gives you a clue about how the car will look. They
transport loads that require little protection from the weather, such as pipe,
tubing, rail, machinery, or a variety of steel products.
- flat cars were flat, looking like
a floor on wheels with only the brake handle extending above the car floor
- specialty flat cars may have ends (called bulkheads)
- center beams (used to support material
being shipped on the car)
- specially equipped flat cars on which trailers usually pulled by trucks
on the highway-designated TOFC - Trailers
on Flat Cars
- roadrailers (trailers equipped with
railroad wheels positioned behind the tires used on the highway-eliminates
the need for loading on a flat car)
- articulated well flat car (carries
containers stacked usually two deep) come in sets because the wheels
support the ends of two cars
- BulkTainer (may be a cylinder or
a cube without wheels-loaded on a special flat car)
- automobile carriers (flat cars
with a superstructure).