When were AutoRacks invented?

Hi! I watched a movie where there was a VERY modern looking train in the 1950s. I know that cars used to go in boxcars, but when did they switch?Thanks!
METRAUP

The "Metra Man" David Kuntz, 14 year old Simmist
Formerly davidpagesweb

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RE: When were AutoRacks invented?, BlakeTyner, Mar-28-03, 07:45 PM, (1) RE: When were AutoRacks invented?, Newton Kid, Mar-29-03, 06:26 PM, (2) RE: When were AutoRacks invented?, riograndedude, Mar-29-03, 11:46 PM, (3) RE: When were AutoRacks invented?, Newton Kid, Mar-30-03, 08:00 AM, (4) RE: When were AutoRacks invented?, John_Netzlof, Mar-30-03, 11:20 AM, (5) RE: When were AutoRacks invented?, CGW409, Mar-30-03, 11:35 AM, (6) RE: When were AutoRacks invented?, MikeF, Mar-30-03, 05:32 PM, (7) RE: When were AutoRacks invented?, CGW409, Mar-30-03, 10:32 PM, (9) RE: When were AutoRacks invented?, METRAUP, Mar-30-03, 09:07 PM, (8)

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Autoracks have been around for a pretty long time. However, in the 60's the double decker autorack cars were basically skeletal, with no "sides" on them. Vandals with rocks and spray paint forced the addition of the side panels. As far as exactly when they were invented I have no idea...Blake Harris
Engineer/fireman, Jefferson and Cypress Bayou Railroad

Vice Dean, Limbaugh Institute for Advanced Conservative Studies

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Metraup,I believe you answered your own question by looking at the video. I don't know for sure when the first ones were produced, but it was most likely in the early 50's. I know Lionel Trains had one in their catalog by 1960 so they had to be in service a few years before that. The 1950s saw the introduction of numerous speciality cars that we take for granted today, such as the grain hopper car.The one thing to note is that the autoracks you saw were not part of a unit train. Unit trains of autoracks is a relatively new thing.Hope this helps.Newton Kid

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He was watching the Rookie, I saw that too and told my parents that just ruined the whole movie, told me to shut up.
Same with films on the C&TS, I HATE seeing our beautifl 1925!!!!! locomotives wereaing diamond stacks! Good thing Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade didnt have one on their K-36 in that movie.
Support our troops...They would support you if you had to kick someones ass!-SVTS
Live! From in between Davis Monthan Air Force Base and Ft Huachua AZ!---Bases of the Greatest Army under God

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Riograndedude,Appreciate the information on the movie Metraup was watching. I missed his comment on the "modern" looking equipment. Given that key I will elaborate a little more.The first autoracks were basically just flat cars with steel framing forming a second deck. They were entirely open. I would guess they were originally 50 foot cars, but could have been up to 60. By the 70s these had evolved into three deck affairs on frames that were in the 70 foot range. Even in the late 70s they were not enclosed. I remember seeing several racks in the Kansas City Southern yards in 1978. I remember them because each had 15 Twentyfifth Anniversary Corvett Stingrays on them. Those cars were black and grey which made them tough to miss. Of course today, they are all enclosed so it is hard to see what is inside. Newton Kid

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>Of course today, they are
>all enclosed so it is hard to see what is inside. Well, yes and no, the little hole sin the sides make it easy to peer through them when its not moving.....


Buffalo & Pittsburgh local frieght. from DuBois, PA, to Hutchins, PA.

Genesee & Wyoming all the way!
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Hey all
A acurate auto rack for the 1950's era would be similar to the auto rack made by Athern for years and years,basicaly a 50' flatcar,2 or 3 autos on the lower deck same amount on the upper. the autorack we would know as such(ie 89' double or triple deck) wouldn't have come into play until very,very late 50's but more likely early 60's.
the fully enclosed racks started to show up about 78/79 but many roads began implimenting "field expidence" enclosure by bolting on corrugated plating to the old open racks.
Then of course you have the racks SP put in service about 73/74 for transporting Chevy Vegas (IIRC) that resembled Boeing wing cars,the roof angled so that it formed a ramp when the entire side of the car(segmented to the width of a auto) was lowered to the ground, the auto would then be driven on to the lowered panel,clamped in place,the car side would be raised and the auto transported hanging nose down or tail down(I forget)across the country.
These cars were pretty much gone by the 80's,either they were specficly designed for hauling Vegas(which wouldn't have been a smart move on SP's part) or transiting autos in that posistion had negitive effects on the lading.Gary S

"Some say this country's just out for a fight. After 9/11 man I'd have to say thats right"
"Have You Forgotten"
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>Then of course you have the racks SP put in service about
>73/74 for transporting Chevy Vegas (IIRC) that resembled
>Boeing wing cars,the roof angled so that it formed a ramp
>when the entire side of the car(segmented to the width of a
>auto) was lowered to the ground, the auto would then be
>driven on to the lowered panel,clamped in place,the car side
>would be raised and the auto transported hanging nose down
>or tail down(I forget)across the country.
>These cars were pretty much gone by the 80's,either they
>were specficly designed for hauling Vegas(which wouldn't
>have been a smart move on SP's part) or transiting autos in
>that posistion had negitive effects on the lading. I remember those!!! Nose down. When we got some into my dad's dealership, they gave us a spiel about special design for shipping. The batteries had their vent-caps offset to the back edge so the acid wouldn't spill out when up-ended. And something like only 3 gal. of gas allowed during shipping..

Mike F

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Mike
Yeah I guess SP kinda got hosed on that deal,a railcar designed for hauling one particular model of auto,and the Vega at that,lets see steel engine block and aluminum heads,didn't anybody tell the engineers at GM that different metals expand at different rates?
and lets not mention the disquieting feature that the car began rusting out in the showroom.interesting transports though.Gary S

"Some say this country's just out for a fight. After 9/11 man I'd have to say thats right"
"Have You Forgotten"
Darryl Worley

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riograndedude, You are amazing! How did you know out of thousands of movies I watched the Rookie?Thanks!
METRAUP

The "Metra Man" David Kuntz, 14 year old Simmist
Formerly davidpagesweb

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