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August 2024
Compiled by Julie Sneider, Senior Editor
Greenbrier has introduced several advancements in autorack design, focusing on improved aerodynamics to enhance train performance and efficiency. All of Greenbrier’s autoracks are engineered to reduce air resistance and improve stability and safety to make rail transportation more sustainable and cost-effective, company officials said.
A key innovation is Greenbrier’s optimization of airflow in connecting areas between rail cars, which reduces disruptions and improves overall aerodynamics, they said. The roof and side panels are shaped to minimize air resistance, with options for smooth roof designs and “aero screens” for additional improvements. Additionally, a sealed undercarriage minimizes air entry and exit, reducing lift and drag forces.
The interior ladder door design significantly reduces aerodynamic drag compared to exterior ladders, leading to substantial fuel savings, Greenbrier officials said. Enhanced braking system efficiency also reduces component wear and tear, further optimizing rail-car performance.
The Multi-Max Plus™ bilevel autorack exemplifies the company’s innovative approach, Greenbrier officials said. Designed to transport high-profile vans and pickup trucks efficiently, it supports shippers’ and railroads’ sustainability goals through double-stack efficiencies and reduced fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
On a rail route from Alabama to California, Greenbrier calculated fuel savings of over 1 million gallons of diesel and nearly 14,000 metric tons CO2 emissions savings. The Multi-Max Plus™ can transport up to nine vehicles per rail car.
Rail cars carrying automobiles require the best protection from freight yard impacts and in-train jostling. Amsted Rail’s 1/9 Active Draft Cushioning Units are designed to maintain compression, providing optimal protection against the draft and buff stresses a car experiences when a train stops or starts, Amsted officials said in an email.
Unlike a standard cushioning unit, which is metal on metal with a neutral position that is fully extended, the Active Draft Cushioning Unit features polymer pads that stop the unit short. That allows for travel available in the buff and draft directions, protecting the rail car and lading from both in-train shocks and yard impacts. This design provides many benefits over other end-of-car cushioning options, including less stress on knuckles and less opportunity for undesired events, Amsted officials said.
Meanwhile, the IQ Series gateway from Amsted Rail subsidiary Amsted Digital Solutions is a maintenance-free, low-power telematics device built to perform in the harshest freight-rail operating environments. The built-in capabilities of the IQ Series gateway paired with advanced machine learning technology virtually eliminates the need for specialized external sensors, Amsted officials said.
When mounted on a rail-car body, the IQ Series gateway provides:
When mounted on one or both bolsters of a bogie and configured with Bogie IQ technology, the IQ Series gateway provides real-time onboard health monitoring in addition to the data available from the body-mounted gateway, according to Amsted.
Actionable intelligence from the system is available through Amsted Digital’s scalable, flexible and secure Supply Chain Visibility™ platform. As new features become available, existing gateways can be upgraded through simple, over-the-air firmware updates.
Holland provides several auto-securement solutions for vehicles ranging from buses and military vehicles transported on unilevel rail cars to standard low-profile vehicles transported on trilevels.
The Door Defender™ Protection System offers a rugged outdoor-grade polyethylene construction featuring a bumper profile that acts as a spring to absorb door impacts. It includes a one-size-fits-all side post guard that stretches to cover nearly all structural elements of the autorack rail car. Door Defender™ also is waterproof and has been impact-tested to meet or exceed 10-plus-year field usage in conditions as harsh as -40 degrees F and over 130 degrees F, Holland officials said.
Another solution offered by Holland is the LocknLoad® chock, which works seamlessly on bilevel autorack cars to prevent vehicles from moving during transport. This chock is compatible with all grating forms and features a release level to allow unloaders to remove the chock after shifted load without moving the vehicle. With the rise in electric vehicle purchases, the LocknLoad chock was also proven effective at securing electric vehicles beyond Association of American Railroads (AAR) standard handling procedures, Holland officials said.
The Tri-lo chock is another featured product that secures vehicles on trilevel autorack cars. Currently, this chock provides securement to AAR Group C vehicles. The newest version of Holland’s Tri-Lo chock is expected to be released within the next year to be included within AAR Group D, company officials said.
National Steel Car Ltd. (NSC) designs and manufactures autoracks for the North American automotive market as part of a larger portfolio of freight cars. NSC autoracks are built on 89-foot, 4-inch low-level flat cars and are available in bilevel and trilevel configurations.
The cars are equipped with lightweight, easy-to-operate trifold doors, and are manufactured with corrosion-resistant materials that prolong the life of the autorack., company officials said The doors meet the requirements of and are approved under AAR M-941.
The racks’ features are designed to increase their life, such as a closed-section deck stringer. They also are equipped with standard chocks, roof panels and side screens. The rack meets and exceeds the requirements of AAR M-950, M-950A and M-956.
NSC autoracks provide deck clearances and clear door openings that exceed the AAR requirements, company officials said. The car builder has produced over 1,200 autoracks and flat cars over the past 10-plus years in bilevel and trilevel configurations.
TrinityRail® has been at the forefront of providing autoracks to meet the evolving products and needs of North American automotive manufacturers, company officials said.
This not only includes providing rail transportation to support rising demand for light trucks, passenger vans and now higher-profile vehicles, but also finding ways to reduce damage and vandalism while offering a better environment for workers operating inside the autorack itself, they said.
An example of TrinityRail’s ongoing efforts to produce products to meet evolving customer needs is the Hourglass® autorack. With a design that optimizes interior width for much of the car, the Hourglass offers improved ergonomics and operation inside the autorack, enhanced damage prevention and greater operational efficiencies.
TrinityRail also offers a line of replacement parts including the Seal Safe Radial Door™, which offers enhanced security, as well as the leading securement products of Holden America.
Founded in 1909, Holden America offers high performance, multilevel vehicle securement and protection systems. The products help ensure that finished vehicles are properly restrained in the autorack, reducing damage to the vehicle, while making the job of the loaders and unloaders of the autorack easier and more productive, TrinityRail officials said.
Wabtec provides a selection of autorack rail-car products designed to secure and protect vehicles in transit. The company’s parts catalog includes repair/replacement products for all end doors, including newer composite end doors like the Operating Rod Splice and panel repair/parts for pre-trip locations versus bad ordering rail cars.
Wabtec offers a Sta-Put™ bilevel chock as well as an improved grating system. The Sta-Put was the only chock with no exceptions when impact tested securing large trucks to determine minimum clearance during the six-impact series, Wabtec officials said.
The Sta-Put also incorporates an intermediate height setting to accommodate the tighter clearances of trilevel product being shipped on bilevels. In addition, it is fully field repairable.
An offset bridge plate/hinge also has been developed to address the loading of wider wheelbase vehicles while still accommodating the narrowest. The offset hinge can be supplied for retrofit applications to current in-service bridge plates.
Email questions or comments to julie.sneider@tradepress.com.
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