89' flat cars

[tootnkumin]

Does TTX own all the 89' flat cars now or do you still see cars in some of the fallen flag colours and markings. (even patched ones)?

[cv_acr]

There's plenty of non-TTX 89' flatcars out there. TTX certainly has a majority though.

[Cjcrescent]

Depending on the year or era, best bet would be to consult a copy of the ORER, (Official Railway Equipment Registery). This will have a description of the car, length, etc and a list of numbers assigned to those cars. If you're interested in a particular road, you'd just go to that road's listing and look.

[tootnkumin]

Originally Posted by Cjcrescent

Depending on the year or era, best bet would be to consult a copy of the ORER, (Official Railway Equipment Registery). This will have a description of the car, length, etc and a list of numbers assigned to those cars. If you're interested in a particular road, you'd just go to that road's listing and look.

Thanks for that info

[DirtyD79]

TTX does own the majority of them. The advantage of the TTX fleet is TTX is actually a pool of several railroads and whatever company needs the cars uses them. Although a few railroads like Union Pacific, Florida East Coast, and Northwestern Oklahoma Railroad have some of their own and Conrail also had some as well. In addition to intermodal, 89 foot flatcars also see service hauling loads of pipes, farm tractors, and military equipment.

There are also specially designed 89 foot flat cars hauling special open top containers of trash as well. Those cars and containers are usually privately owned by various waste collection companies since unlike intermodal service they pretty much only travel with a load one way then run empty on the return trip.

[tootnkumin]

Thanks Dirty, yes I was aware that TTX was owned by a consortium of roads but wasn't sure just roughly when it roughly became the largest operator. Going by photos and Y/tube vids, BNSF also has (or had) quite a large fleet. My interest was sparked by my wish to "create" a "Caterpillar train" of which I have got quite a good number of the Norscot models. I've bought 18 Athearn TTX cars that Walthers have been running out at 1/2 price (or less), earmarked for such a modern day train. All twin 45' hitch.

Also at the same time I got a couple of TT cars and a few other roadname ones because they (Walthers) were cunning and have been "specialling" them in stages.

Since then I have also got from Modeltrainstuff 6 Atlas cars that have a very high detail level, named for the Providence & Worcester (I haven't googled that yet to find out where that is or was) which I'll run in my 70's era trains, (love these 1/2 price or better deals).

Lastly I bought, once again from Walthers, 4 pairs of of the Genesis F89F TTEX longrunner cars. I actually "fell in" a bit there 'cause they had both single boxed and
double boxed items on sale and in my long distance ignorance (and the fact the doubles were a $ cheaper for the 2), also all @ 1/2 price, it was with a bit of consternation when they arrived, I found out what I had actually got. But I noticed the "new" dates on some are 1991 and others are 1995, so they fit into my modern era rolling stock.

So now the hunt is on for 53' (a dozen) and 45'/40' trailers and containers as well as 20's to complete the earlier consist.