Why freight cars won't go larger than 286

摘要

Today, the largest, standard heavy-duty freight cars carry about 110 tons, and the total weight, including the weight of the car itself, is 143 tons, or 286,000 pounds Gross Rail Load (GRL). The 110-ton car has only been around for a few decades. Load limits must have been very small when railroads first developed in the 19th century, and for about 150 years, freight cars have steadily gotten bigger. But today, it doesn't appear that this trend is continuing. This is a matter of great importance to the railroad industry. Of all the thousands of improvements that have occurred during the industry's long history, increasingly larger freight cars have been perhaps the biggest contributor to improving efficiency and profitability. Marketing people have been closely involved in the process of developing larger cars, as increased car size and the favorable economics of heavier loading have been an important competitive tool.