Centerbeam flatcars have been a common sight on the rails for about thirty years. Used mainly for lumber, plywood, wallboard and similar building products, these cars feature a pair of bulkheads on the ends and a tall open wall down the center to help secure the loads. Often the loads are wrapped in plastic, givng these cars a completely different look. One challenge with this design is that the car must be loaded and unloaded from both sides. This process must be done carefully or the car will tip over.
TTZX 35442
?2010 Ryan C Kunkle, licensed to About.com, Inc.
Trailer Train, now TTX Corporation is one of the largest freight car leasing companies in North America. Known for its intermodal flatcars and equipment, TTX also leases general freight cars including centerbeam, bulkhead and other flatcars. This car was passing through Cleveland, Ohio on Norfolk Southern. Its next load could take it anywhere in the country.
The closest model for this particular prototype was recently introduced in HO scale from Atlas. Walthers and Micro-Trains have made similar models in HO and N scales. For more images of centerbeams loaded and empty, see the Open Loads gallery.
For a larger image of this and other freight cars, see the Freight Car Friday Image Gallery.
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