Identify Train Cars

There are a variety of different rail car types. Each one has its own unique style and purpose.

Autorack A large, metal, and enclosed car filled with multiple "racks" that are used to create different levels for transporting finished vehicles.

Boxcar An enclosed railroad freight car with sliding doors on each side. They can carry any type of good like coal, fruits and vegetables, and livestock. They are especially beneficially when it comes to transporting things in bulk.

Caboose Rear end car housing crew quarters and offices. Rarely seen past the 1980’s due to computerization replacing some train roles.

Centerbeam Built with a centerbeam in order to create greater stability for product transportation. These usually transport bundled goods like lumber, fence posts, and other building supplies.

Covered Hopper These train cars carry free-flowing, dry bulk commodities such as wheat, soda ash, rice, and sand. The top of the car is removed so the product can be loaded and then it is covered for travel. When it is time to unload, doors at the bottom of the car are opened and gravity moves the product out.

Flat Car Flat cars are even, open platforms with no sides. They come in different lengths and are great for moving oversized or oddly shaped commodities like pipe, rail, steel plate, tractors, tanks, and logs.

Gondola Gondolas have low sides and an open top. They are good for carrying heavy, bulk items such as scrap metal, steel, copper, iron, coal and ore.

Maintenance Vehicles Various unique specialty railroad cars that are used in the repair and construction or railroad tracks.

Open Hopper These are similar to Covered Hoppers, except they don't have a removable cover. There is no cover at all. This is why they are better for carrying free-flowing freight which doesn’t need to be protected from weather such as coal, coke, ores, and gravel.

Passenger Car The first passenger cars were built in the early 1800s and have developed in building material over the course of time. These car types are meant for moving passengers from one location to another. The inside structure varies, but each car contains large windows for passengers to look out of.

Rotary Snowplow This car has a circular set of blades at the front of it, which is used to cut through snow that builds up on the train tracks. It is most often seen in regions with heavy winters.

Tank Car A large metal tank meant for carrying liquid commodities like chemicals, corn syrup, ethanol, molasses, water, oil, gas, and diesel fuel.