Routes and road names

[Csxgp38-2]

Over here some leasing companies like NACCO will relivery stock on hire to a particular customer for some flows - off the top of my head I can think of Imerys who own china clay quarries & ship across Europe. Does that sort of thing happen over there, or will you just find stock in the leasing company livery?

Mostly just in leasing company livery, which on rolling stock usually consists of a solid color with the reporting marks and sometimes a logo.
Examples:
A standard GATX leasing tank car, no logos, just black with reporting marks:
A GATX tank car displaying the industry's "Staley" name and logo:
Another example of a GATX tank car with a logo:
Not many cars in the US carry industry logos, most just blank.

[Kali]

It mostly depends on how constant the traffic flow is over here, I think. Great stuff anyway, thanks!

Not quite so on topic, but I get very confused by the various boxcar models we have at the moment ( especially Michaels!:P ). I presume they last 20 years or so, which models are representative of current or recent types?

[Rich_S]

Not quite so on topic, but I get very confused by the various boxcar models we have at the moment ( especially Michaels!:P ). I presume they last 20 years or so, which models are representative of current or recent types?

Hi Kali,
As a rule of thumb when it comes to boxcars; anything less than 40 feet (i.e. 36 foot boxcar) was during the steam era and pre 1940's. The 40 foot boxcars were found in the steam and steam to diesel transition era (1940 to 1960). In the early 1960's the 40 foot boxcars were either being stretched to 50' or being replaced by new 50 foot boxcars. In the modern era, or present day you'll find 50', 60' and 85' boxcars roaming the rails of North America. This is just a geneal guide, as other considerations were also taken account. Some examples are, type of truck the car rode, the type of bearings the car axles were equipped with, braking system installed on the car, just to name a few.

Regards,
Rich S.

[Csxgp38-2]

It mostly depends on how constant the traffic flow is over here, I think. Great stuff anyway, thanks!

Not quite so on topic, but I get very confused by the various boxcar models we have at the moment ( especially Michaels!:P ). I presume they last 20 years or so, which models are representative of current or recent types?

I believe the rule is US railcars have to be retired from freight service after 40 years, regardless of condition. Howver this rule isn't strictly enforced, as ex Pennsylvania railroad cars are still running around patched in leasing company reporting marks, same with many other cars. I personally have seen cars at least 50 years old still active, as long as the trucks are roller bearing and the cars can move, I don't think it matters much.