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Ogihara (Thai-Summit) has been receiving brand new ZVBX gondola cars of late at their rail yard facility in Howell. It is their first use of new rail cars for loading scrap since they began loading there over 23 years ago. Am making a dedicated thread on these cars for future updates.

The new cars are coming in two sizes, Larger cars over what they have used before, are numbered in the 625476-625490 series (15 Total) ,and the regular size in the 625750-625779 series. (30 Total). Larger cars were built in December 2022, the smaller cars in early 2023.

Here is the data on the two sized cars:

Large cars: CUFT: 4000, LTWT 72200, LDLMT: 213800
Small cars: CUFT: 2743, LTWT 61600, LDLMT: 224000

Thank you for the descriptive thread. I enjoy this kind of information.

Are the larger cars longer, taller or both?

Thank you for the mention! I'll be sure to report any movements of the ZVBX cars.
Is it just me or are we seeing lots of new rail cars? L303-19 had three crisp blue GATX box cars.

The new larger cars for sure are taller but do not look to be longer.

amessmann wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 20, 2023 6:11 pm

Thank you for the mention! I'll be sure to report any movements of the ZVBX cars.
Is it just me or are we seeing lots of new rail cars? L303-19 had three crisp blue GATX box cars.

Some of the newer GATX boxcars and the older ZVBX gondolas

amessmann wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 20, 2023 6:11 pm

Thank you for the mention! I'll be sure to report any movements of the ZVBX cars.
Is it just me or are we seeing lots of new rail cars? L303-19 had three crisp blue GATX box cars.

I caught these newer GATX boxcars and a newer TBOX on L303-15 on 02/15/23

Hmmm... There were 3 pretty new looking gatx boxcars that went south on grand elk through Byron Center today.. maybe routed csx to GR then south... Hmm...

~Z~ wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 20, 2023 8:22 pm

Hmmm... There were 3 pretty new looking gatx boxcars that went south on grand elk through Byron Center today.. maybe routed csx to GR then south... Hmm...

Probably for the paper mill in Otsego.

I guess while we are on the topic, the three GATX cars I was referring to (on L303-19) were numbered LRS 141085, 141102, and 141108 in that order.
Specs are as follows: LDLMT 204100, LTWT 81900, CUFT 7550. Brand new, gleaming in the sun.

amessmann wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 20, 2023 6:11 pm

Is it just me or are we seeing lots of new rail cars?

According to data from AAR, about 50,000 new freight cars are added to the fleet each year.

As of 2018, approximately 140,000 cars were over 40 years of age. Assuming an even distribution over a decade, 14,000 per year would be retired upon hitting there 50th anniversary.

Additionally, changes in markets require changes in fleet type which could increase the rate of replacement.

https://www.progressiverailroading.com ... pe-Age.jpg

SD80MAC wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 20, 2023 9:34 pm

~Z~ wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 20, 2023 8:22 pm

Hmmm... There were 3 pretty new looking gatx boxcars that went south on grand elk through Byron Center today.. maybe routed csx to GR then south... Hmm...

Probably for the paper mill in Otsego.

I will try to keep an eye out for them.

L303 had ZVBX 1007 in the consist today. Hoping to bump this thread up as I too have been neglecting to update here.

BL2-1843 wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 19, 2023 11:31 am

The new cars are coming in two sizes, Larger cars over what they have used before, are numbered in the 625476-625490 series (15 Total) ,and the regular size in the 625750-625779 series. (30 Total). Larger cars were built in December 2022, the smaller cars in early 2023.

I'm late to the party, but the larger cars were sent to Thai Summit by mistake by the car owners after they were released from the factory. When the builder released them, they had them sent to various locations for staging in prep for loading to start their cycles of service. The larger cars have a higher tare weight, which reduces the amount of loading capacity. The product Thai Summit ships out is cubed by size and weight, which caused some issues when they started using those cars. Heard they had to tell the customer they either go out lite or the go out empty, your choice. The decided to load them lite rather than no revenue and pay for switching and handling. The high side cars shouldn't return, but you know what they say about that...

L302-17 had ZVBX 1070, 97026, 77017, 1053, 625777, 625764, 625757, 625768, and 625771 in the consist today.

amessmann wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 17, 2023 6:12 pm

L302-17 had ZVBX 1070, 97026, 77017, 1053, 625777, 625764, 625757, 625768, and 625771 in the consist today.

All cars destined for Detroit. Came out of Chicago, not sure if empty or loaded. Believe they are owned by (or at least leased) by Cleveland Cliffs. Scrap loading for steel production.

Continued thanks for all the ZVBX car numbers from Thai-Summit, Adam. All of the newer "625" cars yesterday came east loaded on Aug.21st. It was good to see these cars coming back empty out of Detroit again as they have been coming out of Chicago. At least most of the loads still move east after being picked up in Howell.

I will post any ZVBX cars that comes on M326 which eventually will head over to L303

Another new ZVBX #625750 car on today’s M326 from Bangor’s Live Cam

Thank You. ZVBX 625750 went out loaded on Sept, 14th so it returned empty quite fast. Wished I had the full number for the older ZVBX car behind it. It only showed 7609? Don't have that one as one of their older cars.