Track Panel flats, any info available?

[SkipGear]

My son and I went railfanning Saturday and at the front of the first train we came across were 2 89' flats converted to carry track panels and a gondola also carrying panels. Did a search of the net and can find no other reference to these cars. The first car is CTXX 001. We can't find these reporting marks anywhere? Is it CSX MOW or something else? The train was a CSX freight, SD70 something and SD40-2 on point with an SD70 mid train helper. Pretty interesting train, I think we saw every type of car imaginable in this train minus autoracks and well cars, what my son was out looking for. LOL.

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[SkipGear]

The more I look at these, I think these are newly built and not conversions. The coupler box is on top of the deck. These cars are low. Certainly hard to replicate in a model.

[Maletrain]

Geeze, even the prototypes are going to sectional track!    Wonder when they will have aversion with the roadbed already attached. 

[Philip H]

I’ve seen turnouts on racks on old long gondolas with the ends cut off but not those. Interesting

[Englewood]

I'm going to say those are old converted flats, but I'd love to find out for sure. I usually see panels like that in gondolas.

[SkipGear]

I'm going to say those are old converted flats, but I'd love to find out for sure. I usually see panels like that in gondolas.

Look how low the car is though? I was looking at pictures of F89 and other 89' flats and they are 6-8" taller over the tracks. The draft box is on top of the deck on this car. You can't see the top half of the truck or wheels and the side on shots were screen captures from my son's video. He was setting on a curb taking the shots and was actually at or below the level of the track. I wish I would have had a higher vantage point, I almost feel the deck was open and the tops of the trucks were close to sticking through the deck.

[Chris333]

Anymore railroads hire companys to build their track. Wouldn't be surprised if the same company owns the car too.

[wazzou]

So many jokes in those photos.   

1) "Do Not Hump". Taken with sign in foreground that says "Speed Hump Ahead". (Road sign, I know)
2) "Speed Hump Ahead". What part of town are you in?

[SkipGear]

So many jokes in those photos.   

1) "Do Not Hump". Taken with sign in foreground that says "Speed Hump Ahead". (Road sign, I know)
2) "Speed Hump Ahead". What part of town are you in?

I won't tell you that the bar we were standing in front of is "The Cock and Bull".

https://www.cockandbullcincinnati.com/

[John]

My son and I went railfanning Saturday and at the front of the first train we came across were 2 89' flats converted to carry track panels and a gondola also carrying panels. Did a search of the net and can find no other reference to these cars. The first car is CTXX 001. We can't find these reporting marks anywhere? Is it CSX MOW or something else? The train was a CSX freight, SD70 something and SD40-2 on point with an SD70 mid train helper. Pretty interesting train, I think we saw every type of car imaginable in this train minus autoracks and well cars, what my son was out looking for. LOL.

(Attachment Link) (Attachment Link) (Attachment Link)

It appears there are at least 10 of these cars ..

[cv_acr]

The more I look at these, I think these are newly built and not conversions. The coupler box is on top of the deck. These cars are low. Certainly hard to replicate in a model.

Yes conversions.

Low deck autorack flats for trilevels.

http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=ttx851699&o=ttx
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=ettx852658&o=ttx

No, the floor isn't open.

[Philip H]

Yes conversions.

Low deck autorack flats for trilevels.

http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=ttx851699&o=ttx
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=ettx852658&o=ttx

No, the floor isn't open.

Good catch.  So, how do we kitbash these?

[SkipGear]

Thank you for the info. @cv_acr @John

I didn't think about autorack flats. Of course I've never seen one without the rack on it to compare before now.

[John]

This is how they finish them off ..

[bman]

I won't tell you that the bar we were standing in front of is "The Cock and Bull".

https://www.cockandbullcincinnati.com/

The food their is pretty good. In the warmer months I like sittin on the deck in the rear with a big ole burger an a one that is cold.