LAKE OSWEGO, Ore. — U.S. Steel, Norfolk Southern, and carbuilder Greenbrier have combined on a new gondola car design which will reduce the weight of each car by up to 15,000 pounds through use of a high-strength, lighter-weight steel. NS will receive 800 of the cars in an initial order.
The new steel has the potential to extend the lifespan of each car to 50 years, while the design will also increase capacity.
The companies are highlighting the sustainability impact of the new cars, which will be more energy efficient both during production and in use. The steel fabrication process requires less time and less material use, and its lower weight will decrease fuel use by locomotives hauling the cars.
“The use of lightweight, high-strength steel is a real revolution for railcars,” Norfolk Southern CEO Jim Squires said in a press release. “Not only will each gondola carry more material, they will do so by using less energy, making our operations, and our customer’s operations, even more environmentally friendly. The advancements made by Norfolk Southern, U. S. Steel, and Greenbrier on these gondolas can be applied to other car types, ensuring that this sustainable innovation continues well into the future.”
U.S. Steel CEO David B. Burritt said, “We’ve often said that together we can do anything! This joint initiative proves that point with an innovative railcar that is stronger, lighter and more capable, with the planet being the ultimate beneficiary.” Greenbrier CEO William A. Furman said the collaborative effort “promises significant benefits to all three companies and the freight transportation industry as a whole.”
More information on the project is available at the Greenbrier website.
The only time these new cars *might* save fuel is when they are empty going back to re-load, otherwise, they will just increase payload to max allowable gross, requiring the same HP to move as older cars.
Thought there was a regulation that prohibited commercial ads and logos on railcars used in interchange service…
No such thing as light weight steel, higher strength yes.
So for example instead of using 3/8 plate to get the desired strength a 5/16 plate can be used, therefore reduced weight.
Cost of steel required can increase due to processing, so each car costs more but a lighter car is the result. Allows far a heavier load while staying within maximum wheel load requirements.
Exactly what Nation Steel Car has done with the new grain cars for CN and CP.
Nothing new been done for years in other industries.
Hey US Steel, call Nippon Sharyo and let them know you now have a way to build bilevels that have buff strength.
Will the light weight steel rust through more quickly? How will it hold up to the battering that gons receive?
According to U.S. Steel, it is manufactured using higher strength and more durable lightweight steel projected to last 50 years.
THE GONDOLA “RENDERING” LOOKS NICE, BUT IT WOULD SURE HELP, AT LEAST PSYCHOLOGICALLY, TO HAVE A LITTLE MORE BALLAST BETWEEN AND UNDER THE TIES. WALTER FRITZ, OBER, INDIANA
Just a heads up Walter, your caps lock key is broken. Might be time for a new keyboard.