MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. — The Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad has received 100 new coil steel cars from two manufacturers, each of which built 50 of the cars.
The 48-foot, 115-ton capacity cars were built by The Greenbrier Cos. and National Steel Car, and expand the CSS car fleet to nearly 700 railcars. Each of the transverse-style cars can hold up to five steel coils and have covers for all-weather transport. The transverse troughs hold the coils with no need for dunnage or blocking.
“For the second time since 2007, CSS has made a significant investment by purchasing coil steel cars to support our customers’ growth,” CSS President Todd Bjornstad said in a press release. “By adding these cars to our leased fleet, we have greater control of the equipment to support our customers with safer and greener rail shipping options.”
The railroad serves coil steel producers including Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. at Burns Harbor, Ind., and U.S. Steel’s Midwest Plant in Portage, Ind.
The Chicago South Shore & South Bend is one of the six railroads owned by Anacostia Rail Holdings. Anacostia CEO Peter Gilbertson said the company is “pleased to leverage its strong financial position to provide funds for this purchase by CSS. … We are cited about this purchase, which will provide added value to our customers’ supply chains.”