CN Flush Early

Version: V01B

Era: 1983+

Flat Builder: NSC

Rack Builder: Portec

Notes: Early Flat, Flush Coffer

CNA Recessed Early

Version: V01A

Era: 1995+

Flat Builder: NSC

Rack Builder: Portec

Notes: Early Flat, Recessed Coffer

CN Racks:

Between 1983 and 1986, CN contracted all their tri-level autoracks that were originally built by NSC in 1972, to be re-racked with Portec’s latest fully enclosed design. This was done under license by Hawker Siddeley in Trenton, Nova Scotia. The Portec design included a full side, end and roof enclosure with the doors being their patented RAVE (Rack Anti-Vandal Enclosure) doors. The prototype stands out with a unique combination of NSC’s flatcar (having an exposed gusset and sill structure in the center of the car) and a Portec rack body that is like those found on F89 P-S and ACF flat cars. This would give CN a total of 520 fully enclosed tri-level autoracks numbered 704000-704519. These early racks are appropriate from 1983 all the way to the late 2000s.

Starting in 1995, CN began changing the reporting marks on some of the racks to CNA. Both CN and CNA reporting marks would soldier on in either their all-black painted car bodies or a repainted yellow body with either RAVE 1 or RAVE 2 doors.

The first production run of Prairie Shadows tri-level autorack will be NSC flat cars and equipped with Portec RAVE 1 (Ski slope) doors.

UP TT PS Rave 1

Version: V03D

Era: 1984+

Flat Builder: Pullman Standard

Rack Builder: Portec

Notes: Early PLH10 Flatcar, Portec Rack

Conrail, FEC, GT and Union Pacific*:

Between 1981 and 1985, Portec’s latest fully enclosed rack design was being implemented into the wide-body, low-level, flush deck rebuild program.

The Portec design included a full side, end, and roof enclosure with patented RAVE (Rack Anti-Vandal Enclosure) doors. These racks would be mounted to Pullman Standard and ACF F-89 flat cars. There were various F-89 flat cars including the F89-WHW, F89-CHW, and the PLH10W/11W/15W versions. The first production run of Prairie Shadows tri level autoracks feature the Portec rack bodies with RAVE1 (ski slope) doors mounted to both NSC and P-S F89 flat cars.

*Products bearing Union Pacific are made under trademark license from Union Pacific Railroad Company.