Unique Designs and Capabilities

BethGon® Twin Tub Floor Design
One of the reasons FreightCar America’s BethGon® coal gondola cars have achieved the acceptance and approval that they have is the practical use of what used to be empty space between the top of the rails and the bottom of the traditional, flat bottom coal gondola floor.

By replacing the flat floor between the car’s trucks with longitudinal tubs, the BethGon® design was introduced to the railroad industry and the efficiency of moving coal by rail took one giant step forward.

Working With Aluminum
Years ago, FreightCar America successfully made the transition from building exclusively steel bodied freight cars to building aluminum bodied freight cars.

• The difference in fabricating and assembling the two metals is extensive.
  
  

 

• Further challenging the railcar builders at FreightCar America was the need to build a lightweight freight car body that could withstand high mileage, high wear, unit train, rotary discharge service.
  
  

 

• The people at FreightCar America were confident the aluminum freight car would prove itself and it did, creating a new standard for efficient coal transportation.
  
  

 

• Today, FreightCar America offers a wide selection of freight car types with both aluminum and steel bodies.