The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. and TTX Company March 31 joined the rail-industry-wide celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary by unveiling five custom-painted, U.S. flag-themed boxcars at Greenbrier’s Cleburne, Tex., maintenance facility. The event, Greenbrier noted, “honored the nation’s history, the strength of North American manufacturing and the essential role freight rail has played in shaping the U.S. economy for nearly two centuries.” The boxcar scheme “honors America’s heritage, and the role railroads have played in supporting commerce, connecting communities and strengthening national infrastructure.” In 2027, the U.S. rail industry will mark 200 years.
The commemorative boxcars, Greenbrier said, “symbolize the ingenuity, craftsmanship and deep partnership between TTX and Greenbrier in supporting the North American freight rail network.” Government officials, including Federal Railroad Administrator David Fink, Texas State Representative Helen Kerwin (R-58th District) and Cleburne Mayor Pro Tem Blake Jones, joined company, military, community and rail industry leaders, company veterans, employees, and media (among them Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corp. Rail Group Publisher Jonathan Chalon) to mark the occasion and “highlight the enduring importance of American railroading and the nation’s industrial capability.”
“These American flag boxcars commemorate more than 250 years of U.S. history by highlighting the innovation, operational excellence and strategic partnerships that drive North American freight rail today,” said TTX CEO Tom Wells. “We are proud to partner with Greenbrier to deliver solutions that keep commerce moving efficiently and honor the enduring legacy of our industry. We also thank everyone who helped make this project a reality, including Williams Hayward Protective Coatings, Inc., for generously donating the paint.”
“This project demonstrates the strength of Greenbrier’s longstanding partnership with TTX and our shared commitment to supporting the North American economy,” said Greenbrier President and CEO Lorie Tekorius. “The North American integrated rail network is the circulatory system that keeps goods moving efficiently and reliably, and we are proud to continue this important work. Freight railcars can remain in service for up to 50 years, meaning this American‑flag boxcar will travel across America’s rail network for decades to come. It serves as a visual reminder of the vitality of the rails as America moves toward its third century, thanks to the people who keep it running every hour of every day.”
The boxcars, high-cube, 60-foot Plate F units, numbered 636706-636710 and built in Greenbrier’s Sahagun, Mexico plant, enter service this year into the North American interchange fleet, operating in TTX’s pooled service in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. As such, they appropriately sport some lettering in English and Spanish, for example, “CLOSE AND LOCK DOORS BEFORE MOVING CAR,” which in Spanish is “CIERE Y PONGA EL SEGURO EN LAS PUERTES ANTES DE MOVER EL CARO.”
Lake Oswego, Ore.- headquartered Greenbrier designs, builds and markets freight railcars in North America, Europe, Brazil, and the Middle East, and provides freight railcar wheel services, parts, maintenance and retrofitting services in North America. Greenbrier owns a lease fleet of approximately 17,000 railcars that originate primarily from its manufacturing operations, and offers railcar management, regulatory compliance services and leasing services to railroads and other North America railcar owners.
TTX, jointly owned by North American Class I railroads, is a railcar pooling company founded as Trailer Train in 1955 by the Pennsylvania Railroad, Norfolk & Western and Rail-Trailer Corporation. The company’s fleet consists of more than 180,000 railcars. “TTX helps railroads meet their customers’ needs by providing well‐maintained railcars in an efficient, pooled environment, investing $6 billion in additional railcars over the past 10 years alone,” the company notes. “TTX has a complete engineering and design team to care for its large and varied fleet with maintenance operations in terminals across the network. TTX also invests in and operates sophisticated industry technology solutions. These solutions improve the quality and timeliness of financial and operating information for managing its business and are shared with its owners to help them manage theirs. TTX also is a recognized innovator in the technical design and engineering of railcar components.”
