TTX Car Classification Systems

Details: Last Updated: 01 February 2022; Hits: 11129

Present TTX Car Classification System

The following car classification was adopted in 1968 and took until 1974 to be completely adopted. It consists of six characters.

Character:	1	2	3	4	5	6
Example:	T	W	G	5	0	P

Interpretation (partial listing)
Character:	Meaning:	Examples:
1	Car Builder	A = American Car & Foundry (ACF) B = Bethlehem Steel C = Pacific Car & Foundry D = Difco F = FMC Marine & Rail G = Gunderson, Greenbrier J = Johnstown America and Freight Car America N = National Steel Car P = Pullman-Standard R = Trinity Industries T = Thrall Manufacturing U = United American Car W = Berwick Forge & Fabricating Y = Hyundai
2	Deck Height	D = Depressed-center flatcar L = Low level (less than 39 inches) S = Standard level (39 inches or higher)
2	Other	A = All-purpose M = Integrated Multi-level car and superstructure R = Auto rack superstructure T = RoadRailer bogie W = Double-stack well car
3	Draft Gear	F = M901 or M901E friction draft gear G = M901G high-capacity friction draft gear H = Hydraulic end-of-car cushioning
3	Other	A = All-purpose B = Bi-level rack or multi-level car T = Tri-level rack or multi-level car U = Uni-level rack or multi-level car
4, 5	Design No.	For 89-foot Standard-Level Flatcars: 10 to 19 = Cars with draft pockets for friction draft gear or specific hydraulic cushioning unit 20 & up = Cars with universal draft pockets 80 = Cars with 39-1/2-inch high deck and wider side sills 90 = Older flush-deck car converted to all-purpose with universal draft pockets
		For 89-foot Low-Level Flatcars: 10 to 19 = Flatcar 60-feet over end sills 20 & up = Flush-deck car body with universal draft pockets
		For 60- to 73-foot Standard-Level Flatcars: 60 to 62 = Flatcar 60-feet over end sills 64 = Center beam car 64-feet over end sills and 60-foot inside length 71 to 73 = Flatcar 68-feet over end sills with or without end bulkheads 74 = 73-feet inside length center beam car with plate web center beam structure 75 = 73-feet inside length center beam car with diagonal truss center beam structure and 263,000-pounds gross rail load 76 = 73-feet inside length center beam car with diagonal truss center beam structure and 286,000-pounds gross rail load
		For Heavy-Duty Flatcars: Design number = Usable length of loading deck
		For Multi-level Cars and Auto Rack Superstructures: One-digit numbers = Auto rack superstructures Two-digit numbers = Complete multi-level cars
		For Multiple-Unit Cars: 2n = Two-unit cars 3n = Three-unit cars 4n = Four-unit cars 5n = Five-unit cars Second digit may or may not have a specific meaning
		For Articulated Double-Stack Cars: 50 = Cars with 100-ton articulated trucks 51 = Prototype cars built with 100-ton articulated trucks and converted to 125-ton trucks 52 = Cars with 125-ton articulated trucks 53 = (23) 100-ton cars acquired used from APL 53 = Cars with 125-ton trucks and having 53-foot wells
		For All-Purpose Spine Cars: 30 = Three-unit 57-foot TTRX car 33 = Three-unit 53-foot TTAX car 53 = Five-unit 53-foot TTAX car 55 = Five-unit 48-foot TTAX car
6	Subclass, if any	A = All-purpose C = Equipped for COFC service M = Modified from originak construction of car P = Protoype car

Original Trailer Train Classification System

Cars were assigned classes based on the length of the loading deck.

Character:	1	2	3	4	5	6
Example:	F	8	9	C	H	W

Interpretation (partial listing)
Character:	Meaning:	Examples:
1	Type of Car	F = Flatcar G = TOFC car built by GATX
2, 3	Length	Length in feet
4	Subclass, if any
6	Various	F = Equipped for auto frame service M = Modified from original construction of car P = Equipped to carry pipe W = Underframe widened for Wide-body auto rack