Product Information:
Beginning in the 1940s, (some maybe earlier) General Steel Castings Corporation began production of heavy-duty depressed center flatcar castings, having a carrying capacity of 125 tons. These were used to build cars for transporting oversized, high-tonnage loads such as transformers, large castings, and various pieces of machinery or machinery components. The center decks were lowered to just above rail height to provide railroads with the ability to accommodate taller loads while providing high loading ratings. These cars were single-piece castings that were sold as “kits,” along with GSC “Commonwealth” standard 3-axle trucks, to customer railroads to assemble and outfit as they required. Some railroads opted to supply Buckeye trucks for use on their cars. Due to the nature of the extreme loading of these cars, dual braking systems were required with the main control valve on the B end of the car and an auxiliary control valve on the A end of the car. All of the braking hardware was installed inside the frame of the car, with exterior piping along the sides of the car for the main airline, and for the piping tying both brake systems together. Both ends of the car were fitted with an air reservoir and a hand brake, and the system provided brake shoes on all twelve wheels of the car.
