Date Photographed

An autorack oops on the CSX Altenheim Sub through Oak Park (Illinois).

This is one of about forty autorack cars that were damaged when a CSXT crew took an excess-height train under a normal-height bridge. The Autorack oops article discusses the incident.

This is one of about forty autorack cars that were damaged when a CSXT crew took an excess-height train under a normal-height bridge. The Autorack oops article discusses the incident.

This is one of about forty autorack cars that were damaged when a CSXT crew took an excess-height train under a normal-height bridge. The Autorack oops article discusses the incident.

This is one of about forty autorack cars that were damaged when a CSXT crew took an excess-height train under a normal-height bridge. The Autorack oops article discusses the incident.

The autorack cars of this train would seem to be taller than a bridge they attempted to pass under. The results (discussed below) are certainly dramatic, but they are hardly pretty.

The autorack cars are 19' tall (excess height cars), however the Belt Railway of Chicago overhead bridge (46th Avenue) just east of Cicero Avenue has a clearance of 17' 3".

Each of the excess height autorack cars is damaged, while the standard height cars passed without difficulty. [near to far] SP 516759, SSAM 38657, NYC 631289, CSXT 150086, TTGX 994924, TTGX 99070, CSXT 485725, CNW 490138, CSXT 225021, ATSF 700136 and other cars. SP 516759, SSAM 38657, NYC 631289, CSXT 150086, TTGX 994924, TTGX 990770, CSXT 485725, CNW 490138, CSXT 225021, ATSF 700136, Autorack oops, SP, Autorack cars, Freight cars, SSAM, Centerbeam flat cars, NYC, Coil cars, CSXT, Box cars, TTGX, Open gondola cars, CNW, Covered hopper cars, Built by Thrall, CNW CL901, ATSF, index, photographed on 25 October 1999 at CSX Altenheim Sub by Harold A. Driscoll using a Sony Mavica MVC-FD88 digital camera (with tripod) [railfan/1999/10/99a25619.jpg] NEW 26 October 1999 This image size is ( 1200 x 800; 255 KB ). A smaller image ( 600 x 400; 74 KB ) is also available.

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Equipment characteristics of SP 516759: AAR car type V941 (vehicular flat car), plate type G, tare weight 101,700 pounds, total gross weight allowed 185,000 pounds, load limit 83,300 pounds, external dimensions (length 93' 10", width 10' 8", height 19' 0"), internal dimensions (length 89' 4", width 9' 1", pool number 9,990,017. [courtesy of BNSF Equiptment Characteristics, October 1999]

Railcar fleet details for SP 516759: Vehicular Flat Car, Mechanical Designation: FA; Outside Length: 93 ft 10 in; AAR Car Type Code: V941; Outside Extreme Width: 10 ft 8 in; Outside Extreme Height: 19 ft 0 in; Height of Extreme Width: 5 ft 8 in; Plate Clearance: G; Star Stencil: S; Trans. Code: N; Draft Gear: 10; Tare Weight: 101,700 lbs. [courtesy of CSXT Railcar Fleet Details, November 1999]

Chicago Rail Photographs collection updated 24 March 2025 at 09:53. Photographs and text copyright © 1998-2000 Harold A. Driscoll, All Rights Reserved. Email address is provided exclusively for personal contact, but emphatically not for use for SPAM net.abuse.