RAILCAR POOLING EXPERTS ® ABOUT TTX MAINTENANCE SERVICES CAREERS NEWS CONTACT US BPN About TTX WHO WE ARE WHY TTX EQUIPMENT OUR HISTORY 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 CORPORATE OFFICERS ETHICS & COMPLIANCE CONTACT OUR EXPERTS NOW Historical Timeline 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 1950s 1955 On November 9, 1955, Trailer Train Company is formed with three owners: Pennsylvania Railroad, Norfolk & Western (partially owned by the PRR) and Rail-Trailer Corporation. The name “Trailer Train” was chosen from 6,000 entries in a Pennsylvania Railroad employee contest. Three Objectives of the New Trailer Train Company Standardize the rail equipment of piggybacking with the two-trailer car as the basis Foster the growth of piggybacking, provide its members with the best available equipment, and keep its members abreast of new developments Furnish equipment to its members at the lowest possible cost Trailer Train’s first president was James Newell, Vice President Operations, Pennsylvania Railroad who championed the pool concept of piggyback car ownership. Van-Car Corporation, a Rail-Trailer subsidiary, was placed under contract to manage Trailer Train Company with Operating Headquarters in Chicago and Management Headquarters in Philadelphia. Trailer Train’s first employee was Ed Martin, borrowed from the Pennsylvania Railroad. On December 16, 1955, the first Board of Directors meeting was held during which Trailer Train’s first rail cars, 500 75-foot flat cars capable of hauling two standard 35-ft trailers were purchased from the Pennsylvania Railroad. Operations began 1958 85-ft flatcars equipped with trailer hitches became the state of the art in piggyback service. Without the trailer hitch, the securement of trailers was a labor-intensive and time-consuming task. 1960s 1960 The first low-level cars were purchased for piggyback service in the Eastern states where clearances were an issue. 1961 The first low-level cars equipped with auto racks entered service. The percentage of new automobiles shipped by rail had declined to 10% by 1960. First 89-ft cars entered service. 1962 First cars equipped with End-Of-Car Cushioning devices were purchased. 1964 First 60-ft and 85-ft general service cars added to the fleet. 1965 25,000th car delivered to Trailer Train. 1966 First 89-ft flatcars entered piggyback and autorack service. First all-purpose flush deck prototype cars entered service. First 60-ft cars equipped with heavy duty tie-down chains for hauling construction machinery. Low-profile trailer hitches applied to piggyback and all-purpose cars eliminating the need for risers. 1968 First 62-ft bulkhead flatcars entered service. First 100-ton 68-ft flatcars entered service. 1969 50,000th car delivered to Trailer Train. 1970s 1970 The highly visible Trailer Train yellow paint scheme replaces the old freight car red paint scheme. 1971 Offices moved to Chicago, IL, from Philadelphia, PA. 1973 Mobile vans in Chicago and St. Louis began operation to provide railroads with hitch parts and repair expertise in order to keep cars in service. These laid the frame work for the future FMO network. 1974 Trailer Train purchases Hamburg Industries (now called SRD-North Augusta). Railbox is formed as a subsidiary of Trailer Train Company and places orders for 10,000 50-ft boxcars. The first car is delivered on October 15, 1974. The first low-level flush deck design 89-ft flatcar enters the fleet for application of a new generation of rack equipped with roofs and end doors. 1975 75,000th car delivered to Trailer Train. 1976 10,000th Railbox car delivered on June 9, 1976. 1978 First ABOX car delivered to Railbox. TTX opens Calpro in Mira Loma, CA, as its second repair facility. Two prototype lightweight, 2-unit drawbar-connected hitch cars are built at Hamburg. 1979 Railgon formed as a subsidiary of Trailer Train on May 24, 1979. 100,000th car delivered to Trailer Train/Railbox. 1980s 1980 TTX opens Delpro as its third repair facility. It was closed in July 1982 due to the recession and was later sold to Amtrak in 1984. 1981 TTX opens Acorn in Jacksonville, FL, as its fourth repair facility. The TTX “4-Runner” enters service in the joint C&NW/UP Chicago-Los Angeles Falcon Service. TTX moves from 300 South Wacker Drive to 101 North Wacker Drive in Chicago. Modification of over 20,000 cars to handle two 45-ft trailers (Twin-45) begins. 1982 One prototype single-axle, single-platform hitch car and two articulated hitch cars are tested. 1984 First Field Maintenance Operations (FMOs) begin in Chicago and Houston. Single-axle, single unit 50-ft flatcars equipped with one hitch are added to the fleet. These were given the name “Front Runner® .” 1985 Modification of 89-ft and 89-ft 4-inch hitch cars to Twin-45/Triple-28 configuration begins. Modification of surplus 60-ft General Service cars to container service is undertaken. Double-stack cars are purchased. 1987 Two 89-ft flatcars connected by drawbars enter into service. These cars were given the name “Long Runner® .” 1988 Trailer Train purchases Draco in Waterford, MI. 1989 First TTAX all-purpose articulated spine cars enter service. 1990s 1991 Name changed to TTX Company. Heavy-duty flatcars added to the TTX Company fleet. Total Quality Management effort initiated. First drawbar and stand-alone well cars acquired. 125,000th car delivered. 1992 The major program to apply premium trucks and cushioning units to cars in multilevel service is initiated. 1995 Articulated bi-level cars added to the fleet. Reload who manages the distribution of autoracks is absorbed by TTX. 1999 First 53-ft double-stack cars purchased. Pipe service/100-Ton 89-ft flatcars added to the fleet. 2000s 2000 QTTX cars built by Hamburg. Raymond C. Burton, Jr. retires as President and Chief Executive Officer. Andy Reardon becomes President and Chief Executive Officer. 2003 TBOX and FBOX boxcars enter the fleet. 48 to 40-ft cut down programs initiated for double-stack cars. 2007 TTIX cars added to fleet. Cars equipped with combination winches, lading ties, side stake pockets and hydraulic end of car cushioning (EOCC). 2008 Windmill carrying cars enter service. Andy Reardon retires as President and Chief Executive Officer. Thomas F. Wells becomes President and Chief Executive Officer. HAVE QUESTIONS? SEND US A MESSAGE. 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