Quote:
Originally Posted by Oh Haha
I remember when rail cars were open as we used to see them on the tracks where I grew up on their way from Flint to Canada. I was always told that it was because of kids throwing rocks at them. Hmmm.
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Kids and other threats. Transients (hobos) would break in and ride inside the autos.
"A major problem left to solve was that the new autorack cars did not provide any protection from theft, vandalism, or from severe weather. Individual railroads began installing mesh side screens and solid panels to their racks to protect the vehicles from impact and debris in the late 1960s, and by the early 1970s new racks were being delivered with these side panels. However, thieves and vagrants could still gain access to the automobiles. In 1973 the first fully enclosed racks with continuous side panels, end doors, and roofs were developed to address this problem."
