Ok so when we see auto racks with two numbers on them which is the correct car ID This is just an example but I have seen just about every class I out there with the same type of numbering system. Could it be the chassie is say TTX and the housing is the RR's.

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Milwaukee Road Matt

From what I understand, the autorack cars are operated similar to locomotives. The "leaser" owns the physical car, the railroad "rents" the car, long-term and some sort of agreement allows the railroad to number the car in their roster.

That is, again, just what I understand from reading various sources over the years. But if Soo SD60 and BNSF SD40-2s are all leased long-term, it makes sense.

Don't be surprised if I am proven wrong.

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The railfan side

My pictures

That's the TTGX 160469. I'm not sure what that UP number is used for, probably something internal, but the the TTGX number is what train lists and AEI use.

I forget the particulars of the agreement, but the railroads pay a specific amount of money and they receive a certain amount of cars. There is no guarantee on what exact cars the railroad will get because they are constantly being transfered from railroad to railroad which is why you will see autoracks with several railroads names on them in a single train. Each railroad is obligated to use X amount of cars and if they don't have a use for them, they get stored. I believe the Class I railroads are the people who came up with this whole thing in the 70s or 80s to cut costs by reducing the number of cars needed.

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