Coalveyor Bathtub Gondola

Prototype Information

The ACF Coalveyor was developed by ACF Industries in the late 1970s. It was designed to haul coal efficiently. The car features a bathtub-style body with a reinforced bottom. One end has a rotary coupler for easy unloading without detaching cars.

It entered service around 1979. Utility companies often leased or bought them. Reporting marks included UFIX, RTPX, and NPPX. These cars were used in unit trains, especially by railroads like Burlington Northern.

By the 1990s, lighter aluminum cars replaced many Coalveyors. Still, some remain in use today. They now carry scrap metal, debris, and railroad ties.