Thrall Articulated Auto Rack

Prototype Information

he Thrall articulated autorack emerged in the 1990s as Thrall Car’s effort to improve efficiency in automobile transport without drastically changing operating practices. Built as a two-unit articulated set joined by a Jacobs truck, the design eliminated one coupler and one full truck compared to running two separate autoracks. This reduced rolling resistance, lowered tare weight, and gave the pair a smoother, more stable ride—important for protecting vehicles in transit.

Thrall equipped the racks with its contemporary side screens, end-door assemblies, and a reinforced underframe tailored for heavy auto-train use. Although the concept delivered measurable efficiency gains, railroads purchased them in small numbers, largely because standalone autoracks offered greater fleet flexibility. Even so, the Thrall two-unit articulated autorack remains a notable experiment in refining autorack performance through articulation rather than wholesale redesign.