Thrall Articulated Autorack

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.