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open-top car

railroad vehicle
Also known as: open car

Quick Summary

An open-top car is a type of railroad freight car designed to carry cargo. These cars evolved from early 1800s designs and can be either gondola or hopper cars. Hopper cars are used for bulk freight like coal and grain, featuring hatches or a collapsible bottom for quick unloading. Gondola cars have fixed bottoms and are loaded from above, typically transporting manufactured goods. A container car is a specific type of open-top freight car designed to carry containers.12

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