This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
2/13/2026
Compiled by Julie Sneider, Senior Editor
TrinityRail® provides a complete line of gondolas and open hoppers for steel, scrap or similar products.
The company’s 52- and 66-foot mill gondolas continue to be the workhorses of the North American fleet and are produced with a focus on flexibility and durability, company officials said, in an email. Gondolas are also available for heavy, high-density products such as aggregates and ore.
TrinityRail’s Rapid Discharge® hoppers have been providing greater efficiency and productivity for the rail shipment of aggregates for over five decades, company officials said. The cars have been produced with transverse as well as longitudinal discharge gate configurations and are available in all-steel and hybrid versions.
In addition, features including touch pad operation are available that help promote ease of operation and operator safety. Also available: A new transverse discharge triple hopper that includes many of the proven features from TrinityRail’s line of Rapid Discharge cars. Together, the product line offers shippers complete flexibility to support any operational situation, company officials said.
TrinityRail has built one of North America’s largest lease fleets with expanding parts and maintenance capabilities. Also available are the rail management and logistics solutions from RSI Logistics®. Included are Rail Command®, a comprehensive rail transportation management system, and Rail Impact®, which provides tools to manage and negotiate rail rates.
Today, aggregate shippers increasingly benefit from a dedicated effort to enhance value from both a customer-focused effort to optimize the design and construction of gondolas and hoppers, as well as an expansion of services built to create greater insight and knowledge into shipping by rail, TrinityRail officials said.
Gondola and aggregate rail cars operate in the most demanding rail service environments. Miner Enterprises Inc. addresses those needs with an integrated portfolio of cushioning systems, draft gears, discharge solutions and truck components designed specifically for demanding applications, company officials said.
The TF-880™ TecsPak® friction draft gear is a lightweight, high-performance M-901E design that enables increased payload capacity and greater car-design flexibility. Featuring a patented TecsPak elastomer compression spring package combined with a proven friction clutch, the TF-880 provides superior energy management and protection, Miner officials said.
With more than 1.7 million units installed, over 2 million miles of tested service life and 40 years of proven reliability, it remains the most experienced friction elastomer draft gear in service, they said.
Miner’s Friction Cushioning System (FCS) is designed to improve operations, protect assets and reduce costs. It provides car owners and operators with a greater return on their investment compared to hydraulics-based systems, company officials said.
By improving control, the systems help reduce unplanned service interruptions. With over 10,000 rail cars — including coil steel gondolas — equipped and approximately 400 million miles of service experience, FCS has demonstrated long-term reliability in demanding freight operations, Miner officials said.
For ballast applications, Miner’s AggreGate® rapid discharge systems effectively ballast inside, outside or both sides of a rail simultaneously. The systems are available in electric, air-powered and manual configurations.
Miner’s TecsPak® Constant Contact side bearings are specifically engineered to improve curving performance and control over truck hunting and car body roll. Additionally, the company’s Series 2008 brake beams and MGS running boards further support consistent braking performance and safe access for rail personnel, Miner officials said.
Together, these solutions reflect the company’s focus on improving reliability, safety and long-term value for gondola and aggregate car fleets, they said.
National Steel Car (NSC), which is ISO 9001:2015 certified, is committed to quality and excellence, as evidenced by every design and rail car built since 1912, company officials said.
NSC gondolas showcase this commitment and give attention to the operating environments of customers through features engineered to provide the highest capacity, while retaining the robust durability required by the most demanding services and markets, they said. NSC’s cars are engineered and built to endure the tests of time and elements, with industry-leading innovation to maintain long-term value, according to the company.
NSC’s patented gondola designs produce tough, rugged and lightweight gondolas with enduring quality. Features include a one-piece floor, a unibody concept and “U” frame structure, knee connections at posts, pinned corner connections and double-end wall construction. High-strength steel is used in strategic locations, and main structural components feature high-quality robotic welding.
NSC’s comprehensive lineup of gondolas includes multiple sizes of medium heavy-duty and heavy-duty designs for steel, scrap, aggregates, C&D/MSW, iron ore and other commodities, company officials said.