Thrall Car Manufacturing Company
Encyclopedia
Thrall Car was started by "Pops" Thrall in Chicago Heights, Illinois, as a railcar repair facility. Over the years Thrall expanded to a railcar builder with plants across the United States and in Europe. Thrall car passed between the family until it was sold in 2001 to Trinity Industries of Texas.
. Most were designed for standard gauge interchange service on AAR
-approved railroads within North America. Many tri-level auto racks built by Thrall exist today, identifiable by the blue Thrall rectangle logo present on either the extreme right or left end of the car side. Cast or forged parts, such as grab irons, trucks, axles, and wheels, were purchased from suppliers from the Chicago area.
Both Chicago Heights facilities have been redeveloped.
Products
Thrall was mainly a fabrication and assembly operation which produced freight railroad cars, such as covered hoppers, Boxcars, gondolas, intermodal well cars, and tri-level autoracksAutorack
An autorack, also known as an auto carrier, is a specialized piece of railroad rolling stock used to transport automobiles and light trucks, generally from factories to automotive distributors...
. Most were designed for standard gauge interchange service on AAR
Association of American Railroads
The Association of American Railroads is an industry trade group representing primarily the major freight railroads of North America . Amtrak and some regional commuter railroads are also members...
-approved railroads within North America. Many tri-level auto racks built by Thrall exist today, identifiable by the blue Thrall rectangle logo present on either the extreme right or left end of the car side. Cast or forged parts, such as grab irons, trucks, axles, and wheels, were purchased from suppliers from the Chicago area.
Locations
- Chicago Heights Plant 1 - Original plant at 26th street. Includes a plant office, main factory, and outdoor crane. This plant was served by Union Pacific Railroad.
- Chicago Heights Plant 2 - 1964 plant at 26th and State Street. This was headquarters at the sale to Trinity. Includes an office, assembly building, paint shop, fabricating building, and jig/fixtures facility as well as outdoor cranes. This plant is served by Union Pacific Railroad and Elgin Joliet and Eastern.
- Cartersville, GA - still owned by Trinity Industries.
- Clinton, IL
- Harvey, IL , Parts Depot - sometimes described as Phoenix, IL
Both Chicago Heights facilities have been redeveloped.