# Railroad cars **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 7, 2000, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/railroad-cars/28358 "2000-08-07T00:25:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/railroad-cars/28358/1 "2000-08-07T00:25:04Z")
Every now and then I see a freight train with at least one car that has a single wall, running the length of the car and havcing several large holes/“windows” built into the wall. What does this kind of car carry? The nearest equivalent I can think of is a truck that carries glass panes. ---
**Author:** ![zebbmx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/958977/32.png) [@zebbmx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zebbmx)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/railroad-cars/28358/2 "2000-08-07T02:19:10Z")
Hmmmmmm i think i saw one of those on Mtv’s special about those people who hop on trains as there living. Sorry but i dont know the name of it! ---
**Author:** ![KCB615](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ea666f/32.png) [@KCB615](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KCB615)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/railroad-cars/28358/3 "2000-08-07T02:41:52Z")
If it’s a single wall that runs down the center of the car, I’m pretty sure its for carrying plywood and other finished lumber products. The wood is stacked on the sides of the car, using that center wall as a support. At least thats what I gather from the description in the OP…I very well could be misundertanding (however unbelieveable that may seem…). ---
**Author:** ![Silo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Silo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silo)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/railroad-cars/28358/4 "2000-08-07T04:31:17Z")
If I’m understanding this correctly I’d have to say that car is specifically designed for tree logs. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/railroad-cars/28358/5 "2000-08-07T15:27:47Z")
Those cars carry logs, dimensional lumber, plywood, and other such commodities. I think that they just have some bland name like “Center-support flatbed cars”. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/railroad-cars/28358/6 "2000-08-07T21:00:08Z")
Thanx 🙂