Author: David Humphrey, Ph.D

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Total Fleet Increase

RAILWAY AGE, APRIL 2024 ISSUE: Railinc’s analysis of the North American revenue-earning fleet reveals that the total fleet increased in 2023 with almost all car types accounting for the gain. One of

Photo by Carolina Worrell

Rebuilds Rule

RAILWAY AGE, MAY 2023 ISSUE: Railinc’s analysis of the North American locomotive fleet reveals that the size of the total fleet decreased slightly in 2022.

(Photo by William C. Vantuono)

Railinc Locomotive Report: Economic Mirror

RAILWAY AGE MAY 2022 ISSUE: 2021’s minor fleet size decrease reflects COVID-19’s economic impacts and excess locomotive supply due to utilization improvements surrounding PSR (Precision Scheduled Railroading).

Heavyweights Dominate

RAILWAY AGE, APRIL 2022 ISSUE: Railinc’s annual analysis of the North American revenue-earning fleet reveals that the total fleet decreased in 2021 with all car types accounting for the loss. The average age of cars in the revenue-earning fleet was up, and new cars again trended large, with the majority having gross rail loads (GRL) of 286,000 pounds.

Steady State

RAILWAY AGE, MAY 2020 ISSUE: Railinc’s analysis of the North American diesel-electric locomotive fleet reveals that the size of the total fleet decreased slightly in 2019. The decrease reflects an excess supply
of locomotives due to industry utilization improvements. Detailed analysis reveals the following trends: