increased need for cars

Railway Age, Dec, 2004

Nearly all of the railroads East and West, while not yet beginning to feel a serious car shortage, are frequently embarrassed because they are unable to make prompt delivery of empties, and the admission seems general that the present traffic is employing nearly all available equipment. This condition, together with the fact that navigation has not yet closed and the country's bountiful corn crop is still too green to move in volume, indicates there will be a demand for cars later that will be difficult to fill.

The tonnage of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern has already reached the point where the domed for cars exceeds that available supply by 2,000. The shortage is distributed over the system and is not yet serious, and the company has this number of cars under construction.