FreightCar America to open third plant, plans IPO

Railway Age, Feb, 2005

FreightCar America (formerly Johnstown America) is adding production capacity by leasing and reopening a freight car construction and repair shop from Norfolk Southern in Roanoke, Va. NS shut down the car portion of its Roanoke Shops in 2000, retaining only locomotive maintenance and repair. The Roanoke location joins FCA's freight car production facilities in Johnstown, Pa., and Danville, Ill.

The company initially plans to build aluminum coal hoppers at Roanoke, with the first cars delivered in the second quarter. Production will be expanded later to include other car types made from steel and stainless steel as well as aluminum. FCA also filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed initial public offering of its common stock. The underwriters are UBS Investment Bank, Jefferies & Co., Inc., and CIBC World Markets Corp. UBS will act as the sole book-running manager for the proposed offering.