Car Carriers?

Question

When the cars are put on the train, who holds onto the keys? Do they get to the terminal before the train does or does someone on the train holds them. Can someone roll the car off the train while it is moving? How much does the rail line pay for insurance if the car is damaged?

Answer 1

the keys are left in the car since it is very difficult to steal a car from a moving train, even if you could driving them down railroad tracks is really hard on the suspension.

Answer 2

Todays auto transport tri-levels are fully enclosed and sealed.  They were developed as a means of cutting down on the theft of parts from the cars being transported.

Not being able to get the whole car off the train, thieves would drop transmissions, wheels, audio gear and other parts that could be easily accessed.  They would drop the stolen merchandise off the moving train where accomplices would retrieve the stolen goods.

Vandalism was another reason to create the enclosed cars.

Most railroads are self insured against losses.

Answer 3

I'm not sure where the keys go, although I've heard they're in the vehicles.

Modern multi-level auto carriers are fully enclosed and locked with a special lock.  I, as a conductor, don't have a key to this lock, and can't open the rail cars.

When coupled together, without the assistance of a ramp, it's next to impossible to steal the whole car.  Instead, thieves will occasionally break into the cars (I imagine heavy tools are used to bust the locks), and steal stereos, wheels, rims, tires, etc.

Most railroads are self-insured, so when a car is broken into, damaged, or destroyed, the railroad ends up eating the cost of it.