How much rolling stock is in service in North America?

Question

just a rough estimate for freight cars. I live near busy train tracks and the variety of rolling stock from Canada, the USA and even Mexico that rolls by every day always amazes me

Answer 1

Crater Boy-

All of the Class 1 Railroads have PDF listings for the rolling stock and locomotives that are currently on their roster.

Keep in mind though, this does not include leased or privately owned equipment such as those specialty cars from Cargill Agricultural Products, Trailer Train, (TTX), or any other privately owened equipment.

If you included all of that equipment, then you are looking at quite an inventory operating on the rails.

Companies like Golden West Transportation Services, (the blue Rubic's Cube Logo), have volumes of leased equipment that is not owned by the individual railroads.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

Class 1 RRs own literally 1000s of locomotives and maybe 10s of thousands of cars.  Private firms also own cars/locomotives as investments so there is no telling man.....AAR ( american association of railroads) may have a website that tells you.....most class one RRs have websites....then add just as many for all the short lines and industries