Rolling stock refers to all wheeled vehicles owned by a railroad or government that can be rolled on railroad tracks, including locomotives in some countries. There are four main types of railway rolling stock: revenue-generating cargo and passenger cars, non-revenue cars used by the railway itself, and military cars. All railway cars are built to industry standards and can be run on all tracks. Rolling stock is considered quasi-liquid and is often pledged as collateral for loans.
Rolling stock is the fleet of all wheeled vehicles owned by a railroad or government that may be rolled on railroad tracks. In some countries, such as the United States, this definition includes motorized vehicles, such as locomotives. However, some other countries, such as the UK, deliberately segregate the two, with locomotives and other motorized vehicles referred to as running stock or motive power. Outside of the rail industry, some companies use the term to refer to any easily transportable wheeled vehicle, such as a truck or car.
In addition to locomotives and other automobiles, there are four main types of railway rolling stock. The two revenue-generating cars, cargo and passenger, are by far the most numerous. Freight wagons are designed for all types of content, whether boxed or loose, solid, liquid or gas. The boxcar, essentially a very large box on wheels and secured by sliding doors, is the most common of all freight cars. Some other freight cars are generic in nature and can carry a wide variety of goods, while others have been specially designed for a single purpose, such as transporting automobiles or aircraft parts.
Passenger cars are the other cars that generate income. These are also produced in a number of different styles, usually based on their intended use. Those passenger cars built for long trips, for example, have fewer seats and are generally more comfortable than cars built for commuter rail, where trips longer than 90 minutes are rare. Special passenger cars used on long journeys include food cars, which are like restaurants on wheels, and observation cars, designed to enhance passengers’ ability to appreciate the scenery while traveling. Sleeper vehicles with individual passenger compartments that can be converted into bedrooms are useful for even longer journeys.
The other two types of non-powered rolling stock do not generate revenue for the railway. These include carriages used by the railway itself and carriages specially built for military use. Among the railroad’s non-revenue cars are cabooses and about a dozen other types of specialized cars built for such tasks as maintaining the right-of-way, housing railroad workers or offices, and railroad cranes. Military cars include any of a number of specialized cars built for military operations on railroads. They were a fairly common sight in Europe during the 20th century, and perhaps their most famous and controversial use was moving nuclear weapons to make it more difficult for other nations to attack them in a first strike.
All railway cars are built to industry standards, can be run on all tracks and connect to each other, regardless of the type or the railway they belong to. From a financial perspective, railway rolling stock is considered quasi-liquid in nature, and is often pledged as collateral for loans. This makes rolling stock tracking a critical function for any railway.
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