American Car and Foundry (often abbreviated as ACF) is a manufacturer of railroad rolling stock. One of its subsidiaries was once (1925–54) a manufacturer of motor coaches and trolley coaches under the brand names of (first) ACF and (later) ACF-Brill. Today ACF is known as ACF Industries LLC and is based in St. Charles, Missouri.[1] It is owned by investor Carl Icahn.
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American Car and Foundry was formed and incorporated in New Jersey in 1899 as the result of the merger of 13 smaller railroad car manufacturers. The company was made up of:
| Company | Founded | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Car Manufacturing Company | 1872 | Buffalo, New York |
| Ensign Manufacturing Company[2] | 1872 | Huntington, West Virginia |
| Jackson and Woodin Manufacturing Company | 1861 | Berwick, Pennsylvania |
| Michigan-Peninsular Car Company | 1892 | Detroit, Michigan |
| Minerva Car Works | 1882 | Minerva, Ohio |
| Missouri Car and Foundry Company | 1865 | St. Louis, Missouri |
| Murray, Dougal and Company | 1864 | Milton, Pennsylvania |
| Niagara Car Wheel Company | Buffalo, New York | |
| Ohio Falls Car Manufacturing Company | 1876 | Jeffersonville, Indiana |
| St. Charles Car Company | 1873 | St. Charles, Missouri |
| Terre Haute Car and Manufacturing Company | Terre Haute, Indiana | |
| Union Car Company | Depew, New York | |
| Wells and French Company | 1869 | Chicago, Illinois |
Later in 1899, ACF acquired Bloomsburg Car Manufacturing Company (of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania). Two years later, ACF acquired Jackson and Sharp Company (founded 1863 in Wilmington, Delaware), and the Common Sense Bolster Company (of Chicago, Illinois). The unified company made a great investment in the former Jackson & Woodin plant in Pennsylvania, spending about $3 million. It was at this plant that ACF built the first all-steel passenger car in the world in 1904. The car was built for the Interborough Rapid Transit system of New York City, the first of 300 such cars ordered by the railroad.
1904 and 1905 saw ACF build several motor cars and trailers for the London Underground.[3] In these two years, ACF also acquired Southern Car and Foundry (founded 1899 in Memphis, Tennessee), Indianapolis Car and Foundry and Indianapolis Car Company.
During World War I, ACF produced artillery gun mounts and ammunition, submarine chasers and other boats, railway cars and other equipment during World War I to support the Allies.[3]
Historically, ACF built passenger and freight cars. One of the largest customers was Union Pacific, whose armour-yellow carbon steel lightweight passenger rolling stock was mostly built by ACF. The famous dome-observation car, "Native Son," was an ACF product. Today, the American passenger car market is erratic in production, and is mostly handled by specialty manufacturers. Competitors Budd, Pullman-Standard, and St. Louis Car have all either exited the market or gone out of business.
Currently, ACF builds mostly covered hopper cars for hauling items like corn or other grains. Other products are mainly miscellaneous steel products. Manufacturing facilities are located in Huntington and Milton.[1]
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