06-23-2009, 09:18 AM
I think most private name cars are leased rather than bought by the company who's name is on them. Smaller companies would probably just use railroad owned cars. If the industry standard for unloading a type of car is different than the car in question was originally designed, then the car would either be rebuilt to industry standard or it would not be used, depending on costs involved. Generally the method used by an industry to do anything is based on what experience is found to be the most efficient. If a system is found to be more efficient, an industry will redesign their plant to take advantage of the better efficiency. Bringing in a car that is not compatible with the plant's design would just not be cost effective. If you look at the entire issue, I think it is safe to say that efficiency is what caused diesel to replace steam on the railroads to the extent that even the Appalachian coal haulers finally had to give up on steam and convert to diesel.