AIMX and Other Scrap Gondolas

As scrap metal prices increase and recycled metals are increasingly used in steel-making, the last few years have seen a plethora of gondolas being pressed into scrap service. Due to their large capacity and obsolescence for carrying coal, they seem to be naturals for scrap metal service, especially for smaller recyclers. But growth in the industry has also led to new cars specifically built for scrap-hauling. This post includes three recyclers whose cars are often seen here on CN's Kingston Sub.

AMERICAN IRON & METAL 

Despite its name, American Iron and Metal (AIM) was founded by Canadian Peter Black in 1936, on Notre-Dame Street East in Montreal. Using scrap metal in steel-making requires 60% less energy, and scrap shipping seems to ebb and flow depending on price, availability and good ol' fashioned supply and demand.. With major operations in Montreal and Hamilton, AIM has 90 sites worldwide. AIM operates a fleet of 2,400 grey or black gondolas in scrap metal service using reporting marks AIMX. AIMX cars can often be seen here in groups of 2 to 10. My first sightings were of the four-digit cars in late-2011. A general description of the AIMX car series:

• Their earliest cars were grey, in the AIMX 800- and 1100-series, capacity of 6400 cubic feet, 66 feet in length, built 2011.
• Black 68xx and 69xx-series, capacity 6740 cu.ft., 60', built 2006, in service 2014.
• Grey AIMX 14000-15000-series were built at Hamilton's National Steel Car in 2014, 6400 cu.ft., 52'.
• Black 19000-21000 series are lower, with the AIM logo, 6000 cu.ft., 64', built 2019+.

Top photo - AIMX 15208 and 15252 are eastbound through Kingston on CN No 368 on August 14, 2016. Loaded AIMX 15441 on CN No 376 March 16, 2019:

My observations 2011 to present showing date, car number, CN train car was on, remarks or colours:

• Dec 5/11 AIMX 1126 on CN No 376 
• Apr 4/12 AIMX 158x, 6942 (black) on 376
• Apr 6/12 AIMX 1112 (grey), 6898 (black) on 308
• Sep 19/12 AIMX 1165, 1167, 1141, 1156, 1175, 1179 on 377
• Aug 24/13 AIMX 1170, 1164, 1179
• Sep 22/14 AIMX 14062
• Jun 13/15 AIMX 14006, 14137 on 376
• May 27/16 AIMX 11481, 15176, 15330 on 377
• Aug 14/16 AIMX 15208, 15252
• Dec 20/16 AIMX 15048, 14092, 15280 on 376
• Mar 28/18 AIMX 14011, 15018 on 377
• May 15/18 AIMX 15198, 15412 on 377
• Jul 13/18 AIMX 15089, 15303 on 377
• Mar 15/19 AIMX 15149, 14168 on 376
• Mar 16/19 AIMX 15441 on 376, loaded
• Apr 12/19 AIMX 15321, 15340 on 373
• May 17/19 AIMX 1180, 14169, 15219 on 376
• Jul 20/19 AIMX 15037, 15358 on 376
• Aug 14/19 AIMX 14163, 15317 on 377
• Oct 10/19 AIMX 10169, 10153 on 368, new black cars with AIM logo
• Nov 2/19 AIMX 1122, 1136, 15199, 15429 on 368
• Jan 2/20 AIMX 14012, 14074 on 376 
• June 22/20 AIMX 20184 (black); 15345, 15233, 15051 (grey) on 518
• Jun 29/20 AIMX 20005, 20014, 20142 (all black) 
• Jul 27/20 AIMX 20044, 20179, 20240 (all black)
• Feb 4/21 AIMX 15088 on 376: 
  
• Mar 14 2021 AIMX 19391 (black) :
  
• Feb 5/22 AIMX 20200 and 20246 (black); 15014, 15084 (grey); 19133 (short black) on 376
• Jun 4/22 AIMX 19221 and 19163 on CN 372:
  
• AUGUST 2022 UPDATE: New series AIMX 23046, 23049 grey 6400 cu.ft. NSC-built with AIM logo in black reported.
• October 7, 2023: A new series of short black cars - AIMX 22197 on CN No 368:

COMBINED METAL INDUSTRIES

Combined Metal Industries calls itself 'the leaders in scrap-metal recycling in Toronto' and they 'take this scrap seriously'! They've been in business for 20+ years and their cars wear reporting marks CMBX. These are among the most common scrap-haulers set out at KIMCO Steel Sales on Kingston's John Counter Boulevard. Their yards are located in Toronto and Cambridge. Their 2000- and 8000-series cars were built new in 2019. 

• Mar 25/20 CMBX 2263 (ex-Sultran); 197929 and 197843 (ex-CN); 100099, 100199 (black, likely former David J Joseph-owned) on 518
• Sep 2/20 CMBX 8023 (black) on 518
• Mar 3/21 CMBX 2022, 2043 and 8140 (black); 197914 (ex-CN)
• Mar 10/21 CMBX 2002 (ex-Sultran); 197043 (ex-CN) on 518 (above)
• Sep 29/21 CMBX 197921 (ex-CN)
• Nov 15/21 CMBX 197842, 197893, 197921 (ex-CN); 2141, 7092 (black) on 518

EVEREST RAILCAR SERVICES

EAMX 426-473 are former UNPX 102xxx-series and WPSX 2xx-3xx-series bathtub gondolas subsequently lettered for Sullivan Scrap, Holyoke MA. Giant white lettering on black background is certainly eye-catching!

• Aug 21/16 EAMX 455
• Oct 15/16 EAMX 454, 471 on CN No 368 'Sullivan'. (above)
• Feb 17/17 EAMX 454, 447 on 376 'Sullivan'

TRIPLE M METAL

Triple M has 27 operations across all of North America. My first sighting of Triple M's fleet: TLPX 2264 (elongated logo), 2210 (compact logo) on likely CN No 369 on October 17 in Belleville (image courtesy Railstream, LLC)

INTEGRATED METAL RECYCLING/RECYCLAGE DE METAUX INTEGRE

IMR/RMI is a joint venture formed in October, 2020 between ArcelorMittal and Triple M Metal to supply ArcelorMittal's steel mills or Triple M's aluminum customers, among others. IMRX 2312 below on October 17, 2022 in Belleville (image courtesty Railstream, LLC). Looking brand new in April 2022 series 2283-2347

A previous post on the Quebec scrap-hauler fleets of Metrobec and Legault Metals.

Running extra...

Canadian Pacific thought so much of its telegram business at Christmas in 1920 that they issued special full-colour Seasons Greetings telegram forms. I came across one at the Queen's University Archives this week:

Telegram for Premier Doug Ford. You're re-elected, DOFO! We voted because of FOMO.

Meanwhile, another constitutional democracy continues to flourish in the UK where Queen Elizabeth II is celebrating her Platinum Jubilee this weekend! Senior royals were there though the most senior was unable to attend.