COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 3743

Railroad Equipment

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

16companies1902–1991founding years16still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedGATX CorporationFoundedGATX Corporation
1902
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
FoundedTrinity Industries, IncorporatedFoundedTrinity Industries, Incorporated
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedKoppers Industries, Inc.FoundedKoppers Industries, Inc.
1944
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedVarlen CorporationFoundedVarlen Corporation
1969
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
FoundedThe Greenbrier CompaniesFoundedThe Greenbrier Companies
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedABC Rail Products CorporationFoundedABC Rail Products Corporation
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd.FoundedABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd.
1988
FoundedJohnstown America Industries, Inc.FoundedJohnstown America Industries, Inc.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

GATX Corporation →
Active · founded 1902
GATX Corporation's business is to provide capital equipment to its customers--usually other companies&mdash-abling them…
GATX Corporation →
Active · founded 1902
GATX Corporation's business is to provide capital equipment to its customers--usually other companies&mdash-abling them…
Trinity Industries, Incorporated →
Active · founded 1933
Trinity Industries, Incorporated, is a diversified manufacturer of heavy metal products.
Trinity Industries, Incorporated →
Active · founded 1933
Trinity Industries, Incorporated, is a diversified manufacturer of heavy metal products.
Koppers Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1944
Although Koppers Industries, Inc.
Koppers Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1944
Although Koppers Industries, Inc.
Varlen Corporation →
Active · founded 1969
The Varlen Corporation is a continuously evolving diversified manufacturing company.
Varlen Corporation →
Active · founded 1969
The Varlen Corporation is a continuously evolving diversified manufacturing company.
The Greenbrier Companies →
Active · founded 1981
The Greenbrier Companies is the largest manufacturer of railroad freight cars in North America through its Gunderson,…
The Greenbrier Companies →
Active · founded 1981
The Greenbrier Companies is the largest manufacturer of railroad freight cars in North America through its Gunderson,…
ABC Rail Products Corporation →
Active · founded 1987
A leader in the engineering, manufacturing, and marketing of original and replacement products for the freight…
ABC Rail Products Corporation →
Active · founded 1987
A leader in the engineering, manufacturing, and marketing of original and replacement products for the freight…
ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd. →
Active · founded 1988 · Switzerland
Formerly fierce competitors in the heavy-electrical and power-generation fields, Sweden's ASEA AB (which changed its…
ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd. →
Active · founded 1988 · Switzerland
Formerly fierce competitors in the heavy-electrical and power-generation fields, Sweden's ASEA AB (which changed its…
Johnstown America Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1991
A rising manufacturing force, Johnstown America Industries, Inc.
Johnstown America Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1991
A rising manufacturing force, Johnstown America Industries, Inc.
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