A-3, Skiddoo

Prime example of why total steel priorities were necessary last week (see p. 61) is the case of freight-car builders. Two months ago they were handed an A-3 priorities rating on steel. This put freight cars, of which the roads have 103,000 on order, in the same urgency class as Maritime Commission merchant ships. But with steelmakers choked on A-1 and A-2 orders and those of their regular civilian customers, car builders found their rating as useless as a next season's theater pass. The results, as reported in the Railway Age:

> American Car & Foundry's huge Berwick, Pa. plant (capacity: 1,225 cars monthly) turned out only 73 cars in June.

> The Columbus, Ohio plant of Ralston Steel Car (capacity: 500 cars monthly) delivered only 168 cars in June, now operates at 25% of capacity.

> Although tank cars are sorely needed to ease the Eastern gasoline shortage, General American Transportation's Sharon Pa. plant made only 43 in June (capacity: 300), since has worked at only 10-25% of capacity.

Unless the steel situation improves, most car plants may be shut tight in four to six weeks.

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