FREIGHT INFORMATION

Both the West Virginia Central and Shenandoah Valley Railroads operated by the DGVR can accommodate a wide range of modern freight car types, giving shippers exceptional flexibility in moving diverse commodities. These lines regularly handle centerbeam flatcars for lumber, covered and open-top hoppers for aggregates, agricultural materials, and coal, as well as boxcars for lumber products and general merchandise. Tank cars carrying fuels and industrial liquids, gondolas for scrap and lumber, and specialized high-wide or dimensional loads can also be moved efficiently. Combined with multiple Class I connections, this versatility allows DGVR to serve industries of nearly every size and sector.

A centerbeam flatcar is one of the most versatile and efficient railcars for transporting lumber and other bundled building materials. Designed with a central vertical truss, it provides balanced weight distribution, allowing products such as dimensional lumber, plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), wallboard, and pressure-treated wood to be securely strapped on both sides. Its open, unobstructed deck maximizes loading space while ensuring quick access for forklifts at mills, transloading sites, and distribution yards. Because the car must be evenly loaded on each side, centerbeams promote safe handling and reduce shifting during transit. Their high capacity and rapid loading/unloading make them essential for modern forest-products logistics.

A covered hopper is an extremely flexible freight car designed to efficiently transport dry bulk commodities that require protection from moisture and contamination. Its gravity-fed unloading system makes it ideal for moving commodities such as fine aggregates, agricultural materials, as well as certain grades of coal and carbon products. Different compartment and hatch configurations allow quick loading at elevators, mines, and processing plants, while bottom gates enable fast discharge at terminals and customer facilities. Pressure-differential covered hoppers expand this versatility further by enabling pneumatic unloading of fine powders giving shippers safe, enclosed handling for even the most sensitive bulk materials.

An open-top hopper car is highly useful for hauling aggregates due to its rugged design, high capacity, and efficient unloading features. Built to carry materials such as coal, sand, crushed stone and other various aggregates, these cars allow rapid loading from conveyors or front-end loaders without the need for roof clearance. Their bottom discharge gates enable quick, controlled unloading directly into pits, hoppers, or trackside stockpiles, minimizing handling time and labor. Open-top hoppers can also withstand abrasive materials and heavy impacts, making them ideal for continuous industrial use. Their durability and simplicity make them essential for construction, mining, and infrastructure projects.

A boxcar is one of the most recognizable freight cars in rail transportation, offering enclosed, weather-protected space ideal for hauling both lumber products and a wide range of general merchandise. For forest-product shippers, boxcars efficiently carry packaged lumber, plywood, engineered wood, doors, and finished building materials that require shielding from moisture. Their large interior volume and wide door openings allow easy forklift access for palletized goods, appliances, paper products, food items, and consumer merchandise. Because boxcars safeguard cargo from shifting, theft, and the elements, they are well suited for long-distance shipments. This flexibility makes them indispensable across manufacturing, retail, and distribution industries.

A tank car is a highly adaptable freight car designed specifically for transporting fuels and industrial liquids safely and efficiently. Built with a cylindrical, pressurized or non-pressurized steel body, it can carry a wide range of commodities including diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), liquified petroleum gas (LPG), chemicals, liquid fertilizers, and food-grade oils. Various linings, insulation types, and valve configurations allow tank cars to handle corrosive, flammable, or temperature-sensitive products while maintaining strict safety standards. Their sealed design protects liquids from contamination and prevents environmental exposure. With fast loading and unloading capabilities, tank cars provide industries with a reliable, high-capacity solution for moving bulk liquids.

A gondola is an exceptionally multipurpose railcar designed for hauling heavy, bulky, or irregularly shaped materials, making it ideal for both scrap metals and certain lumber products. Its open-top, high-sided design allows easy loading by crane, grapple, or magnet, accommodating everything from shredded or loose scrap to steel beams and castings. For the lumber industry, gondolas can carry logs, poles, and crossties that do not require weather protection. Their durable steel construction withstands abrasive cargo and repeated loading impacts. This combination of strength and flexibility makes gondolas indispensable to recycling, forestry, and construction industries.