A flatcar is a railroad car with a flat, open platform and no roof or walls. Picture a train car that's basically just a big, sturdy floor on wheels. Flatcars are designed to carry cargo that's too large, heavy, or oddly shaped to fit inside a regular boxcar.

You'll see flatcars hauling enormous things: steel beams for skyscrapers, tractors and construction equipment, lumber, coiled metal, military tanks, or even other vehicles. Workers secure the cargo with chains, straps, or metal brackets so nothing slides off during the journey. Some flatcars are hundreds of feet long and can carry loads weighing over 100 tons.

The simplicity of the flatcar makes it incredibly useful. Without walls or a roof in the way, workers can load cargo from any side using cranes or forklifts. When a factory needs to ship something massive, like a giant industrial turbine or a prefabricated section of a bridge, a flatcar is often the only practical way to move it across the country.