National Steel Car
is the largest manufacturer of railway
rolling stock
in Canada, based in
Hamilton, Ontario
.
[1]
The company was founded in 1912, and has been a top 3 rolling stock manufacturer in Canada for its lifetime. National Steel Car is a subsidiary of
National Industries Inc.
and is currently led by
Greg Aziz
, chairman and CEO of National Steel Car.
History
[
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]
Founded in 1912 by several investors led by Sir
John Morison Gibson
and with interests related to the
Magor Car Corporation
, Basil Magor was enlisted to lead the National Steel Car project. Once the new plant was functioning in
Hamilton, Ontario
, Magor became General Manager of National Steel Car Company Limited.
[2]
[3]
The first few years of National Steel Car's production surpassed the expectations of its investors. The company began manufacturing just as Canadian
rolling stock
orders reached an all-time high in 1913. Due to the company's impeccable timing, National Steel Car began business with a large number of box car orders from
Canadian Pacific Railway
, and various railcar orders from
Canadian Northern Railway
. In 1919, Donald Symington of Baltimore and Robert Magor of Magor Car made an offer on the company, and from there on it was reorganized as National Steel Car Corporation Limited.
[4]
Business at National Steel Car boomed from the beginning of its life until just before the depression period of the 1930s. During the depression, National Steel Car was falling behind in terms of diversity in comparison to its competitors, and suffered a severe lack of orders. At one point the company resorted to producing motor trucks, bus bodies, and outboard motor boats, just so they had orders to fill.
World War II
renewed National Steel Car's business, and the company has been in a relatively healthy state for most of its life since. It shares nearly all Canadian rolling stock orders with
Eastern Car Company
. National Steel Car also exports to the
United States
regularly, more so in the later years of its life.
[4]
In 1962,
Dofasco
bought National Steel Car, but by 1990 it had effectively given up control of the declining company, and in 1994 they sold it to Hamilton corporation
National Industries Inc.
, owned by
Greg Aziz
.
[5]
[6]
By the year 2000, Aziz had increased National Steel Car's workforce from 500 to 3,000 employees and its production capacity from 3,500 to 12,500 rail cars annually. Today, National Steel Car makes and supplies various
rolling stock
to
Canadian
and
American
customers, mainly railway operators and commercial rail operators.
[7]
Originally named
Imperial Steel Car
, the name was changed before the end of 1912.
[8]
Today National Steel Car is one of a few remaining rolling stock companies left in
Canada
.
Products
[
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]
The following are past and present products made by National Steel Car.
[8]
Current
[
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]
National Steel Car has focused on freight car production since the 1960s and was the second largest car builder in 1950s.
Past
[
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]
National Steel Car has manufactured various railcar and non-rail products.
Up until 1950 National Steel Car made wood and steel railcars. In 1945 it acquired
Valdes Lumber Company
of
British Columbia
to supply wood for their railcar products.
- Aircraft
In 1939 an aircraft division was setup to produce aircraft and aircraft components. The Malton plant produced
Westland Lysander
aircraft under licence and was a subcontractor for the manufacture of
Hawker Hurricane
fighters (for
Canadian Car and Foundry
),
Avro Anson
trainers (Canadian Federal Aircraft Ltd.) and
Handley Page Hampden
bombers (as part of
Canadian Associated Aircraft
consortium). In September 1941 it received a contract to build the
Avro Lancaster
four-engined bomber.
The aircraft plant was taken over by the government and set up as
Victory Aircraft
in November 1942.
Clients
[
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]
Prior to 1995 National Steel Car's focus was within Canada, but since the 1990s it has focused elsewhere in
North America
, namely the
United States
.
See also
[
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]
National Steel Car is one of a few rail vehicle manufacturers left in
Canada
:
References
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External links
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]