With the purchase of 48 used railcars, Max Epstein establishes the Atlantic Seaboard Dispatch in Chicago, one of the first companies to lease railcars to shippers on a long-term basis. The company would go on to change its name to German-American Car Company and then General American Transportation Corporation before becoming GATX in 1975.

“This company started out with quite a large capital in 1898, only it did not consist of money. It just consisted of ideas, of faith, and of some nerve.” –Max Epstein

GATX begins manufacturing its own railcars. We would go on to develop new types of cars, including an insulated tank car in order to create a temperature-controlled car for a California wine company, before exiting railcar manufacturing in 1984.

GATX begins listing on the New York Stock Exchange. In 2020, we became one of the few companies to celebrate 100 years on the NYSE.

After a massive hurricane hits Miami, a joint venture of GATX delivers 50,000 gallons of donated pasteurized milk in its rail cars within three days, establishing our commitment to philanthropy and community involvement that continues today.

GATX begins rail investment in Canada. Today, GATX Rail Canada has a presence in four Canadian provinces with two Sales and Account Solutions offices, three Service Centers, and two Customer Site Field Service units.

GATX plays a key role in the Allied effort during World War II, both in transporting goods and in manufacturing tanks and other vital equipment.

GATX introduces a new training railcar called TankTrainer, a 33,500-gallon tank car outfitted with a variety of fittings, coatings and configurations. Since then, TankTrainer has provided a one-of-a-kind learning experience to thousands of customers, rail and yard workers, first responders, employees, and others.

GATX enters the European railcar leasing market with an investment in KVG, a leading European railcar lessor.

GATX and Rolls-Royce plc form our aircraft spare engine leasing joint venture, Rolls-Royce & Partners Finance.

Based on employee recommendations, GATX selects Make-A-Wish Illinois as the sole beneficiary of our annual employee giving campaign and fundraiser in Chicago. Since then, we have donated more than $5 million to the organization through corporate and employee gifts and fundraising efforts.

GATX becomes the first North American railcar lessor to receive the American Chemistry Council’s Responsible Care Partner of the Year Award, which recognizes the superb performance and safety record of companies involved in the distribution, transportation, storage, use, treatment, disposal and/or sales and marketing of chemicals. We will win the award again in 2017.

GATX India Private Limited begins operations as the first private company registered to lease railcars under the Indian Railways Wagon Leasing Scheme.

GATX significantly grows its boxcar fleet with the acquisition of 18,500 boxcars. The acquisition establishes GATX as the leader in the boxcar leasing market.

GATX launches MyGATXRail.com. This online portal provides customers in North America with a seamless way to manage their railcar fleets in real-time.

GATX acquires Trifleet Leasing, the fourth largest tank container lessor globally and a complementary business to railcar leasing.

GATX begins investing directly in aircraft spare engines through a new entity, GATX Engine Leasing.