North American Steel Foundries As background, in 1980, there were 16 steel foundries in North America producing side frames, bolsters, couplers, yokes and knuckles for freight railcars and locomotives. Two producers were in Canada, two in Mexico, and the balance in the U.S. Virtually all casting supply came from North America. Today, there are six foundries left: Ohio Castings, which has been idle since…