Cold-worked austenitic stainless steels in passenger railcars and in other applications

•Passenger railcars of cold-worked austenitic stainless steels: 80 years’ story.•Other cold-worked austenitic stainless steels (CWASS) structural applications exist.•CWASS have lean chemistry and high to very high mechanical properties.•CWASS fabrication including welding can easily be mastered.•Wider CWASS application would be beneficial in decreasing structures weight and cost.

The structural applications of cold-worked austenitic stainless steels are reviewed in a historical perspective, with an emphasis on passenger railcars. The base materials are described, including their mechanical and technological properties. Some notions of car body design are presented, together with the challenges related to design practices involving the discussed materials. The fabrication processes are described. Information on resistance and arc welding processes is provided, including their specific aspects concerning the discussed materials, a description of the equipment, procedures qualification, reference standards, and production control. Challenges relative to the wider application of cold-worked austenitic stainless steels are discussed.