As filed with the Commission on September 25, 1996
                          Registration No. 333-________

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                             ----------------------
                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           The Securities Act of 1933
                           ---------------------------

                       Johnstown America Industries, Inc.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



           Delaware                                      25-1672791
          ----------                                    ------------
(State or other jurisdiction of           (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 incorporation or organization)




                            980 North Michigan Avenue

                             Chicago, Illinois 60611
                             -----------------------

               (Address of principal executive offices) (zip code)



                       Johnstown America Industries, Inc.

                             1993 Stock Option Plan
                             ----------------------


                            (Full title of the plan)




                              Kenneth M. Tallering

                  Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

                       Johnstown America Industries, Inc.

                            980 North Michigan Avenue

                             Chicago, Illinois 60611
                             -----------------------

                     (Name and address of agent for service)


                                 (312) 280-8844
                                 --------------
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

This Registration  Statement shall become effective immediately upon filing with
the Securities and Exchange Commission,  and sales of the registered  securities
to  participants  in the 401(k) plans listed above will be effected  pursuant to
purchases in the open market.

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                             <C>               <C>                         <C>                           <C>

Title of securities             Amount to be      Proposed maximum            Proposed maximum              Amount of
to be registered (1)            registered        offering price per share    (aggregate offering price     registration fee
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, $.01 par value    325,000 shares            $3.25                     $1,056,250                     $364

- ------------------------------  --------------    ------------------------    --------------------------    -----------------
</TABLE>

(1)     Estimated  pursuant  to Rule  457(h)  under the  Securities  Act of 1933
        solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee
        based upon the  average of the high and low sales  prices  reported  for
        shares of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq  Stock Market on September  20,
        1996.


<PAGE>



            STATEMENT PURSUANT TO GENERAL INSTRUCTION E. OF FORM S-8

               The contents of the Company's  Registration Statement on Form S-8
(Registration  No.  33-73478)  filed with the Commission on January 10, 1994, is
hereby   incorporated  by  reference  in  this  Registration   Statement.   This
Registration Statement is being filed with the Commission solely for the purpose
of registering  additional  shares of the Company's  Common Stock issuable under
the Company's 1993 Stock Option Plan.


<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

               Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, the Company certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all of the  requirements  for filing on Form S-8 and has duly  caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,  thereunto
duly authorized,  in the City of Chicago, Illinois on the 19th day of September,
1996.

                                    Johnstown America Industries, Inc.

                                    By:   /s/ Thomas M. Begel
                                          -------------------
                                          Thomas M. Begel
                                          Chairman of the Board, President and
                                          Chief Executive Officer

               KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,  that each person whose signature
appears below  constitutes  and appoints  Thomas M. Begel,  Andrew M. Weller and
Kenneth  M.  Tallering  and each of them (with full power to each of them to act
alone),  his true and  lawful  attorney-in-fact  and  agent,  with full power of
substitution  and  resubstitution,  for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities,  to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective
amendments)  to this  Registration  Statement,  and to file the  same,  with all
exhibits  thereto  and  other  documents  in  connection  therewith,   with  the
Securities and Exchange  Commission,  granting unto said  attorneys-in-fact  and
agents,  and each of them,  full power and  authority to do and perform each and
every  act and  thing  requisite  and  necessary  to be done  in and  about  the
premises,  as  fully  to all  intents  and  purposes  as he might or could do in
person,  hereby ratifying and confirming all said  attorneys-in-fact and agents,
or any of them,  or their  substitutes,  may  lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

               Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in
the capacities and on the dates indicated.


Signature                      Title                         Date
- ---------                      -----                         ----
 /s/ Thomas M. Begel        Chairman of the Board,           September 19, 1996
- --------------------------  President and Chief Executive
Thomas M. Begel             Officer
                            (Principal Executive Officer)

 /s/ Andrew M. Weller       Director, Executive Vice         September 19, 1996
- --------------------------  President and Chief Financial    
Andrew M. Weller            Officer (Principal Financial and 
                            Principal Accounting Officer)    
                               

 /s/ Camillo Santomero      Director                         September 19, 1996
- -------------------------
Camillo Santomero

 /s/ R. Philip Silver       Director                         September 19, 1996
- -------------------------
R. Philip Silver

 /s/ Francis A. Stroble     Director                         September 19, 1996
- -------------------------
Francis A. Stroble



<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


       Exhibit
       Number                      Description

         5.1   Opinion of Winston & Strawn as to the legality of the securities
               offered under the Johnstown America Industries, Inc. 
               1993 Stock Option Plan

        23.1   Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

        23.2   Consent of Winston & Strawn (included in Exhibit 5.1 hereto)

        24.1   Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page hereof)
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "JAII 1993 STOCK OPTION PLAN FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 7671}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "JOHNSTOWN AMERICA INDUSTRIES INC", "cik": "0000906114", "assigned-sic": "3743", "irs-number": "251672791", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-12677", "film-number": "96634450"}, "business-address": {"street1": "980 N MICHIGAN AVE STE 1000", "city": "CHICAGO", "state": "IL", "zip": "60611", "phone": "3122808844"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "TRUCK COMPONENTS INC. C/O GUNITE CORP", "street2": "302 PEOPLES AVENUE", "city": "ROCKFORD", "state": "IL", "zip": "61104-7092"}}
As filed with the Commission on September 25, 1996
                          Registration No. 333-________

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                             ----------------------
                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           The Securities Act of 1933
                           ---------------------------

                       Johnstown America Industries, Inc.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           Delaware                                      25-1672791
          ----------                                    ------------
(State or other jurisdiction of           (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 incorporation or organization)

                            980 North Michigan Avenue

                             Chicago, Illinois 60611
                             -----------------------

               (Address of principal executive offices) (zip code)

                       Johnstown America Industries, Inc.

                             1993 Stock Option Plan
                             ----------------------

                            (Full title of the plan)

                              Kenneth M. Tallering

                  Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

                       Johnstown America Industries, Inc.

                            980 North Michigan Avenue

                             Chicago, Illinois 60611
                             -----------------------

                     (Name and address of agent for service)

                                 (312) 280-8844
                                 --------------
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

This Registration  Statement shall become effective immediately upon filing with
the Securities and Exchange Commission,  and sales of the registered  securities
to  participants  in the 401(k) plans listed above will be effected  pursuant to
purchases in the open market.

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of securities             Amount to be      Proposed maximum            Proposed maximum              Amount of
to be registered (1)            registered        offering price per share    (aggregate offering price     registration fee
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, $.01 par value    325,000 shares            $3.25                     $1,056,250                     $364

- ------------------------------  --------------    ------------------------    --------------------------    -----------------
(1)     Estimated  pursuant  to Rule  457(h)  under the  Securities  Act of 1933
        solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee
        based upon the  average of the high and low sales  prices  reported  for
        shares of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq  Stock Market on September  20,
        1996.
STATEMENT PURSUANT TO GENERAL INSTRUCTION E. OF FORM S-8

               The contents of the Company's  Registration Statement on Form S-8
(Registration  No.  33-73478)  filed with the Commission on January 10, 1994, is
hereby   incorporated  by  reference  in  this  Registration   Statement.   This
Registration Statement is being filed with the Commission solely for the purpose
of registering  additional  shares of the Company's  Common Stock issuable under
the Company's 1993 Stock Option Plan.
SIGNATURES

               Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, the Company certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all of the  requirements  for filing on Form S-8 and has duly  caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,  thereunto
duly authorized,  in the City of Chicago, Illinois on the 19th day of September,
1996.

                                    Johnstown America Industries, Inc.

                                    By:   /s/ Thomas M. Begel
                                          -------------------
                                          Thomas M. Begel
                                          Chairman of the Board, President and
                                          Chief Executive Officer

               KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,  that each person whose signature
appears below  constitutes  and appoints  Thomas M. Begel,  Andrew M. Weller and
Kenneth  M.  Tallering  and each of them (with full power to each of them to act
alone),  his true and  lawful  attorney-in-fact  and  agent,  with full power of
substitution  and  resubstitution,  for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities,  to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective
amendments)  to this  Registration  Statement,  and to file the  same,  with all
exhibits  thereto  and  other  documents  in  connection  therewith,   with  the
Securities and Exchange  Commission,  granting unto said  attorneys-in-fact  and
agents,  and each of them,  full power and  authority to do and perform each and
every  act and  thing  requisite  and  necessary  to be done  in and  about  the
premises,  as  fully  to all  intents  and  purposes  as he might or could do in
person,  hereby ratifying and confirming all said  attorneys-in-fact and agents,
or any of them,  or their  substitutes,  may  lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

               Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in
the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature                      Title                         Date
- ---------                      -----                         ----
 /s/ Thomas M. Begel        Chairman of the Board,           September 19, 1996
- --------------------------  President and Chief Executive
Thomas M. Begel             Officer
                            (Principal Executive Officer)

 /s/ Andrew M. Weller       Director, Executive Vice         September 19, 1996
- --------------------------  President and Chief Financial    
Andrew M. Weller            Officer (Principal Financial and 
                            Principal Accounting Officer)    
                               

 /s/ Camillo Santomero      Director                         September 19, 1996
- -------------------------
Camillo Santomero

 /s/ R. Philip Silver       Director                         September 19, 1996
- -------------------------
R. Philip Silver

 /s/ Francis A. Stroble     Director                         September 19, 1996
- -------------------------
Francis A. Stroble
EXHIBIT INDEX

       Exhibit
       Number                      Description

         5.1   Opinion of Winston & Strawn as to the legality of the securities
               offered under the Johnstown America Industries, Inc. 
               1993 Stock Option Plan

        23.1   Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

        23.2   Consent of Winston & Strawn (included in Exhibit 5.1 hereto)

        24.1   Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page hereof)