A collection of various Box Cars for reference use on your Model Railroad. We’ve added brief descriptions to each highlighting some of their unique features.
Prototype photos can be an invaluable resource when you are trying to make your Model Railroad as realistic as possible, or even just give you some ideas for equipment you want to add. They can be especially helpful as a reference for weathering your rolling stock, or if you are modelling an older time period or era.
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BOX CAR LRS 4329, ex Oregon and Northwestern RR, is a 50 foot box car. This car has plenty of modeling ideas, from the extensive rust to the mismatched double sliding doors.BOX CAR TBOX 642140, like its counterpart below, is an excess height car as designated by the white ends. This photo also gives some good color and weathering variations on the trucks.BOX CAR TBOX 664545, an outside braced double sliding plug door box car that is part of the Trailer Train leasing pool.BOX CAR AOK 110154 is an outside braced 50-foot car with double sliding plug doors used for general merchandise service or the lumber/paper industry.OUTSIDE BRACED CN BOX CAR 794708, AN EXCESS HEIGHT CAR WITH DOUBLE SLIDING PLUG DOORS IN NEAR NEW CONDITION.NOTE THE HEAVILY RUSTED SIDES ON THIS 50′ BOX CAR STILL HANGING AROUND IN 2023. 50′ BOX CARS WERE THE NORM UP UNTIL ABOUT THE 90’S WHEN LARGER 60′ BOX CARS BEGAN APPEARING EN MASSE.EXCESS HEIGHT CARS, LIKE THIS 50′ OUTSIDE BRACED EXAMPLE, ARE DESIGNED TO CARRY LIGHTER LOADS IN A LARGER AREA AS COMPARED TO REGULAR HEIGHT CARS.AN OLDER 50′ FOOT RAIL-BOX CAR. THESE WERE THE FORE-RUNNERS OF THE FREIGHT CAR LEASING BUSINESS, A PRACTICE THAT CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. NOTE THE DISCOLORATION AND FADING OF THE SIDE PANELS AND ALSO THE OUTSIDE BRACE VERTICAL POSTS.AN OLD 50′ WISCONSIN CENTRAL BOX CAR STILL IN GOOD CONDITION IN 2023. NOTE THE GALVANIZED GRAY ROOF IN THIS PHOTO.A MODERN DAY 60′ OUTSIDE BRACED BOX CAR WITH DOUBLE SLIDING PLUG DOORS.ANTOHER 60′ FOOT BOX CAR. THIS ONE HAS THE WAFFLE STYLE SIDE PANELS.60′ BOX CARS ARE EASILY IDENTIFIED BY HOW FAR INWARD THE TRUCKS ARE FROM THE ENDS. COMPARE THIS TO THE 50′ EXAMPLES ABOVE AND YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM.THIS GOLDEN WEST 50′ BOX CAR WAS BUILT FOR CARRYING PLYWOOD PRODUCTS. NOTE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE DOOR COLOR INDICATING THEY HAD BEEN REPLACED AT SOME POINT.ANOTHER 50′ LUMBER SERVICE BOX CAR OPERATED BY THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD. NOTE THE DIFFERING DOOR STYLE FROM THE PHOTO ABOVE.HERE WE HAVE A 50′ DOUBLE PLUG DOOR BOX CAR. OFTEN PLUG DOOR BOX CARS WERE INSULATED.AN OLD SOUTHERN PACIFIC 40′ BOX CAR BUILT IN THE EARLY 50’S. NOTE THE FULL HEIGHT LADDERS AND HIGH MOUNTED BRAKE WHEEL.NOTE THE DIFFERENT SIDE PANELS ON THIS 50’DOUBLE SLIDING PLUG DOOR BOX CAR.SSW (COTTON BELT) WAS A SUBSIDIARY OF THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC AND THEY SHARED COMMON PAINT SCHEMES.A WAFFLE SIDE PANEL DESIGN IS USED ON THIS EXCESS HEIGHT 50′ BOX CAR. THE WHITE END SECTIONS IS USED TO DESIGNATE ALL EXCESS HEIGHT CARS REGARDLESS OF TYPE.AN EXAMPLE OF AN OUTSIDE BRACED SINGLE SLIDING DOOR 50′ BOX CAR.AS A BONUS WE HAVE TWO BOX CAR ROOFS FOR YOU. THE NEAR CAR IS HEAVILY RUSTED AND EXHIBITS THE DARK BROWN OF OLD RUST. THE ROOF ON THE FAR CAR IS STILL IN PRETTY GOOD CONDITION, THE GALVANIZED METAL IS JUST STARTING TO SHOW SIGNS OF RUSTING.
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