HO RND 36' Old Time Box Car, NYC #53450/53455/53459 (3)

Railroad boxcars are perhaps not only the best-recognized pieces of equipment ever put into service but also one of the most identifiable symbols of the industry itself. During the early years of the industry, freight was hauled on simple flatcars or early gondolas. In Upstate New York, the burgeoning Mohawk & Hudson Railroad, the first chartered system in the United States which later became part of the New York Central, came up with the novel idea of covering its gondolas in 1833 since the railroad dealt with snow throughout much of the winter. The car’s development continued to improve over the years such as switching from basic wood construction with steel outside-bracing. Our 36’ old-time boxcar is a typical turn-of-the-century-era design, with its distinctive truss rod underframe. The typical railroad track infrastructure during this time could not handle heavy loads, so the cars were relatively short and light compared to today’s equipment.