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The Illinois Railway Museum has added a 50-foot Railbox boxcar, one of the most ubiquitous and distinctive car types seen on American railroads during the last quarter of the 20th century, to its collection in Union, Ill. RBOX 21491 was built in 1975 by Pullman-Standard and was part of the initial pool of 10,000 boxcars built upon the creation of Railbox in 1974. It arrived at the museum on June 17.

Railbox Company was created in January 1974 to address a critical nationwide shortage of boxcars. Although incorporated as a subsidiary of Trailer Train (TTX), and managed by that company, the construction costs of the initial 10,000 Railbox cars were guaranteed by TTX’s owner railroads. Those 10,000 boxcars were all 50-foot-long, all-steel, “Plate B” cars. These cars were used throughout a “pool” of 258 railroads and helped alleviate the serious shortage of boxcars. Unlike most railroad-owned boxcars at that time, Railbox cars could be loaded in any direction on any railroad without having to move back to the original carrier when unloaded, hence the slogan “Next Load, Any Road.”

In 1982, a recession combined with an oversupply of boxcars — caused in part by the success of Railbox — caused a financial crisis for the boxcar pooling company. The initial 10,000 boxcars were returned to the guarantor railroads, with RBOX 21491 being sent to the Union Pacific, where it was renumbered in the 130400-series. At a later date, RBOX 21491 was repurchased from the Union Pacific by Railbox, and it ended its service days with TTX, which absorbed Railbox Company in 2000.

“IRM wishes to thank TTX Company for donating this historic car,” the museum wrote. “RBOX 21491 is essentially unmodified and represents one of the most visible efforts of American railroads during the 1970s to modernize and to improve their operations and efficiency.”

IRM intends to restore the car to its as-built appearance and operate it occasionally in demonstration service for visitors.

—Railfan & Railroad Staff

The post IRM Saves 50-Foot Railbox Boxcar appeared first on Railfan & Railroad Magazine.

The Norfolk & Western Business Car 300 Preservation Society has reunited its two passenger cars on the Hoosier Valley Railroad in Indiana. It’s the first time the two cars, office car 300 and sleeping car Hollins College, have been together in nearly 40 years.

Both cars were once part of the N&W business train fleet. Car 300, built by Pullman in 1917, was acquired by the Norfolk & Western Business Car 300 Preservation Society in 2020 and restored to service a few years later. Most recently, it has been used on the Indiana Rail Experience excursions on the Indiana Northeastern. After the successful restoration of 300, the group set its sights on Hollins College. The car was built in January 1950 for the Wabash Railroad. It joined the N&W fleet in 1964 and was later assigned to the railroad’s business train in 1972. It eventually ended up on the Morristown & Erie. After the nonprofit acquired the car, it was moved to the Hoosier Valley for a restoration that is now underway.

N&W 300 on its way to the Hoosier Valley Railroad. Photo Courtesy of the Norfolk & Western Business Car 300 Preservation Society.

Earlier this year, the group decided to reunite its two cars. N&W 300 was moved by Indiana Northeastern, Norfolk Southern, and Chesapeake & Indiana before arriving at the Hoosier Valley this week. The car will be used in excursion service at the museum and will make its operating debut on July 10 during the Civilians and Soldiers in History Day. Tickets to ride the car will be $35 per person and will be available this Friday on the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum website.

For more information and to learn how to help, visit nw300.org.

—Justin Franz

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