We are in dire need of storage at the PTHT. Anybody out there in NJ or Eastern Pa have an extra boxcar they would be willing to part with? Doesn't need to have trucks.

Thanks
Mr. Ed

The Naval Weapons Station in Crane Indiana, has about a 100 50' boxcars they are planning on getting rid of. I had two prepped for rail shipment and moved them to Calif.

Both Seal Beach and the closed Concord bases are also getting rid of a lot of boxcars, but that is even farther from you.

Earle had a lot, but it looks to me like they've culled there fleet down and with the huge investment in track they've made lately, they won't be thinning their fleet much. I'll check their receiving yard and see what is sitting out there and talk to the shop people on Monday and see what they have excess. I know they recently excessed a passenger car or two to a museum somewhere so it is possible. The problem is much of the excess equipment has asbestos and I don't think they will excess anything unless that is abated.

Greg

If all you need is storage, another option to consider is to obtained a used container and set it down on the ground and use it. I know the advance of a box car is the center door instead of the end door. There should be firms in your area that sell and modify containers for storage purposes; they usually will even add side doors, etc.

Since you are near a major port, there should be containers readily and inexpensively available. Another advantage of containers is that, when empty, they can be moved with a medium sized forklift.

Ed

please PM me with your email address. There is a very nice RI 40' boxcar about 50 miles from you in desperate, immediate need of a home.

Rob

Rob -

Please clue us in about the Rock Island car. Is it possibly one of the "Centennial" series boxcars that were built for the RI to celebrate the railroads 100th year in 1952? Or an earlier, or later, car. A road number would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Les

Ed

You folks might also want to contact the Reading Company Technical & Historical Society. We at the DL acquired a couple cars from them as they were rationalizing their collection. I have no firsthand knowledge of them looking to shed additional equipment, but it might be worth a look.

Dave Crosby

Thanks for all of the leads. I will be looking in to all of them, including the conatainer aspects which is the last resort but one that we have already thought of. We even found a company that would donate a 20' to us if we put it out front where his name could be seen. But this will go in the back somewhere where it will be seen by all who walk the trail.

Thanks again.
Mr. Ed

Greg,

Relating to the 50-foot boxcars at NWS Crane, Indiana, are any of them door and a half cars? A couple of years ago I was trying to contact someone at Earle about some door and a halfs they had but could never get to anyone. I know a number were reconditioned/repainted/rebuilt, but not sure what happened to the rest. I would appreciate any info/photos you can send regarding the available cars at Crane and contact info if appropriate via PM. Just looking to try for one, maybe two intact cars. Thanks a million.

Anyone interested in seeing the RI car info, email me. I only have it as a PDF.

It is #5830. The PDF says "The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad purchased 100 40-foot, PS-1 cars with Damaged Freight (DF) load production belts and 8-foot door openings in 1959."

Rob

The two cars I had shipped from Crane to Port Hueneme were door and half 50 foot cars. I understand most of the other surplus are the same. They should be the same kind as at Earle. I can send you images of the two now at Port Hueneme when I get back to CA. I can't really take and send you any of the cars still on base. They are a bit sensitive about cameras. :-)

Greg

Thanks, Greg. I would appreciate the photos very much. That, and contact info via PM.

Mr. Ed,

The group I am involved with in northern NJ obtained a 40' shipping container last year for a little over $1,000 shipped to URHS yard in Boonton, NJ. It came out of Port Newark where there are thousands of containers being stored at this time.

Nice thing about the container is you don't need a crane to load or unload it. Granted it isn't a railroad boxcar, but it gets the job done. Easily accessible from the ground and easy to secure.

Also it would be easier to re-sell it later on if you get the appropriate box car for your collection and it becomes surplus.

I would think moving a box car from one location to another is going to cost more than $1,000...

Mr. Ed -

Will a container do the job of providing storage? Yes

Does a container have a railroad "atmosphere"? No

Can it be moved to the site? Probably

On the other hand:

Will a boxcar do the job of providing storage? Yes

Does a boxcar have a railroad "atmosphere"? Yes

Can it be moved to the site? Probably

If the bottom line is strictly cost, then a container might make sense. But is it the only thing to consider? Only PTHT can make that decision.

Les

Lots of younger folks might have something to say about that.

--
Will