Trying to figure out what this might be worth, trucks are there but no longer attached. Thanks

Scrap value or historic value? The price gap could potentially be huge.

Well, start with scrap value, and if you could point out anything that makes it unusual or rare, that will help me determine real value. thanks

Take the "LT WGT" (can't read the numbers but maybe you can make them out or they are better on the other side), subtract a guess on non metallic and missing parts (say the tare is 30,000, assume the wood floor is oh 3000 pounds and you're missing 2000 pounds of draft gear, brake rigging, etc), so let's just assume you've got 25,000 pounds of iron. Iron seems to float around $10 per hundredweight, so you divide 25,000 by 100 to get 250 hundredweight, times $10 gives you about $2500 scrap value. The price will be better if you take it to the scrap yard in nice bite size bits, less if they have to come out and cut it up and haul it away. You need to call some scrap yards in your area to get current scrap price on "ferrous" metals, and also find out what they might pay if they had to come out and cut it down themselves.

To me it doesn't look like much as far as 'special' value, but I won't be shocked if someone comes in and says thats a ultra-rare boxcar by the frizdoo boxcar company and was bought by the skizdiz and shebop railroad and should be preserved. Still untill someone comes in and slaps down more then scrap, it's only worth scrap, unless you donate it and they can come up with the cash to move it.

Robert

What about the rest of the equipment? Draft gear, brake linkage, air piping, couplers?
If that equipment is not present, it's not viable as a boxcar except to someone expert in obtaining the missing pieces.

Is the value for a purchase/sale, or for a tax deduction?

If you are trying to sell it, likely scrap value, plus what you can get for the trucks separately. Basic 50 ton freight car trucks with 33" wheels are not that common anymore... especially if the wheels are good.

If you are buying, what utility value does it have for the current owner?

If a donation value, the donor is responsible for appraising the car. I believe if less than $5,000 value is claimed the donor can set the value, if above $5,000 it requires a formal appraisal by a professional appraiser. The museum is not allowed to pay for the appraisal. You will need to fill out an IRS form confirming receipt of the donation, but not the value.

15 years ago our group received a complete narrow gauge boxcar as a donation. The appraiser did a history of the car (from secondary sources and Railway Equipment Register) stated that it was unique and historic, then valued it at the price of a current used standard gauge boxcar for continued service... The only documented "market price" available, at the time about $100,000... Somebody paid a lot less tax that year...

Randy

This car is of value, as it may be the only surviving 50ft Erie Lackawanna boxcar There may be others, but this car would certainly look nice in Indiana coupled between an EL Alco and EL bay window caboose....

Yes, DO NOT SCRAP THIS BOXCAR. There are very few surviving EL Boxcars, and this should be given to a historical society. Maybe the ARHS will take it?

Edit: The Boxcar should be donated if at all possible, It is very rare & Historical. Is there even a EL Boxcar preserved in a museum?

Ok, some info. The car is located in Scranton, PA. I checked the Steamtown roster and it looks like they have a DLW woodside and a PRR single door boxcar, but no EL double doors. The car can be bought, the owner is using it for storage but he would sell for the right price. I don't know if he has the other equipment, I just know that he kept the trucks and they are around.

I work with a local non-profit and we do a couple community projects every year. I'm thinking if the owner of the car is open to donate for a realistic price (under 5k) he will get a tax deduction through our 501c3 status. We could hopefully get the car transported to Steamtown (if they want it) at a discount or in-kind, and the ultimate goal would be a grant to cover costs to cosmetically restore the car.

The ARHS is a great start, we would need a partner to work with.

Maybe the owner would take a used shipping container as a trade?

Paul
Seattle, WA

It's possible - he will have a big hole in his fence if the car is moved.

Not sure if you were thinking about us when you made this comment, but we would sure qualify as we have EL S1 Alco #310 and EL bay window caboose #C345. I agree that the car would look neat between 310 and C345, but as Mr. Macdowell pointed out earlier, there may be a lot of parts missing from this car.

Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum/North Judson, Indiana)

What's a ballpark price for a cosmetic restoration on a box car?

Ballpark price, based on what can be seen in the photo, anywhere from $10K to $25K, or more, depending on many factors, such as who is going to do the work (i.e., volunteers vs. contract labor), level of restoration fidelity to original construction, interior condition, whether it has the underbody equipment or not...ad nauseum. A steel 40-ft boxcar that had been a storage shed and was missing almost everything was restored to boxcar configuration by fabricating missing parts, patching holes, scavenging parts from 2 other cars to be scrapped, and not doing much to the interior except removing the sheathing and applying a good epoxy primer. That job, using contract labor, was very close to $20K, though I don't have an exact number, and this was for a non-operational car...display only. This was an instance where, after an extensive search, I could find no other surviving examples of these boxcars from that particular railroad, so that added value to doing the restoration. Similar situation, apparently, here with the EL car. And it's a double door, to boot!

20k should work, thanks