Navy boxcars in WA available to heritage groups

Adam Phillips · **Posted:** Wed Sep 25, 2013 8:54 pm

Here is some info and some photos of the 50' box cars at Bangor. I don't have any photos of the 40' box cars.

50' - newest ones were built in 1945 and the only builder identification I could find was on one which was still stenciled "Built by Pressed Steel".

Exterior condition ranges from amazingly good to OK and a couple I looked in were in very nice condition. Some have asbestos hazard caution signs affixed. I couldn't speculate as to whether the Navy would abate any asbestos for the recipient - I would just pick a car that doesn't have asbestos.

All but one have Gould TF-5274 trucks with plain bearings (5 1/2 X 10), cast iron wheels and USN cast into the side frames. (The odd ball is one car with a pair of Northern Pacific trucks. Were they replaced on an NP RIP track? Other than rolling over NP rails, the car likely has no other NP connection as it is just like all the others.) All appear to have StaPax Journal Pads installed around 1968-72. On some, the car oil looks like it was just added.

All appear to have Westinghouse AB brakes.

40' - These appear to have built by GATX and sport AAR 39 trucks with 5 X 9 plain bearings. I noticed some had a mix of Wabco and NYAB components.

At the very least, the Navy will move the cars outside the gate to an area which would be accessible by your crane. With about 30,000 civil service shipyard employees staying home every Friday without pay, I personally don't see how Uncle Sam could justify loading your car for you however, if you don't ask, the answer will always be no.

Even though this equipment would be obtained via Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service, your 501c3 may need to go through your State agency. For Washington, it's the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services. Through them, you establish your eligibility to receive Government surplus.

Good luck!

Adam Phillips · **Posted:** Wed Sep 25, 2013 8:56 pm

More photos.

Adam Phillips · **Posted:** Wed Sep 25, 2013 8:57 pm

More photos.

Adam Phillips · **Posted:** Wed Sep 25, 2013 9:00 pm

More photos.

Adam Phillips · **Posted:** Wed Sep 25, 2013 9:02 pm

Last photos. That's all I've got on this subject. Good luck.

Rainier Rails · **Posted:** Fri Sep 27, 2013 6:35 pm

Thanks, Adam, for posting the photos!

These cars do indeed have some potential!

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Fri Sep 27, 2013 10:47 pm

Previous thread on a similar Navy boxcar stash in Maryland a year and a half ago:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=33033

Review and discuss.

car57 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2018 12:03 pm

Are any of these left or did they get scrapped out, the posts are from 2013.

Thanks

Mike

car57 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2018 1:16 pm

car57 wrote:

Are any of these left or did they get scrapped out, the posts are from 2013.

Thanks

Mike

I Guess Google Earth says they are still there ?

Mike

Tim Moriarty · **Joined:** Thu Jun 22, 2006 4:25 pm **Posts:** 372

The steel boxcars are probably pretty much intact. I last saw them 15 years ago so I can't say for certain, but Google Earth shows some here and there within the restricted area.

The knockdown fleet cars, however, were in very poor condition back then and would only be worse now, if they remain at all. I remember seeing some that had collapsed roofs that had rotted away, having sat out in Mother Nature for decades. They looked like these but were much worse.

http://bgrm.org/#/army-boxcars/4541297763

twofoot · **Joined:** Mon Jun 24, 2013 1:14 pm **Posts:** 205

Tim Moriarty wrote:

The steel boxcars are probably pretty much intact. I last saw them 15 years ago so I can't say for certain, but Google Earth shows some here and there within the restricted area.

The knockdown fleet cars, however, were in very poor condition back then and would only be worse now, if they remain at all. I remember seeing some that had collapsed roofs that had rotted away, having sat out in Mother Nature for decades. They looked like these but were much worse.

http://bgrm.org/#/army-boxcars/4541297763

I reallllly want one of those knockdown cars.

LOL

Chris