Have any of your organizations made use of a boxcar as a supplemental display space? If so, would you be interested in sharing any information on any modifications you provided to make the interior suitable for your use? Also, would you share any findings on local restrictions or access requirements that you encountered?

Two possible scenarios here, one where visitors enter the car, one where they view contents or displays from outside.

Thanks,

PC

At RMEO, one of our single sheathed auto boxcars, CNR #574493 has a restored Model T Ford chassis suspended from its roof tie-downs. Our interpreters are supposed to explain how this allowed more automobiles to be shipped in a 40' car.

The other end of the car has examples of various types of freight that would be shipped in a boxcar: a row of faux shipping crates hides a space approximately fifteen feet deep that is used for storage.

If enough interpreters are available, steel stairs allow access from the station platform: if the car cannot be manned, the steps are removed but visitors can still see the displays through the car's open double doors.

No fragile items are kept in the car, and it was not modified in any way for display.

Steve Hunter
RMEO

At the Rochester & Genesee Valley RR Mueusum, we've used a MDT refer as a display about refers ...

http://rgvrrm.org/media/photos/exhibits ... _Large.jpg

Not much in terms of modifcation, other than some lighting. Visitors enter through a set of stairs that are only anchored into the ground. THe car is "hard-wired" for power, but if necessary could be disconnected. In addition to that, we've got a Lackawna Baggage car for display space as well. Its a convient way to preserve a piece of equipment and have additional display space ... espicially when you dont have much building space.

-Dave

Steve -

I really like your boxcar displays, especially the Model T chasis. Although we use our boxcars (and refrigerator cars for that matter) for storage, I think we could better use at least some of them for displays. We have one car that was marked on the inside walls to show grain elevators the level for various types of grain when it was shipped loose in the boxcar. Hard however, to show a display of this type to the public. Another car (Wabash wood boxcar #49114) was assigned to the NJI&I and was used to ship finished Studebaker automobiles. A Studebaker was driven into one end of the car and the front end then jacked up facing the center of the boxcar. A second car was then driven in to the other end of the car and the front end similarly raised. Then a third auto was driven into the center, the raised ends of the other two cars making the necessary room. Now, if only someone would donate three old Studebakers................!

Les

I like the idea of exhibits in boxcars, but then again, I just like the idea of exhibits. More of our museums should good, visitor-friendly exhibits, but few do.

Otherwise, you are asking for trouble if you do not make the exhibits accessible for visitors in wheelchairs. This means ramps, lifts, or elevated platforms. You are inviting a lawsuit if you build exhibits that can only be accessed by the able bodied.

Les, make three full-size automobile cut-outs out of particle board and mount them on the wall inside wall of the car. The cut-outs can be painted and could sport exhibit graphics. A cheaper approach would be to outline the cars using white tape. Having the cars themselves would be cool, but this approach allows visitors into the car with the "autos" to better appreciate the scale of things.

Randolph -

Thanks. Although I would rather have 3 old Studebakers, I think your idea really has a lot of merit. I'll run it by our Board at the next meeting.

Les

That's a really good idea, very easy but it will get the message across pretty clearly. That and a photo of a car being loaded and a brief caption would pretty much tell the story.

Our CN auto boxcar also has grain levels marked inside. Visitors find that really fascinating, and are amazed at the differing densities of the various grains.

http://public.fotki.com/elliottd/sfrmeo ... kings.html

Our boxcar displays are only scratching the surface of what can be done to interpret these cars!

Steve

edit 26 October: added photo link

An interactive exhibit related to this could have identically sized acrylic boxes containing different grains. The boxes could be on short chains, so visitors could lift the boxes to compare weights. Additional information could address what the grains were used for, and where they were shipped to and from.

the Western Union Junction RR Museum is in the process of converting a boxcar into more display space. We first placed 1" foam down on the floor, next we placed 2x4's ontop of the foam, we than placed 3/4 T&g on top of the 2x4's this is our sub floor, when we proceede we will add 2x4 walls cover with a covering, we will also be insulating these new walls, we had to put the project on hold due to weather

The Colfax Railroad Museum has one passenger car in use for displays and has plans for up to five other cars to be used for display space. Rather than construct display space, we utilize the cars because they allow cheap, handicap accessible space that already has a railroad theme. Our cost per foot is about 1/5 the cost of new commercial construction. Boxcars and baggage cars are best for handicap accessible needs.
Herb Sakalaucks
Chairman
Colfax Railroad Museum

Insulated cars (refrigerator or insulated box) have the advantage of controlling temperature swings and also being much less expensive to heat or cool, if desired.