I am saddened to report that the formerly quite intact wood-sheathed boxcar body along the New York & Long Branch in Perth Amboy, NJ has been torched.

While it lacked trucks, it seemed to have everything else. Unfortunately, I only observed it from passing trains. I never took the short hike in to see it up close.

I have no idea of its heritage. All that's left are the twisted remains of the metal portions of the car.

Ironically, right across the tracks a massive scrapping operation of more modern rolling stock is underway at the now closed Gerdau-Ameristeel plant. Conrail delivers the cars to the plant, a trackmobile and SWsomething move them into position, and a big claw rips them into parts to load onto a barge for transport to GA's nearby electric furnace.

Rob