These are pictures of KCS outside braced boxcar 7921, found a few years ago in the woods near a point called Holly, LA, south of Shreveport. It hadn't been photographed until the other day. The railroad was notified a few years ago, but given that its still there, I guess they weren't interested.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locThu ... x?id=51891

There was a wreck at this approximate location on 9/28/1941 involving a KCS passenger and freight train, and this is probably something left behind from the wreck, removed from the ROW and dumped in the woods.

Does anyone have old equipment registers that would show when this car showed up, disappeared, as we are trying to figure out how old it is.

Now that's interesting! If it's been there since 1941 it certainly looks in halfway decent shape for sitting so long! Other than trying to find out what year it was built are there any plans by anyone to rescue and preserve it?

That's a neat find. It does look to be in great shape for sitting in the weeds for 70 years. Wonder what the underside structural integrity looks like? It would be a neat rescue and save.

Why does everybody assume that a carbody, sitting plumb,level, and square with no visible damage, is a wreck victim? More than likely all the remains of the wreck were picked up, and this car was bought by a farmer for a shed years later. The car appears to have a steel grating running board, something just coming on the scene in 1941.

Dennis -

I believe you are right. From the looks of the coupler pocket, it appears as if the underframe is missing. Something the railroad would probably do if the car was being sold for use as a shed. Not likely to be removed if the car was in a wreck, without just removing the whole car. The proximity to the old KCS mainline is probably just a coincidence. Still, it IS an interesting car.

Les

It would be interesting to see the feasibility of getting it out of there if someone was interested. Who owns it, who owns the land it's on, can the trees be cut down, where's the nearest road......a lot to take into account :/

Here's the full album, with four more shots.

The underframe seems to be in place, but there is no doubt a lot of hardware missing. One side and the floor are in pretty rough shape!

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/archiv ... x?id=63920

Steve Hunter

Is there anyone local, or close by, that is interested in the boxcar? If not, I will go by when I return to Long Leaf on the 31st. Any info as to the owner will be appreciated.

Harry Nicholls