Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A typical boxcar, used for general cargo of all kinds that must be protected from the
weather.
Photo courtesy of Orange Empire Railway Museum
A lot of boxcars are specially equipped in one way or another.
For example, special refrigerated boxcars are used to carry fresh
produce from California all over the country. These refrigerator
cars have to be equipped to maintain a constant, cool tempera-
ture so the fruits and vegetables inside won't spoil in the summer.
In the winter, shippers have the opposite problem—fresh produce
crosses the country in heated cars to keep it from freezing.
Gondola Cars
Take a common boxcar, cut it in half horizontally, and—voila!—
you've got a gondola car, or “gonnie” as the train crews call them.
Gondola cars have low sides and ends, a solid floor (meaning the
contents can't be unloaded through a trapdoor in the bottom),
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