What is a box car ?
A boxcar, which looks like a massive box on wheels, is a form of railway car that carries freight. Railway cars designed as boxcars are very versatile, since it allows people to load their cars. While the use of boxcars has decreased since shipping containers became popular, some small railroads still keep a few boxcars. However, if you want to see what a boxcar looks like, just head on to your local museums and view them on display.
A typical boxcar has no windows; it is fully enclosed with just a set of sliding doors, enabling people to access the inside of the boxcar. Some boxcars are loaded manually, as railway staffs stack goods starting from the backend of the boxcar going to the front. For heavier loads, a forklift is used to ensure proper placement of loads. Majority of boxcars, particularly high cubic-volume boxcars, have high ceilings, so it could carry tall items.
Throughout history, boxcars have been used in transporting different items. In the 1800s, slaves were transported using these railway cars. In the 1940s, people transferred to concentration camps also used boxcars.
Some boxers transport grains alone, while others allow livestock to be transferred from one state to the next. However, since all boxcars are enclosed, many people who are in the livestock industry prefer to travel their goods in buses, especially in hot weather. The military has also used boxcars, specifically the ‘forty and eight boxcar’, in transporting its troops and other military materials. These types of boxcars could transport up to 10 horses and 40 men with their gears. Today, boxcars are still used for different purposes, such as transporting modular shipping containers.
November 6th, 2011 at 9:19 am
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