Hi everyone,
I have in my collection a number of 86’ box cars. Many have logos from the Pennsy & NYC era, and I have some in CSX. Do the railroads still use them or have they all been retired or scrapped?
Thanks to all whi reply!
Neal
I’m sure they outlived their auto parts years but since my brain goes dead after about 1990, I’m not sure how many were used and for what in later life.
A good place to check is: https://www.railcarphotos.com/
Photo’s of BN cars in the 1990’s.
Here is a photo of an old DTI 86 footer in 2007:
https://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=19507
Another in 2007:
https://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=18781\
I’m sure there are more if you take some time to search.
CSX claims to be able to supply 86ft box cars for use in shipping automobile parts and appliances.
CSX Railroad Equipment
“These are exceptionally large boxcars, 86’ long, 10,000 cubic feet, with a hi-roof (Plate G) built specifically for shipping automobile parts and appliances. All offer cushioned underframes with double plug or sliding doors.”
BTW, for the record: “CSX does not own or provide tank cars.”, so I guess they would mention if they don’t have any 86ft’ers (unless that website hasn’t been updated since before the EHH-alypse).
ETA. Union Pacific does NOT list 86ft boxcars on it’s equipment guide, just 50ft and 60ft variants: UP Customer Equipment Guide - Boxcars
The same holds true for BNSF: BNSF Customer Equipment Guide
Norfolk Southern … may have some in their fleet: (NS Automotive Equipment - 86ft boxcar - pretty generic page).
Reviewing the huge fleet leasing equipment pools for the 86ft’ers is an exercise left to the reader…
Until recently, Altoona was a sea of Conrail 86 footers waiting for the scrapper They’re all gone as well as the yard they were in.
I counted exactly 9 in Conway, in three groups of three. This pattern suggests someone is still asking for them, but not in the volumes they once were.
I saw two Norfolk Southern 86 footers in a UP east bound here in Texas yesterday, Oct. 30, 2018.
Guys,
Thanks for the GREAT replies! What is interesting is just this morning I saw on one of the railcams a string of NS box cars that looked like 86’ cars.
This information will be put to great use on my railroad. Now it’s time to add them to the railroad!
Neal
I’m pretty sure the RRMPA has an ex Conrail automotive boxcar. Last time I was there, it was back where they are keeping NKP 757. If NS started to scrap them, this may be one they preseever.
I see these cars all the time while railfanning Norfolk Southern here in Pittsburgh. Most have a reporting mark of NS, but I have seen both Conrail & Southern cars. Most of the time they are on a mixed freight, but once or twice I saw a couple of them with auto racks.
BN had a few. I don’t know if any are left. What’s especially interesting is I heard they were transferred to toilet paper service. You could likely pack those cars full of TP, and still never approach the weight limit.
Ed
Has anyone seen an 86’ boxcar with sliding doors as listed in the CSX boxcar specifications?
Boxcar Specifications
| 50’ Standard | 50’ Hi-roof | 60’ Standard | 60’ Hi-roof | 86’ Auto | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inside Length | 50’ 7" | 50’ 6" | 60’ 9" | 60’ 9" | 86.6 |
| Inside Width | 9’ 6" | 9’ 6" | 9’ 4" | 9’ 6" | 9’ 6" |
| Inside Height | 10’ 11" | 13’ | 10’ 10" | 13’ | 13’ |
| Door Type | slide and/or plug | plug | slide and/or plug | plug | slide and/or plug |
I know of no 86 foot hi-cube boxcars that were built with sliding doors. If any received them, it was very late in their existance but, it is extremely unlikely.
They are available for purchase from the National Steel Car catalog under “Jumbo Boxcar”
.
Sadly they illustrated their catalog page with a FBOX Plug Door image (looks like a 60ft actually, although that may be an optical illusion), so the mythical sliding door 86ft boxcar remains shrouded in mystery.
An interesting freelanced modeling idea. A TP plant calling for several 86 footers every few days. Excellent.
Maybe that’s because none have been built.
https://www.progressiverailroading.com/railproducts/product.aspx?id=15
They definitely exist.
Well, one does, anyway.
AFAIK NSC only built the one as a demonstrator, and it hasn’t been duplicated yet.
THAT is interesting, but is it too late—kinda like Lima’s Super Power steam? It seems as if the FBOX/TBOX crowd provides a more versatile vehicle.
Looks like it might have gotten actual reporting marks.
In the July 2015 ORER, there’s an NSCX 2086. National Steel Car Limited. IL 86 06, IH 15 04, door opening 16 feet, cuft 11052, GRL 286,000.
I can’t find any photos, though. Maybe they couldn’t find anyone to give it a try.
Ed
The fine folks at MFCL told be that this car was NS 489700 from about 2007 to 2011–maybe longer.
Here’s a shot:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2254435
Ed
Seen this one or one just like it not too long ago.