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  7. Boxcar
Equipment

Boxcar

Definition

An enclosed rectangular railcar with sliding side doors, used for transporting general commodities that require protection from weather, including packaged goods, paper, lumber, and auto parts. Boxcars are the most versatile car type in the fleet and are used across virtually all industries. They are available in standard and high-cube configurations.

Related Terms

Covered Hopper

A closed-top hopper car with roof hatches for top loading and bottom discharge gates for gravity unloading, designed for dry bulk commodities such as grain, fertilizer, plastic pellets, and cement. Covered hoppers protect lading from moisture and contamination. They are the most numerous car type on North American railroads.

General Purpose Car

A covered hopper car designed for a wide range of dry bulk commodities without the specialized features of cars built for a single commodity. General purpose cars typically have multiple roof hatches and bottom gates configurable for different discharge angles. They provide operational flexibility for shippers with diverse bulk commodity needs.

Gondola

An open-top car with fixed sides and ends, used for heavy bulk commodities such as scrap metal, steel coils, pipe, and coal. Gondolas are loaded from the top and typically unloaded by crane, magnet, or rotary dumper. Coil gondolas have a curved floor to cradle steel coils securely.

Flatcar

A railcar with a flat deck and no sides or roof, used for oversized or heavy loads such as machinery, lumber, steel beams, and military equipment. Flatcars include standard, bulkhead, center-beam, and well-car variants. They are also the base platform for trailer-on-flatcar (TOFC) intermodal service.

More in Equipment

Centerbeam FlatcarCovered HopperTri-Level AutorackOpen HopperGondolaKnuckle