Throughout the Twentieth Century, the "box car" was the quintessential fright car on America's railroads. Thousands of such cars crisscrossed the country every day, carrying nearly every kind of good and product imaginable; bags of grain, barrels of gunpowder, farm equipment, washing machines, paper, fabrics, and furniture - the list is endless.

Our Southern Pacific box car no. 30036 was built in the 1930s as railroad car building technologies were making the transition from wood to steel construction. The frame, ends and roof of the car are steel, while the siding and floor is made of wood tongue-and-groove. After World War 2, car builders turned to all-steel construction.

The wood siding on S.P. 30036 has survived in fair condition, despite its 75+ years of exposure to the weather and other elements. The car is currently undergoing a complete exterior surface renewal, including protective sealing and repainting. Much of the work on the Box Car project is being accomplished by students from the Los Angeles Zoo Magnet High School, working under the guidance of our Travel Town volunteers.

Travel Town volunteer have just replace all the running boards on top replace the end caps on both. Mike and Gary also fixed the parking brake and rebuilt the side boards.

BUILT: 1930 BY PULLMAN.
LENGTH: 44'
WEIGHT: 22 TONS
DONATED: 1955 BY SOUTHERN PACIFIC LINES