BR 50222 is an interesting woodpulp service boxcar with a storied history. The car was originally built for the Southern Railroad (SOU) by Pullman-Standard. The “waffle” pattern of the car sides accomodated load tie-down attachment points on the inside of the car. Southern acquired a large number of these “waffle-side” boxcars from Pullman-Standard, and this design would become a real signature car on that railway. Only a few other identical examples were built for some of the “Family Lines” railways which later became part of CSX.
This particular car was sold by Southern to Helm Leasing (HLMX) and was reconditioned for woodpulp service with end reinforcement and carbody vents in the corners and then saw service on BC Rail as BCOL 850222. When BC Rail let the lease expire, they were renumbered BR and dropped the leading 8 from the car number. Currently these BR cars are commonly seen in woodpulp service for Canadian Pacific.
At Hawk Junction, July 19, 2017.
Beautiful story! Genealogy!
It’s amazing to me how long some of these cars can last in revenue service!
I would like to see the P & L statement for a single car over the years!
Obviously this one is a moneymaker!
Did they remove the roof panels? How were they loaded?
Phil, “woodpulp” is an intermediate semi-processed paper product, it’s shipped in bales (palletted) in the boxcar. The car body vents allow moisture in the wet pulp to escape.
Not to be confused with “pulpwood”, which is raw logs.
Chris,
OK, thanks. I misunderstood the word ‘woodpulp’ to mean ‘pulpwood.’
Sorry,
Phil