Its difficult work to safely load or unload a BOXCAR with several expensive automobiles. Despite the extra wide door opening it’s a challenge to manoeuvre a new car without touching a box car door or wall and creating expensive damage.
On the return trip from Western Canada to the east, loads of various grains were dropped in from chutes originating from above in trackside grain elevators. The extra wide doors were sealed with boards to contain the grain and allow doors to be closed. At the destination, boarding was removed, and gravity did most of the unloading. It was dusty and very little air moved as a man with a shovel waded through grain into the ends and corners of the car and muscled out the last of the precious load.
Look for the markings on the walls of the boxcar to see which grain products are denser than others. The lower the mark on the wall the denser the product. Once the car was cleaned it was made ready for another west bound trip with automobiles.
