Page 58 - 38. MRH13-04-Apr2013
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Although the original design presented in 1923 produced
in excess of 60,000 cars, it wasn't until a new design was
presented in 1932 that the member railroads gave their
approval.
After extensively testing five prototypes in 1933, over 14,500
cars were produced for twenty-three railroads throughout
the following decade. This design soon evolved into the
1937, Modified 1937, and Postwar AAR boxcars.
Although not the most popular design produced, numerically
speaking, the 1932 ARA Standard boxcar is considered one
of the most important designs in railroad history.”
As can be seen with only 144,500 cars built to the 1932 ARA
Design, it represents a very small percentage of the overall rail-
road fleet. During the Depression railroads kept purchase of
new equipment to a bare minimum, so there were not many
examples of 1932 ARA cars built. As a result model manufac-
tures have basically ignored the cars.
Erie Railroad Boxcars, p1 - 2
2
2. Builders photo of 75299. (Used with permission of
George Elwood Fallen Flags Railroad Photos).
These cars illustrate the evolution of the boxcar in the 1930s.
The first group of cars is representative of the ARA 1923 design.
First in this group of cars are the 75000 – 75499 series, which
were built in November 1929. From the builder's photo it
appears that these cars were built by the Pressed Steel Car Co.
The second group of cars 75500 – 75999 were built in February
1930. These cars also had the 8”-8” interior height and solid
side sill, which was notorious for rusting out. The cars had
Youngstown doors, Chicago Cleveland flexible radial roof. This
group of cars began the Erie's use of Buckeye ends.
While these were not exclusive to the Erie, they have become
identified with the Erie over time. As far as I can determine
these were the last of the cars that the Erie received that had
the 8’-8” interior height.
3
3. General American Car Company Builders Photo of
75656. (Used with permission of George Elwood Fallen
Flags Railroad Photos).
MRH-Apr 2013
