Boxcar
PRR #74002
50' Double Door Auto Boxcar. The rise of the automobile industry created a demand for specialized boxcars capable of handling these longer and bulkier items. While the weight of individual automobiles was well within the capacity of existing boxcars, their size necessitated the development of longer cars. Double doors, offering a wider opening, made loading and unloading vehicles significantly easier than single-door boxcars. The wider doors also made them suitable for transporting other bulky cargo like furniture and lumber. These cars were designated as "automobile cars" or classified as "XR" (formerly XAR) if equipped with permanent automobile stowing equipment and side doors at least 10 feet wide. They typically featured reinforced flooring to support the weight of the vehicles and the equipment used for loading and unloading. Early versions may have been equipped with interior tie-down chains or other securing mechanisms for the vehicles.