There appear to be two common types of car before 1876, a 25' long car and a 28' long car. Of the two, the 25' long cars were the most numerous type in service on the railroad until the mid 1870s, with 681 of them on the roster. Some of these short little cars survived in service until the early 20th century. Other than the difference in length, the internal dimensions for these cars are the same.
Roster Information:
CP 2-178 even
Boxcar, 28’ L
Built: 1860s
Capacity: 15 Ton
Inside Dimensions: 27.7' L, 8.1' W, 6' H
89 cars of this type.
Reference Images:
photo #20 Iron Horses to Promontory p.16
photo #36? Iron Horses to Promontory p.75
- CP Boxcars on Long Ravine bridge. Houseworth Stereoview.
- CP boxcar #102 with combination boxcars #3522 and #3672 in Sacramento, 1870s.
Boxcar, 25’ L
Built: 1860s
Capacity: 15 Ton
Inside Dimensions: 24.7' L, 8.1' W. 6' H
681 cars of this type.
Reference Images:
photo #912 (part) Iron Horses to Promontory p.149
- 25' boxcar with a stock car and several 28' boxcars near Reno (this is now Sparks). A. A. Hart stereoview.
- Boxcar #204 in Colfax, this appears to be a 25' car with ventilated doors. Houseworth Stereoview.
- CP boxcar #342 detail. The freshly painted door looks almost like it is another color. I suspect this is the reason why Bachmann/AHM cars are painted this way.
CP 4502-4962 even
Boxcars, 28' L
Built: 1870s
Capacity: 15 Ton
Inside Dimensions: 24.7' L, 8.1' W. 6.9' H
231 cars of this type.
Reference Images:
- CP freight train at Cape Horn, late 1870s.
- Various boxcars in Reno, 1875. Note the 25' boxcar that has been converted from a combination back to standard arrangement.
The 28' (and apparently some 25') cars were also converted into combination boxcars, the first used by CP, with the addition of ventilated doors. For more information on these see: CPRR Combination Boxcars.
Two cars were converted into Powder Cars, which had metal clad siding and tin roofs.
- Box, Combo Box, and Powder Car in Nevada. A. A. Hart Stereoview.