Boxcar 56 for Hobo Service

[Dan Malkowski]

A few of us have been milling over an idea to have Boxcar 56 enter, for lack of a better term, Hobo Service on some if not most of our regular passenger trains. The main reason for Boxcar 56 being our pick, is the advantage of the livestock doors on all four walls for added light when the car is in service as well as provide a mixed train look to the train. The idea behind this, is to have a dedicated car host that would entertain the passengers. Inside of the boxcar, the boxcar will be dressed up the way a boxcar would look like back in the day with large trunks, crates, barrels, etc. with the passengers being able to sit on said trunks, crates, barrels, etc.

We would like to implement and try this as soon as the car is finished but the only hurdle as of right now is finding material to furnish the inside of the boxcar.

Is there anyone that has any large trunks, crates (big or small), wooden barrels, and or any other items of the sort that they be willing to donate towards this cause?

The other possibility for some of the larger crates would be to ask if anyone could build or make a medium or large wooden shipping crate?

Any other ideas are certainly welcome.

[John Kokas]

A very interesting concept - one I have never seen before.  I think you may be onto something - especially for school charters.  Good Luck !!

[Graham Buxton]

Riding mowers are often shipped in wooden crates (protects the machine and allows forklift handling  & stacking).  Typically the crates are 'one-way' so the dealers end up having to get rid of therm. Asking local mower dealers may be useful. A mower crate may be more 'open' than a traditional  crate but that is easily remedied  with more scrap wood, perhaps salvaged from a different crate.

[Daniel Moreau]

It may also be a good idea to add in a few burlap sacks for decor. I have one, but it's clearly marked for a modern rice company. If it can be dyed, I would like to donate it

[Mike Fox]

The old crates were made out of box wood, which was only about 1/2 thick and rough cut for the most part. Would be easy to make some as long as the wood can be found.

[Dan Malkowski]

It may also be a good idea to add in a few burlap sacks for decor. I have one, but it's clearly marked for a modern rice company. If it can be dyed, I would like to donate it

Yeah I believe that would work and honestly with the logo it could just be turned so the logo is up against the wall.

[Dan Malkowski]

Riding mowers are often shipped in wooden crates (protects the machine and allows forklift handling  & stacking).  Typically the crates are 'one-way' so the dealers end up having to get rid of therm. Asking local mower dealers may be useful. A mower crate may be more 'open' than a traditional  crate but that is easily remedied  with more scrap wood, perhaps salvaged from a different crate.

That's a great idea, I'll have to look into this. Thanks Graham.

[Benjamin Richards]

I know of a source for pallet wood in Topsham, if you need to fill in gaps.

[Mike the Choochoo Nix]

Planning down used 3/4 inch boards would also work, just run over them with a metal detector first to make sure that no metal was missed. That would also give a new appearance to them, crates would have been usually new unless one was being reused.
M. Nix

[Bob Holmes]

My understanding is that 56 is to be the Tool Car (did I get that right?).  That would require a totally different outfitting than what is described as a Hobo Car.  IMHO, a Tool Car would be extremely useful in railroad maintenance activities.

[James Patten]

Bob, it was going to be used as a tool car, but that was never a really popular idea so the use for it has changed.

[Andrew Toppan]

Seems like there are trunks at the local dump every weekend. I'll grab one if I see one soon.

Used barrels can be sourced from breweries, but they'll stink of beer (and often bourbon from their prior use), which smells lovely at first but then turns into a sticky sweet mess that attracts bees. So perhaps ignore this idea, or be prepared to wash them out thoroughly. (it's possible I know this from experience)

[Ed Lecuyer]

Used barrels

BTW, the barrel that was hiding the well head in Sheepscot yard did not make it through the winter. If someone has a suitable replacement (ideally stained in some preservative for longevity) that would be a welcome addition.

[Stephen Piwowarski]

Could we create some shipping crates that would hold our folding tables and chairs as a part of storing/managing those supplies?

It occurs to me that the chair crates, with chairs stored on their side would make pretty great benches, and the table crate would make a nice table.

[Gavin Dalessandro]

this is a very cool idea, while I have seen passenger cars made out of old box and stockcars, this is a entirely different approach and i actually kind of like it