In the 1970’s a surge of colorful boxcars could be seen all across the country as larger railroads leased more and more boxcars from shortline railroads.  To encourage the return of the boxcars, shortline railroads could charge a per diem, or daily fee, until the cars were returned.  Incentive Per Diem (IPD ) boxcars were primarily 50’ rib side boxcars with 10’ sliding or plug doors or double sliding doors.

Our 12-month series will feature a colorful assortment of twelve new paint schemes of Per Diem boxcars from various shortline railroads.  

This 50’ rib side box car with single door and no roofwalk is painted red with yellow band and door and runs on Barber Roller Bearing trucks. The Helena Southwestern was a short line that operated in Arkansas and routinely interchanged with Missouri Pacific. In the 1980’s they found themselves needing new cars that they didn’t have the budget for. The railroad utilized the Per Diem program to add modern, safe freight cars to their system.

Reservations Due By: September 29, 2015

Expected Release: Begining In February 2016