@texgeekboy posted:On the tracks in the Houston area, I don't see many box cars, mainly tank cars, auto carriers, gondolas, and hoppers. Unfortunately I can't remember too many details of the boxcars from when I grew up in the Pittsburgh area. My fading memory, along with the few recent sightings of boxcars is that they are all pretty dull, no color graphics only road names. My question is, do boxcars have the advertising stuff painted on them, like the olive oil, Baby Ruth, etc.? Or is this merely a whimsical thing?
Sadly, economic forces have ensured that containerized "multi-modal" freight is about all one sees today instead of "traditional" boxcars. I live near I-10 and the major UP mainline that runs along it through the Coachella Valley and about all I see is containerized freight consists from Port of Los Angeles headed east with 3 lead locos and 2 helpers following up filled with, you guessed it, mostly Chinese-made products. Nothing against the people of China, but I sure would like to see fewer of those trains because we are making more products here.
Regarding the advertising boxcars, most of them are "fantasy" schemes that the maker licenses from the advertised product companies. It's a "win-win" since the maker sells more rolling stock and the advertised product gets promoted via another advertising medium.
