Box Cars vs Other Traffic

[nachoman]

In a related subject, I noticed in a historic photo of my "prototype" a ramp with boxcars on it, and men shoveling what looks like coal out of the boxcar doors. Very interesting. I'd say the photo is probably 1905-1910. I think at one time, nearly everything was carried in boxcars or flat cars. Over time, more specialty cars were developed. Liquids were shipped in tank cars rather than inside barrels within boxcars. Coal was shipped in open top cars. Grain in covered hoppers. And the last things that once were shipped in box cars are probably shifting towards containers or trailers.