12-26-2010, 10:31 PM
Ran across an article concerning shortline boxcars in the February 1979 RMC. The article states the then current percentages of 40 foot boxcars to be 40%, so Greg, you nailed it pretty close with your guesstimation of 35%. I can be somewhat authentic, even moving forward a bit to the early 80s, and run about a 3 to 7 mix of 40 footers to 50 footers.
On another note, the article was quite interesting detailing the reasons behind the incentive per diem rules and how they were implemented by those seeking to maximize profit. It wasn't so much the shortlines that turned the profits, it was the railcar manufacturing and leasing companies that made the money. Reason is that any receipts from the per diem charges had to be invested in new boxcars or in paying off current loans on boxcars. The shortlines did come out on the good end, because they were able to acquire modern boxcars with money they normally would not have gotten.
If anyone is interested in more info, PM me.
On another note, the article was quite interesting detailing the reasons behind the incentive per diem rules and how they were implemented by those seeking to maximize profit. It wasn't so much the shortlines that turned the profits, it was the railcar manufacturing and leasing companies that made the money. Reason is that any receipts from the per diem charges had to be invested in new boxcars or in paying off current loans on boxcars. The shortlines did come out on the good end, because they were able to acquire modern boxcars with money they normally would not have gotten.
If anyone is interested in more info, PM me.