Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 30, 2026

Box motor

A box motor, in railroad terminology, is a self-propelled boxcar, normally powered by electricity and running on an interurban railway or a streetcar line. Many box motors were converted from passenger cars on the systems that ran them, with the seats and most of the windows removed and large freight doors fitted. They were generally used for express and less-than-carload freight. 

Last revised
Jun 30, 2026
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A preserved box motor from Iowa. source ↗

A box motor, in railroad terminology, is a self-propelled boxcar, normally powered by electricity and running on an interurban railway or a streetcar line. Many box motors were converted from passenger cars on the systems that ran them, with the seats and most of the windows removed and large freight doors fitted. They were generally used for express and less-than-carload freight.12

See also

See also

References

References

  1. Hilton, George W.; Due, John F. (2000) [1960]. The Electric Interurban Railways in America. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. ISBN 0-8047-4014-3.
  2. Middleton, Wm (1964). The Interurban Era. Milwaukee, WI: Kalmbach Publishing. ASIN B0007EUU3G.