Nostalgia & History > Rio Grande's Cookie Boxcar

My favorite all-time boxcar for ANY railroad has to be Rio Grande's Cookie Boxcars, probably because of my great love of cookies. I used to fantasize that you would open the sliding door and cookies of all types would just pour out the door. :-)

I was lucky enough to catch a couple of these cars after they were placed in MofW service, including this on (DRGW 60024AX) at Glenwood Springs CO on September 7, 1988.

What I don't know is the real story behind these cars. Why were there specific boxcars dedicated to cookie service? Can anyone fill in the details?

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Haha, love the imagination! Love the boxcar!

Dedicated to the Keebler plant in Denver for shipping.

If you loaded that car with cookies, all you would have is crumbs at destination. Just a plain car without any load protection devices

Looks like it had a high ladder and runway on top. I wonder if it had a high brake wheel at the far end?

lwilton Wrote:
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> Looks like it had a high ladder and runway on top.
> I wonder if it had a high brake wheel at the far
> end?


No doubt it did

yup, high wheel at opposite end, same car

I shot it at Glenwood Springs also, mine on Aug. 7, 1986

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These cars according to Jim Eagers Rio Grande Color Guide book were originally built by Pressed Steel company (1940's IIRC) and were painted brown. Some of those 40' Pressed steel box cars were converted to "Cookie Boxes" to service Keebler Cookies. They were replaced in the 1960's with 50' plug door box cars painted grande gold/silver. I can provide more info at home when have the book in front of me. AFAIK, there is no plastic HO model that is correct for these Pressed Steel box cars, it would be a kit bash; most/all of the models are at best, stand-in's.

Cheers, Jim Fitch

zBolton Wrote:
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> Haha, love the imagination! Love the boxcar!

Yes, the fantasy is tremendous, tons of peanut butter and oatmeal raisin cookies!

hogantunnel Wrote:
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> zBolton Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Haha, love the imagination! Love the boxcar!
>
> Yes, the fantasy is tremendous, tons of peanut
> butter and oatmeal raisin cookies!


Oh yuch!! Raisins have no business being in cookies :-)