Bangor and Aroostook Freight Cars

The Bangor & Aroostook’s freight car fleet was closely tied to the traffic that sustained the railroad: potatoes, pulpwood, paper, and other forest products. Unlike larger systems with broad industrial traffic, the BAR’s roster developed around the needs of northern Maine, and that gave it a character all its own. Boxcars and refrigerator cars became the best-known elements of the fleet, but flats, pulpwood cars, and later woodchip conversions were just as important to the everyday work of the railroad.

By the 1940s, boxcars made up the largest single group of cars on the roster, while refrigerator cars rose steadily in importance as potato traffic expanded. Much of the early fleet was still wooden, but over time the BAR rebuilt, renumbered, retired, and replaced older stock with steel cars better suited to interchange and modern service. The result was a fleet that was practical rather than uniform, shaped by local traffic and adapted repeatedly as the needs of Maine industry changed.

Boxcars

Boxcars formed the backbone of the Bangor & Aroostook freight fleet. In the 1940s, they accounted for roughly three-quarters of all BAR freight cars, carrying paper, potatoes, merchandise, and a wide range of general traffic. Early cars included a mixture of wooden and steel-underframe designs, but over time the BAR moved steadily towards more modern all-steel construction.

The BAR’s boxcar fleet was closely tied to paper, potatoes, and forest products. Some insulated cars were equipped with plug doors and underslung charcoal heaters for winter potato traffic, while others were rebuilt for loose bulk potato loading with sloped floors and conveyor systems. Even within the better-known “State of Maine” fleet, the cars were far from uniform.

These cars also became the best-known on the roster. Before the introduction of the red, white, and blue “State of Maine Products” scheme, BAR boxcars were generally painted boxcar red with white lettering. From the early 1950s onwards, however, they became some of the most recognisable freight cars in North America, advertising both the railroad and the state it served.

In 1977, the Bangor & Aroostook began what became a long series of purchases of second-hand exterior-post boxcars. The first 75 cars, numbered BAR 9500–9574, came from the Milwaukee Road, while BAR 9575–9674 came from the Minnesota, Dakota & Western in 1977 and 1981, respectively. Built by FMC in 1975 and 1979, these cars marked a later phase in the development of the BAR boxcar fleet, showing the railroad’s willingness to acquire relatively modern second-hand equipment rather than rely solely on older home-road cars. A few were repainted International Orange in the late 1970s, but most retained their faded light blue scheme until being repainted dark green in the mid-1980s.

Bangor and Aroostook insulated boxcar BAR 10 stands in a freight consist at Selkirk, New York, on 26 August 1978. The distinctive blue scheme with large BAR emblem marks the railroad’s paper and forest products traffic. © Jack D. Kuiphoff

Bangor and Aroostook insulated boxcar 2552, one of the “IB” cars modified for bulk potato service with internal conveyors, seen at Oakfield, Maine, on 12 April 1972. These cars were adapted from the “State of Maine Products” fleet to handle loose potatoes, reflecting the railroad’s close ties to Maine’s agricultural traffic. © George Melvin

Bangor & Aroostook Railroad 50ft 6in box car No. 10126, part of series 10000–10349 built by American Car & Foundry (Lot 01-5084) in November–December 1957, seen at Little Ferry, New Jersey, on 31 January 1974. © Jim Gavin

Bangor and Aroostook boxcar 10306, an XM car built in November 1957, stands in the New York Central yard at Findlay, Ohio in June 1958. Only eight months old, the car still carries its factory-fresh finish, representative of the new ACF-built fleet introduced for paper and forest products traffic. © Dale DeVene Sr.

Bangor and Aroostook boxcar 10456, from the 10450–10490 series of 50ft cars with roof hatches, fitted with a replacement door from a former “State of Maine” red, white and blue car. The contrast between the standard boxcar red body and the repurposed door highlights the practical maintenance and parts interchange common on the BAR. © Harley Kuehl

Bangor and Aroostook boxcar 6398, from the 6300–6499 series built by Pullman-Standard (Lot 8982) in January–February 1965, seen in the distinctive “State of Maine” red, white and blue scheme. These cars were widely associated with the railroad’s paper and agricultural traffic and became some of its most recognisable rolling stock. © Alan S Gaines

Bangor and Aroostook insulated boxcar 6448, from the Pullman-Standard Lot 8982 series built January–February 1965, seen in the distinctive “State of Maine Products” red, white and blue scheme. These cars were among the most recognisable on the railroad, promoting Maine’s paper and agricultural traffic. © Gary A. Rich

Bangor and Aroostook boxcar 6921, from the 6800–6999 series, built by General American in 1966. © Alan S Gaines

Bangor & Aroostook Railroad 50ft 6in box car No. 5903, part of the 5800–5999 series built by Berwick Forge & Fabricating in early 1972, seen at St-Luc, Quebec, on 20 April 1973. This example carries the short-lived red, white, and blue version of the triangle-logo scheme applied to the upper part of the series. © Jacques Bélanger

Bangor & Aroostook Railroad 50ft 6in box car No. 5921, part of series 5800–5999 built by Berwick Forge & Fabricating (Lot 16400-1) between January and March 1972, seen at West Colton, California, on 12 January 1978. © Craig Walker

Bangor & Aroostook Railroad 50ft 6in exterior-post box car No. 4546, part of the 4500–4582 series built by Berwick Forge & Fabricating in September 1981. These International Orange cars, delivered with the white triangle logo, were among the last new boxcars constructed for the BAR. Many were later repainted solid orange without a logo during the early 1990s. © Larry Goss

Bangor & Aroostook Railroad 50ft box car No. 9000, part of the 9000–9034 series rebuilt from earlier ACF-built cars of the 10000-series in 1971. Believed to have been photographed freshly repainted at Derby Shops for publicity use, this was among the first BAR boxcars to appear in the new International Orange scheme with black ends. © Joey Kelley Collection

Bangor & Aroostook Railroad 50ft 6in box car No. 5685, part of series 5600–5749 built by Berwick Forge & Fabricating (Lot 46900) in September 1981, seen at Hiland, California, on 29 December 1983. © Ron Hawkins

Bangor & Aroostook Railroad 50ft 6in exterior-post box car No. 5729, part of the 5600–5749 series built by Berwick Forge & Fabricating in September 1981. These International Orange cars with the white triangle logo were the last new boxcars delivered to the BAR. Many were later repainted solid orange without a logo during the early 1990s. © Larry Goss

Bangor and Aroostook boxcar 8890, seen in red livery with large BAR lettering, representative of the railroad’s general service fleet handling paper and forest products traffic. © Harley Kuehl

Bangor and Aroostook 50ft boxcar 9204, from the 9200–9249 series, rebuilt in 1977–78 from ACF-built 1957 cars (originally 10000-series), seen in fresh red livery with large BAR emblem in August 1981. These 50ft 6in cars, with 9ft doors, were part of the railroad’s modernised fleet for paper and forest products traffic. © Chuck Zeiler

Bangor and Aroostook 50ft boxcar 9211, from the 9200–9249 series rebuilt in 1977–78 from ACF-built 1957 cars (originally the 10000 series), stands in the former Monon yard at Hammond, Indiana, on 1 January 1978. The vivid red livery with large BAR emblem contrasts with winter conditions, highlighting the modernised fleet used in the paper and forest products service. © Bill Johnson

Bangor and Aroostook boxcar 9618, from the 9575–9674 series acquired from the Minnesota, Dakota and Western in 1981, seen in service following transfer to BAR. Cars like these supplemented the fleet during a period of sustained paper and forest products traffic. © Larry Goss

Bangor and Aroostook boxcar 9664, from the 9575–9674 series acquired from the Minnesota, Dakota and Western in 1981, originally built by FMC Corporation in 1979. Cars like these supplemented the BAR fleet during a period of sustained paper and forest products traffic. © Larry Goss

Nos.	Type	Notes
BAR 20	40′ Box Car
BAR 71–72	40′ Box Car
BAR 2000–2299	40′ Box Car	Built by Magor Car Corp., these 40ft insulated boxcars were fitted with plug doors and underslung charcoal heaters for winter potato traffic, with off-season use carrying paper products. They were delivered in the distinctive “State of Maine” scheme. From the late 1950s, a number were repainted solid red with the winged red, white, and blue shield, followed in the early 1960s by the standard boxcar red livery with large “BAR” lettering. Some cars were rebuilt for bulk potato handling with V-shaped floors and conveyor systems, becoming the 2500 series. By the early 1970s, most of the 2000 series had been converted into woodchip gondolas, renumbered into the 3700 and 3800 series and repainted forest green with the white triangle logo. A small number survived into the late 1970s in plain red, assigned to a dedicated Great Northern Paper service at Millinocket, likely for wood pulp transfer between mills.
BAR 2300–2449	40′ Box Car	Built by Pacific Car & Foundry.
BAR 2500–2579	40′ Insulated Box Car / Bulk Potato Car	Eighty cars rebuilt from the 2300–2449 series with 30-degree sloped floors and conveyors for loose potato and other bulk commodity traffic. Reclassified RBLH. Sixty-eight remained on the roster in July 1976, but only 15 by October 1978. Gone by January 1981.
BAR 3000–3099	40′ Box Car	xxxx; xx/19xx
BAR 4000–4499	40′ Box Car	AC&F (Lot 4195); 3/1954
BAR 4500–4504	40′ Box Car; PS-1	Pullman-Standard (Lot 8160A); 2/1954
BAR 4510–4516	40′ Box Car	xxxx; xx/19xx
BAR 4517–4521	40′ Box Car	xxxx; xx/19xx
BAR 4600–4603	40′ Box Car; roof hatches	xxxx; xx/19xx
BAR 5000–5499	40′ Box Car	Ex BAR 65000–65499. Magor-built 1932 AAR design all-steel boxcars, delivered 6/1938. Renumbered in the early 1950s. Many later repainted into the large BAR scheme; some survived in Maintenance of Way service.
BAR 5500–5549	40′ Box Car	Ex BAR 65500–65549. Magor Car Corp. (Lot W710); 2/1945.
BAR 5550–5649	40′ Box Car	Ex BAR 65550–65649. Magor Car Corp. (Lot W895); 12/1945.
BAR 5109–5199	50′ Box Car	Ex NS; nee ITC 5390–5489
BAR 5500–5599	50′ Box Car	Ex LVRC 5050–5399
BAR 5600–5749	50′ Box Car	Berwick Forge & Fabricating (Lot 46900); 9/1981. International Orange exterior-post cars with white triangle logo, among the last new boxcars built for the BAR. Many later repainted solid orange without logo.
BAR 5800–5999	50′ Box Car	Berwick Forge & Fabricating (Lot 16400-1); 1–3/1972. Upper part of the series carried the short-lived red, white and blue triangle-logo scheme.
BAR 6000–6029	50′ Box Car	Pullman-Standard (Lot 8689); 6/1962
BAR 6030–6059	50′ Box Car	Pullman-Standard (Lot 8690); 6/1962
BAR 6100–6224	50′ Box Car	Pullman-Standard (Lot 8821); 8–9/1963. Cars 6200–6224 were delivered with solid-bearing rather than roller-bearing trucks.
BAR 6300–6499	50′ Box Car	Pullman-Standard (Lot 8982); 1–2/1965. Widely seen in the “State of Maine Products” red, white and blue scheme.
BAR 6500–6699	50′ Box Car	Pullman-Standard (Lot 9099); 8/1966
BAR 6700–6794	50′ Box Car	Pullman-Standard (Lot 9465); 3/1970
BAR 6795–6799	50′ Box Car	Pullman-Standard (Lot 9465A); 3/1970?
BAR 6800–6999	50′ Box Car	General American; 1966
BAR 8734–8742	50′ Box Car	Ex BAR 6300–6499
BAR 8800–8822	50′ Box Car	Ex BAR 6100–6224. Many rebuilt in 1983 with new cushion draft gear and renumbered into the 8800 series. By about 1978, repaints began receiving orange rather than black ends.
BAR 8874–8877	50′ Box Car	Ex BAR 6100–6224
BAR 9000–9034	50′ Box Car	Rebuilt 1971 from ACF-built 10000-series cars. Among the first BAR boxcars in International Orange with black ends.
BAR 9050–9099	50′ Box Car	Rebuilt 1981–82 from the 6800–6999 series, with roof hatches for grain loading and in some cases a single plug door replacing double doors. Some were later repainted into a revived red, white and blue scheme.
BAR 9100–9149	50′ Box Car	Rebuilt 1975–76 from ACF-built 10000-series cars.
BAR 9200–9249	50′ Box Car	Rebuilt 1977–78 from ACF-built 10000-series cars. 50ft 6in cars with 9ft doors, part of the modernised fleet for paper and forest products traffic.
BAR 9500–9574	50′ Box Car	Second-hand exterior-post boxcars acquired in 1977 from the Milwaukee Road. Built by FMC in 1975. A few were repainted International Orange in the late 1970s; most retained faded light blue until repainted dark green in the mid-1980s.
BAR 9575–9674	50′ Box Car	Second-hand exterior-post boxcars acquired in 1981 from the Minnesota, Dakota & Western. Built by FMC in 1979.
BAR 9700–9888	50′ Box Car	Ex CPLT 7750–7849 and A&MR 1000–1099
BAR 10000–10349	50′ Box Car	ACFI (Lot 01-5084); 11–12/1957. 50ft 6in, 50-ton cars with 9ft doors and 4,922 cu ft capacity.
BAR 10350–10399	50′ Box Car	AC&F; xx/1957
BAR 10400–10407	50′ Box Car	AC&F; xx/1962–63
BAR 10410–10418	50′ Box Car	AC&F; xx/1965
BAR 10450–10490	50′ Box Car; roof hatches	xxxx; xx/19xx
BAR 12000–12004	40′ Box Car; insulated	xxxx; x/19xx
BAR 24011–24147	50′ Box Car	Ex D&H 24001–24150
BAR 65000–65499	40′ Box Car	Magor Car Corp. (Lot P9150); 6/1938. 1932 AAR design, 4/5 Dreadnaught ends and 6ft Youngstown doors; renumbered to 5000–5499 in the early 1950s.
BAR 65500–65549	40′ Box Car	Magor Car Corp. (Lot W710); 2/1945
BAR 65550–65649	40′ Box Car	Magor Car Corp. (Lot W895); 12/1945

Covered Hoppers

Numbers	Type	Description
BAR 1–99		Originally 5000–5099 (Magor 1947); converted 1960 to standard pulp racks 1502–1599.
BAR 60-68	Dry-Flo Hopper	ex GACX 501xx-501xx; 1977
BAR 69-73	Dry-Flo Hopper	ex GACX; 1980
BAR 94-99	50′ Reefers	xxxx; 19xx
BAR 100-149	50′ Reefers	xxxx; 19xx
BAR 250-299	50′ Reefers	xxxx; 19xx
BAR 500-599	Pulpwood Flat; side frame	ex BAR 4500-4599
BAR 1600-1714	Pulpwood Flat	Magor (Lot W-3605); 8/1956
BAR 1715-1864	Pulpwood Flat	Magor (Lot W-4275); 9/1958
BAR 2300-2449	40′ Box Car	xxxx; xx/19xx – Eastern Seaboard Models? Built by Pacific Car & Foundry
BAR 2500-2579
BAR 4000-4499	40′ Box Car
BAR 4500-4599	Pulpwood Flat; side frame	Greenville Steel Car Co.; 6/1938
BAR 4500-4504	40′ Box Car; PS-1	PS (Lot 8160A); 2/1954
BAR 4510-4516	40′ Box Car	xxxx; xx/19xx
BAR 4517-4521	40′ Box Car	xxxx; xx/19xx
BAR 4500-4582
BAR 4600-4603	40′ Box Car; roof hatches	xxxx; xx/19xx
BAR 5000-5499	40′ Box Car	ex BAR 65000-65499 https://www.protocraft.com/category.cfm?ItemID=1144&Categoryid=20 The Bangor & Aroostook’s first all-steel boxcars were purchased from Magor Car Corp. in 1938 and 1945. These 1932 AAR design cars were in use through the 1960s and most were repainted in the then current “large BAR” scheme as shown. Originally numbered in the 65000 series the “6” was eliminated in the early 1950s and a few were also renumbered into the 3000 series. The cars were stored during the 1970s although several survived in Maintenance of Way service.
BAR 5109-5199	50′ Box Car	ex NS; nee ITC 5390-5489
BAR 5500-5549	40′ Box Car	ex BAR 65500-65549
BAR 5550-5649	40′ Box Car	ex BAR 65550-65649
BAR 5500-5599	50′ Box Car	ex LVRC 5050-5399
BAR 5600-5749	50′ Box Car	BF&F (Lot 46900); 09/1981 – Athearn? Models: BAR 5697 Athearn 10931 ★, BAR 5699 Athearn 6753 ★, BAR 5705 Athearn 6754 ★, BAR 5717 Athearn 6755 ★, BAR 5722 Athearn 10932 ★
BAR 5800-5999	50′ Box Car	BF&F (Lot 16400-1); 1-3/1972
BAR 6000-6029	50′ Box Car	PS (Lot 8689); 6/1962 – Athearn?
BAR 6030-6059	50′ Box Car	PS (Lot 8690); 6/1962
BAR 6100-6224	50′ Box Car	PS (Lot 8821); 8-9/1963. 6200-6224 were delivered with solid bearing instead of roller bearing trucks.
BAR 6300-6499	50′ Box Car	PS (Lot 8982); 1-2/1965 Photos: Models: BAR 6316 Athearn 14171 ★, BAR 6358 Athearn 14172 ★, BAR 6460 Athearn 2804 ★, BAR 6462 Athearn 2805 ★, BAR 6465 Athearn 2806 ★
BAR 6500-6699	50′ Box Car	PS (Lot 9099); 8/1966
BAR 6700-6794	50′ Box Car	PS (Lot 9465); 3/1970
BAR 6795-6799	50′ Box Car	PS (Lot 9465A); 3/1970?
BAR 6800-6999	50′ Box Car	General American; 1966
BAR 8734-8742	50′ Box Car	ex BAR 6300-6499
BAR 8800-8822	50′ Box Car	ex BAR 6100-6224. In 1983 many of the 6000-6224 series cars were completely rebuilt with new cushion draft gear and renumbered to the 8800 series. Some time in 1978 box car repaints began receiving orange instead of black ends.
BAR 8874-8877	50′ Box Car	ex BAR 6100-6224
BAR 9000-9034	50′ Box Car	ex BAR 10000-10***; rblt 1971
BAR 9050-9099	50′ Box Car	ex BAR 6800-6999; rblt 1981-1982 with roof hatches for grain loading and a single plug door. In 1981 the Bangor & Aroostook rebuilt a few of the 6800-series General American boxcars with roof hatches for grain service. Some cars had their double doors replaced with a single one. These cars were numbered in the 9060 series and later were repainted into a new version of the original red, white, and blue boxcar scheme. Number 9060 is a good example of the salmon color that International Orange often faded to.
BAR 9100-9149	50′ Box Car	ex BAR 10000-10***; rblt 1975-1976
BAR 9200-9249	50′ Box Car	ex BAR 10000-10***; rblt 1977-1978
BAR 9500-9574	50′ Box Car	Ex Milwaukee Road in 1975. FMC corp xxxx; xx/19xx
BAR 9575-9674	50′ Box Car	Ex Minnesota, Dakota and Western in 1981 built by FMC Corp. in 1979.
BAR 9700-9888	50′ Box Car	ex CPLT 7750-7849 + A&MR 1000-1099
BAR 10000-10349	50′ Box Car	AC&F (Lot 01-5084); 11-12/1957. These 50′-6″, 50 ton, box cars were built by ACFI (Lot 01-5084) in 11-12/1957. They featured 9′ doors and 4922 ft3 capacity. – InterMountain?
BAR 10350-10399	50′ Box Car	AC&F; xx/1957
BAR 10400-10407	50′ Box Car	AC&F; xx/1962-1963
BAR 10410-10418	50′ Box Car	AC&F; xx/1965
BAR 10450-10490	50′ Box Car; roof hatches	xxxx; xx/19xx
BAR 11000-11049	50′ Reefers	xxxx; 19xx
BAR 11100-11149	50′ Reefers	PC&F; 6/1970 – Athearn?
BAR 12000-12004	40′ Box Car; insulated	xxxx; x/19xx
BAR 24011-24147	50′ Box Car	ex D&H 24001-24150
BAR 65000-65499	40′ Box Car	MCC (Lot P9150); 6/1938
BAR 65500-65549	40′ Box Car	MCC (Lot W710); 2/1945
BAR 65550-65649	40′ Box Car	MCC (Lot W895); 12/1945

Refrigerator Cars

Refrigerator cars were central to the BAR’s identity and to its potato traffic. As one of Maine’s major agricultural products, potatoes generated a huge seasonal movement, and the BAR developed a large fleet of reefers to handle it. By 1970, refrigerator cars made up around one-third of the freight car roster, showing just how important that traffic had become.

Bangor & Aroostook refrigerator car No. 232, from the 150–249 series built by Pacific Car & Foundry in 1964, is seen at West Colton. Cars of this class formed part of the BAR’s core potato traffic fleet, designed to handle perishable loads moving from Maine to distant markets. © Ron Hawkins

BAR used its refrigerator cars as ventilated cars during the potato shipping season in the autumn and winter, allowing airflow while protecting the crop from freezing. Outside that period, many of these cars were leased to Pacific Fruit Express, where they were used in conventional iced refrigerator service.

Visually, these were among the most distinctive BAR cars. The railroad’s mechanical refrigerator cars, with their bright orange sides and bold black reporting marks, were instantly recognisable. They were built not simply to look smart, but because the potato business demanded large numbers of dependable, insulated and refrigerated cars capable of moving a perishable crop to distant markets.

Bangor & Aroostook refrigerator car No. 11024, from the 11000–11049 series built by Pacific Car & Foundry in December 1967, stands at Fresno. These mechanical refrigerator cars were part of the BAR’s later fleet for handling potato traffic, reflecting the railroad’s reliance on long-distance, temperature-sensitive movements from Maine to markets across North America. © Steven Vincent

Nos.	Type	Notes
BAR 94–99	50′ Refrigerator
BAR 100–149	50′ Refrigerator
BAR 150–249	50′ Refrigerator	Built by Pacific Car & Foundry, 1964.
BAR 250–299	50′ Refrigerator
BAR 8600–8697	40′ Refrigerator; ice-bunker	Built 1939. Early cars for perishable traffic prior to widespread mechanical refrigeration.
BAR 8700–8749	40′ Refrigerator; ice-bunker
BAR 11000–11049	50′ Refrigerator	Built by Pacific Car & Foundry; 1967.
BAR 11100–11149	50′ Refrigerator	Built by Pacific Car & Foundry; June 1970.

Flat Cars

Flat cars were an important part of the BAR fleet in the earlier years, making up more than fifteen percent of freight cars in 1940. Their share fell sharply over time, but they remained useful for loads that did not fit easily into enclosed cars, including machinery, timber, and other bulky traffic.

The BAR roster included several series of 40ft steel-underframe flats, many of them dating back to the 1920s. Renumberings, rebuildings, and retirements altered the fleet repeatedly, so flat cars can look slightly confusing on paper, but they were a steady if less glamorous part of the railroad’s freight operation.

Pulpwood Cars

Pulpwood was one of the Bangor & Aroostook’s major on-line traffics, and the fleet reflected that. The railroad served a region where the forest products industry dominated, so cars for hauling short pulpwood logs were a constant necessity. These were workaday vehicles rather than showpieces, but they were fundamental to the BAR’s business.

As with other northeastern roads, pulpwood equipment often evolved through rebuilding and adaptation rather than through entirely new standard designs. Strength mattered more than appearance, and these cars were expected to stand up to rough loading, hard use, and the demands of mill traffic.

Woodchip Cars

Woodchip traffic on the Bangor & Aroostook developed as a natural extension of the state’s pulp and paper industry, creating demand for cars capable of handling large volumes of lightweight material. As mills increasingly processed waste timber into chips, the railroad needed equipment that prioritised capacity rather than strength, in contrast to the heavy four-foot logs carried in pulpwood service.

To meet this need, the BAR converted large numbers of redundant 40ft boxcars into woodchip carriers. These conversions typically involved removing the roof and increasing the effective capacity of the body, while retaining the original underframe. Many cars continued to show clear signs of their origins, including plug doors or conventional sliding doors, now incorporated into open-topped, high-sided bodies.

As with other parts of the BAR fleet, this was a practical, cost-driven solution rather than a standardised new-build design. The resulting cars could appear ungainly, but they were well-suited to the low-density, high-volume nature of woodchip traffic.

By the late 1970s, woodchip traffic had become a major part of the railroad’s business, with hundreds of these converted cars on the roster. They often ran in long blocks, their tall, open sides making them instantly recognisable among more conventional freight stock.

Bangor and Aroostook boxcar 3448 stands at Northern Maine Junction, Maine, on 17 August 1990, part of the railroad’s working fleet during its later years of independent operation. © Alan S Gaines

Bangor and Aroostook wood chip car 3541, converted from a former boxcar for pulpwood and paper industry traffic, stands near the coaling tower at Northern Maine Junction, Hermon, Maine, on 9 July 1980. Conversions like this were a practical adaptation of older boxcars to suit the railroad’s core forest products business. © Joe Lewnard

Bangor and Aroostook wood chip gondola 3608, from the 3700-series conversions of former 1950–53 Magor-built insulated boxcars, stands in service handling forest products traffic. Cars like this were rebuilt from the earlier “State of Maine” fleet as the railroad moved towards bulk woodchip movements, with traffic associated particularly with the Millinocket paper mills. © Larry Goss

Bangor and Aroostook woodchip car 3638, converted from a former 40ft insulated boxcar of the 1950–53 Magor-built fleet, stands at Derby on 28 September 1978. By this stage, many of the former “State of Maine” cars had been rebuilt into high-sided chip gondolas for forest products traffic and repainted in green with the white BAR triangle logo. © Richard Merriam

Bangor and Aroostook wood chip gondola 3841, from the 3800-series conversions of former 1950–53 Magor-built insulated boxcars, stands in service handling forest products traffic. Cars like this were rebuilt from the earlier “State of Maine” fleet as the railroad shifted towards bulk woodchip movements. Photograph © Larry Goss

Nos.	Type	Notes
BAR 3500-
BAR 3700-	Woodchip Car	Ex BAR 2000–2499
BAR 3800-	Woodchip Car	Ex BAR 2000–2499

From 1922 through 1924, the BAR built 600 36″ boxcars of the Howe Truss design with an inside height of 8′-1″, in their Derby, Maine shops, as Series 9800-10399. Between November 1927 and October 1930, BAR’s Derby, Maine shops built 600 of the new ARA XM-1 Pratt Truss single-sheathed boxcars. These cars had an inside height of 8′-7″ and were assigned Series 61000-61599. In 1951, 234 cars were renumbered into the 1000-1399 Series, and in 1955, additional cars were renumbered into Series 3000-3199 for newsprint service. An additional 100 cars were fitted with pulpwood racks and renumbered to 3500-3599. Decal sheet designed and created at Protocraft Decals.

https://protocraft.com/category.cfm?Itemid=227&Categoryid=20

The Bangor & Maine Railroad ordered 650 1932 ARA design boxcars with an inside height of 9′-2″ and dimensions to specifically accommodate their newsprint customers and the roll size. Lettering on the side noticed other railroads that these cars were to be loaded with newsprint only. The cars were built by the Magor Car Corporation in 3 lots and delivered as follows: Series 65000-65499, 500 cars, delivered June 1938 Series 65500-65549, 50 cars, delivered February 1945 Series 65500-65649, 100 cars, delivered in 1945 (Note: In 1954, the first digit was dropped, effectively renumbering the series as 5000-5649) Initially delivered with BANGOR & AROOSTOOK spelt out, in August 1949, the cars went through a repaint schedule that employed the new ‘shield’ monogram. In 1948, the round medallion was used but was soon dropped, and the cars were repainted again with the ‘shield’ monogram. In mid-1950s, many of these cars were repainted with the red, white and blue banner “STATE OF MAINE PRODUCTS scheme.

https://protocraft.com/category.cfm?Itemid=249&Categoryid=20

8700-8799 36′ Steel centre sill underframe

60000-60099 36′ Steel centre sill underframe

60500-60699 36′ Steel centre sill underframe, renumbered in 1952 to 8500-8649 retired by 1955.

65000-65499 Magor Car Company with 4×5 Dreadnaught ends and 6′ wide Youngstown doors to AAR’s 1932 design (Atlas?) in 1938. They were renumbered to 5000-5499 in 1952.

9800-10399 36′ Steel under-frame, became 9000-9999 series after 1952.

6500 from 1966

More Information

Sweetland, David R., and Stephen Horsley. Northern New England Color Guide to Freight & Passenger Equipment. Morning Sun Books, 1995.

Epilogue

The Bangor & Aroostook’s freight cars were never just a collection of stock numbers. They were a direct expression of the railroad’s territory and traffic. Potatoes needed refrigerator cars, forest products needed boxcars, pulpwood flats, and later woodchip conversions, and the BAR’s roster evolved accordingly.

That practical, traffic-led development is what gives the fleet its appeal. The famous “State of Maine” boxcars and orange reefers may be the stars, but they only make full sense when seen alongside the plainer working cars that supported the same economy. Taken together, BAR freight equipment tells the story of a railroad built to serve northern Maine, and of a fleet that changed as that traffic changed with it.