Central Vermont Freight Cars

The Central Vermont Railway rostered a relatively small but diverse fleet of boxcars in the late 1960s and 1970s, many of them acquired specifically for newsprint traffic. Built by several manufacturers, including National Steel Car, Berwick Forge & Fabricating, FMC, and Southern Iron & Equipment Co., the cars were delivered in both standard brown and distinctive special paint schemes. They were fitted with cushioned underframes, nailable steel floors, and other features suited to their assignments. The following images and notes document representative examples of each series, along with a summary of the fleet and available n scale models.

Central Vermont Railway boxcar CV 50070 photographed on Canadian Pacific at Toronto, Ontario, in September 1991 by Doug Stark. Built by Berwick Forge & Fabricating between July and October 1974 (Lot 30500), this 5,277 cu ft AAR type B209/XP boxcar had an inside length of 50 ft 6 in and an outside length of 57 ft 10 in. Load limit ranged from 194,800 to 196,900 lb with a light weight of 66,100–68,800 lb, giving a gross weight of 263,000–265,000 lb. Equipped with cushioned underframes for newsprint service, CV 50070 was part of the standard brown-painted series, in contrast to the five white cars (50095–50099). The series entered service in October 1974 and remained in use until April 2021. © Doug Stark

Central Vermont Railway boxcar CV 50097 photographed at Waterville, Maine by George Melvin. Built by Berwick Forge & Fabricating between July and October 1974 (Lot 30500), this 5,277 cu ft AAR type B209/XP boxcar had an inside length of 50 ft 6 in and an outside length of 57 ft 10 in. Load limit ranged from 194,800 to 196,900 lb with a light weight of 66,100–68,800 lb, giving a gross weight of 263,000–265,000 lb. Equipped with a cushioned underframe for newsprint service, this example was one of five cars (50095–50099) delivered in the distinctive white scheme with green lettering and logo, unlike the standard brown finish of the rest of the series. © George Melvin

Central Vermont Railway boxcar CV 50099 photographed at Bayview Junction on 23 June 1989 by Keith Maccauley. Built by Berwick Forge & Fabricating in August 1974, this 5,277 cu ft car was one of the final five in the 50000–50099 series delivered in a distinctive white paint scheme, unlike the remainder of the series which were standard brown. © Keith MacCauley

Central Vermont Railway boxcar CVC 402243 photographed in September 1978 by Guy Wicksall. One of 500 newsprint cars built new by National Steel Car between February and April 1969, this 5,092 cu ft AAR type A405/XM boxcar had an inside length of 50 ft 6 in and an outside length of 57 ft 10 in. Load limit ranged from 158,600 to 159,900 lb with a light weight of 60,100–61,400 lb, giving a gross weight of 220,000 lb. The car was fitted with a 20 in travel cushion underframe and strap anchors for newsprint service. The yellow door denoted CN newsprint assignment, while green doors were used for lumber service. © Guy Wicksall

Central Vermont Railway boxcar CV 600110 photographed in February 1984. Built by FMC in 1979 as part of the 600100–600199 series, these 5,347 cu ft cars had an inside length of 50 ft 6 in and were equipped for general service. © DPS Collection

Central Vermont Railway boxcar CV 600103 photographed on BNSF at Galesburg, Illinois, on 24 June 2000 by Doug Stark. Built by FMC in April 1979, this 5,347 cu ft car had an inside length of 50 ft 6 in. © Doug Stark

Central Vermont Railway boxcar CV 600132 photographed at Binghamton, New York, on 1 March 1986 by Richard Louderback. Built by FMC in 1978, this car was part of the 600100–600199 series. © Mike Rose Collection

Central Vermont Railway boxcar CV 600170 photographed at Hamilton, Ontario, on 17 November 1990. Built by FMC in September 1979, this 5,344 cu ft car had an inside length of 50 ft 6 in, hydraulic draft gear, and nailable steel floors. © Keith MacCauley

Central Vermont Railway boxcar CV 600174 photographed in July 1983 by George Povall. Built by FMC in 1979 as part of the 600100–600199 series, these 5,347 cu ft cars had an inside length of 50 ft 6 in and were equipped for general service. *© Mike Rose Collection*

Central Vermont Railway boxcar CV 600298 photographed in 1981 by Tim O’Connor. Built by FMC in September 1979, this 5,344 cu ft car had an inside length of 50 ft 6 in, hydraulic draft gear, and nailable steel floors. Transferred to the Bangor & Aroostook in 1984, it was renumbered into the 5300–5399 series. © Tim O’Connor

Central Vermont Railway boxcar CV 600403 photographed on Canadian Pacific at London, Ontario, on 3 April 1993. Built by Southern Iron & Equipment Co. in May 1978 as part of NSL series 155009–155027, this 5,277 cu ft car had an inside length of 50 ft 6 in, 20 in travel cushion underframes, and strap anchors for newsprint service. Acquired by CV in mid-1981 and numbered 600400–600427, the series remained in service until early 2002. © Doug Stark

Nos.	Type	Notes
CV 50000–50099	50′ Berwick 5277 Boxcar	Built Jul–Oct 1974 by Berwick Forge & Fabricating (Lot 30500). AAR type B209, mechanical design XP. Inside length 50 ft 6 in; outside length 57 ft 10 in. Capacity 5,277 cu ft. Load limit 194,800–196,900 lb; light weight 66,100–68,800 lb; gross weight 263,000–265,000 lb. Equipped with cushioned underframes for newsprint service. Five cars (50095–50099) delivered in distinctive white scheme; remainder standard brown. In service 10/1974–4/2021.
CVC 402000–402499	50′ NSC 5092 Boxcar	Built Feb–Apr 1969 by National Steel Car. AAR type A405, mechanical design XM. Inside length 50 ft 6 in; outside length 57 ft 10 in. Capacity 5,092 cu ft. Load limit 158,600–159,900 lb; light weight 60,100–61,400 lb; gross weight 220,000 lb. Fitted with 20″ travel cushion underframes and strap anchors for newsprint service. In service 1/1969–7/2009.
CVC 402500–402999	50′ NSC 5092 Boxcar	Built Feb–Apr 1970 by National Steel Car. AAR type A405, mechanical design XM. Dimensions as above (IL 50′6″, OL 57′10″, 5,092 cu ft). Gross weight 220,000 lb. In service 4/1970–7/2016. Like the 402000-series, assigned primarily to newsprint.
CV 600100-600124	50′ FMC 5347 Boxcar	Built Apr 1979 by FMC. Inside length 52 ft 6 in; 5,347 cu ft. Equipped with hydraulic draft gear and nailable steel floors. In service 10/1979–10/2005.
CV 600125–600199	50′ FMC 5344 Boxcar	Built Sep 1979 by FMC. Inside length 50 ft 6 in; 5,344 cu ft. Hydraulic draft gear, nailable steel floors. In service 1/1980–10/2005.
CV 600200–600299	50′ FMC 5344 Boxcar	Built Sep 1979 by FMC. Inside length 50 ft 6 in; 5,344 cu ft. Hydraulic draft gear, nailable steel floors. To BAR as 5300–5399 series in 1984.
CV 600400–600427	50′ SIECO 5277 Boxcar	Built May 1978 by SIECO, acquired ex-NSL 155009–155027 (and possibly others). Inside length 50 ft 6 in; 5,277 cu ft. 20″ travel cushion underframes, strap anchors, assigned to newsprint service. In service 7/1981–1/2002.

50000–50099 (Berwick Forge & Fabricating 50′ Boxcars, built 1974)

(no models identified yet – Roundhouse and Micro-Tains/The Freight Yard are generic boxcars)

402000–402499 (NSC 50′ Boxcars, built 1969)

402000 — True Line Trains (600025)
402005 — True Line Trains (600051)
402015 — True Line Trains (600055)
402144 — True Line Trains (600022)
402183 — True Line Trains (600054)
402184 — True Line Trains (600025)
402202 — True Line Trains (600022)
402205 — True Line Trains (600053)
402359 — True Line Trains (600023)
402368 — True Line Trains (600024)
402388 — True Line Trains (600025)
402421 — True Line Trains (600026)
402492 — True Line Trains (600052)
402494 — True Line Trains (600022)
402497 — True Line Trains (600050)
402561 — True Line Trains (600027)

402500–402999 (NSC 50′ Boxcars, built 1970)

(no models identified yet)

600100–600199 (FMC 50′ Boxcars, 1979–80)

600103 — Fox Valley (80312)
600128 — Fox Valley (80313)
600138 — Athearn (25473)
600157 — Athearn (25474)

600200–600299 (FMC 5344 50′ Boxcars, built 1979; to BAR 1984)

(no models identified yet)

600400–600427 (SIECO 5277 50′ Boxcars, ex-NSL, built 1978, acquired 1981)

(no models identified yet)

More Information

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

http://www.nakina.net/cdn/cv.html

Epilogue

Central Vermont’s boxcars reflected both the road’s modest size and its integration into the wider Canadian National system. The dedicated newsprint cars served a vital role in moving one of New England’s most important commodities, while the general-service FMC cars broadened the fleet’s utility. By the early 2000s, most had been retired, sold, or repainted into CN colours, but a handful survived in service until as late as 2021. For modellers and historians alike, these cars remain a distinctive part of CV’s identity — instantly recognisable whether in standard boxcar brown or the rare white-and-green scheme.