MDW. – Maine Paper Service, a group of MDW cars assigned to the Boise Cascade mill in Rumford. IIRC, some even had “return to…” stencilling on the cars. The MD&W was owned by Boise.
Boxcars
Minnesota Dakota & Western all-door boxcar No. 3019 stands at West Colton, California, on 3 March 1977. Built by Thrall in July 1971 as part of the MDW 3005-3054 series, these 51 ft 8 in inside-length cars featured four sliding doors, including an extra-wide door at one end, to facilitate the loading of lumber, plywood and other bulky forest products. Prominently lettered for Boise Cascade, cars like this ranged widely across North America in general freight service, making them familiar visitors to railroads far from their Midwestern owner. © Steve Vincent Minnesota Dakota & Western high-capacity boxcar No. 6046 is seen shortly after construction in 1979. Built by FMC in January 1979 as part of the MDW 6000-6099 series, these 50 ft 6 in inside-length, 6,150 cu ft Plate F boxcars featured wide plug doors and cushioned underframes for the transportation of paper and other damage-sensitive commodities. Assigned primarily to Maine Central paper service, the fleet regularly ranged throughout North America in interchange service. The distinctive green-and-white livery incorporated the Boise Cascade herald and would later evolve through a series of repaint variations as the cars aged. Photographer, date and location unknown. © Rick Selby Collection Minnesota Dakota & Western high-capacity boxcar No. 6098 is seen in interchange service following its construction by FMC in January 1979. One of the MDW 6000-6099 series, these 50 ft 6 in inside-length, 6,150 cu ft Plate F boxcars featured wide plug doors and cushioned underframes for the transportation of paper and other damage-sensitive commodities. Assigned primarily to Maine Central paper service, the fleet regularly ranged throughout North America in interchange service. This example remains in its original green-and-white Boise Cascade livery with the large MD&W initials and circular herald. Photographer, date and location unknown. © Rick Selby Collection Minnesota Dakota & Western boxcar No. 7059, carrying large Boise Cascade lettering, is seen in October 1983 at an unidentified location. Built by National Steel Car as part of the MDW 7000-series, these high-capacity boxcars were designed for paper and other damage-sensitive commodities in clean loading service. Unlike the contemporary FMC-built MD&W fleet, the NSC cars featured a distinctive smooth-sided body with a narrow sliding plug door and were intended for international interchange service. Assigned primarily to Maine Central paper traffic, they nevertheless ranged widely across North America. © Mike Rose Collection Minnesota Dakota & Western cushion service boxcar No. 8026 stands in fresh paint at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in January 1980. Built by FMC in November 1979 as part of the MDW 8000-8099 series, these 50 ft 6 in inside-length, Plate C boxcars featured a 10 ft plug door and cushioned underframe for the safe transportation of paper and other damage-sensitive commodities. Assigned primarily to Maine Central paper service, cars from this fleet carried return instructions to Rumford, Maine, but regularly ranged across North America in interchange service. Photo by Robert Eastwood. © Rick Selby Collection Minnesota Dakota & Western cushion service boxcar No. 8071 is seen at West Colton, California, on 20 February 1984. Built by FMC in late 1979 as part of the MDW 8000-8099 series, these 50 ft 6 in inside-length, Plate C boxcars were equipped with cushioned underframes to protect damage-sensitive loads during transit. The car carries prominent MD&W lettering and the railroad’s circular herald, while the reporting marks are stencilled with instructions to “Return to MEC Rumford, Maine,” reflecting the car’s assignment to paper traffic on the Maine Central. Cars of this type were common visitors across North America despite their regular service on the MEC. © Steve Vincent Minnesota Dakota & Western cushion service boxcar No. 8124 is seen in interchange service around 1980. Built by FMC in November 1979 as part of the MDW 8100-8199 series, these 50 ft 6 in inside-length, Plate C boxcars featured a wide plug door and cushioned underframe to protect paper and other damage-sensitive commodities. Assigned primarily to Maine Central paper service, the fleet carried return instructions to Rumford, Maine, while regularly roaming across North America in interchange service. This photograph also shows the original placement of the tack boards on the plug door, a feature later relocated to the left-hand side on many cars. © Doug Stark Collection Minnesota Dakota & Western cushion service boxcar No. 8188 crosses a grade crossing in March 1980, still carrying the pristine appearance of a car less than a year old. Built by FMC in November 1979 as part of the MDW 8100-series, these Plate C boxcars were equipped with a wide plug door and cushioned underframe for the transportation of paper and other damage-sensitive commodities. Assigned primarily to Maine Central paper service, the fleet carried return instructions to Rumford, Maine, yet regularly ranged throughout North America in interchange service. Photo by Robert Rivard. © Robert Rivard Collection Minnesota Dakota & Western boxcar No. 9013 is seen shortly after construction in late 1976, still wearing its original white-and-green paint scheme. Built by FMC in September 1976 as part of the MDW 9000-9099 series, these 50 ft 6 in inside length, 5,277 cu ft Plate C boxcars featured a 10 ft plug door and a cushioned underframe for the transportation of paper and other damage-sensitive commodities. Assigned primarily to Maine Central paper service, the fleet regularly ranged throughout North America in interchange service. This as-built livery, with its white body, green ends and door, large MD&W lettering and Boise Cascade herald, would later give way to a succession of revised paint schemes as the cars were repainted. Photographer, location and exact date unknown. © Rick Selby Collection Minnesota Dakota & Western boxcar No. 9042 is seen at Los Angeles, California, on 30 May 1977, less than a year after construction by FMC in September 1976. One of the MDW 9000-9099 series, these 50 ft 6 in inside-length Plate C boxcars featured a single sliding door and carried the railroad’s distinctive green-and-white livery with prominent MD&W lettering and circular herald. Built for general merchandise service, the fleet was widely used in paper and forest products traffic, with cars ranging across North America in interchange service. © Steve Vincent Minnesota Dakota & Western combination door boxcar No. 10039 is seen at Council Bluffs, Iowa, in November 1976, just weeks after construction by FMC in October 1976. One of the MDW 10000-10199 series, these 50 ft 6 in inside-length, 5,277 cu ft Plate C boxcars featured a combination sliding and plug door arrangement with a cushioned underframe for the transportation of paper and other damage-sensitive commodities. Assigned primarily to Maine Central paper service, the fleet regularly ranged across North America in interchange service. © Rod Loder Collection
Nos. Type Notes MDW 2150-2169 50′ Box Car; roof raised ex SLR; ex HS, ex GB&W; nee EACH 2351-2500 MDW 3005-3054 All Door Box Car Thrall (Job 543); 7-8/1971 MDW 4000-4096 50′ Box Car; hi-cube ex BN 377124-377222; nee MDW 6000-6099 MDW 7000-7099 National Steel Car MDW 8000-8099 (1st) 50′ Box Car FMC (Lot 17644); 6-7/1975 MDW 8000-8099 (2nd) 50′ Box Car FMC (Lot 18070); 11-12/1979 MDW 8100-8199 50′ Box Car FMC (Lot 18069); 11/1979 MDW 9000-9099 50′ Box Car FMC (Lot 17783); 9-10/1976 MDW 10000-10199 50′ Box Car FMC (Lot 17781); 10/1976 MDW 10365-10414 50′ Box Car ex EACH 2001-2200 MDW 13000-13149 50′ Box Car ex MDW 10000-10199
Bulkhead Flat Cars
Nos. Type Notes MDW 1150-1199 60′ Flat Car; bulkheads Thrall (Job
