What are the typical applications of box cars?

Boxcars are primarily designed for the transportation of general freight. They provide a fully enclosed cargo space, which protects the goods inside from the elements and allows for a variety of cargo types to be transported safely. This versatility makes boxcars suitable for many everyday commodities, including packaged goods, furniture, and other items that do not require special handling or temperature control.

While other types of rail cars are specifically designed for certain cargo, such as refrigerated cars for perishables or specialized tanks for liquids and chemicals, boxcars serve a broader purpose without the need for such specific adaptations. This makes them fundamental in the overall freight transportation system, ideal for mixed cargo loads, and widely used in intermodal transport systems where cargo might be transferred between trucks and trains.