Born from the Incentive Per Diem boxcar boom of the 1970s, the 50'6" Outside Braced Boxcar was designed to fill a growing demand for freight equipment. The IPD program, authorized by the Interstate Commerce Commission to encourage new boxcar production, allowed freight car owners to charge an additional fee when leasing their rolling stock to other railroads. Many shortline and regional operators jumped at this opportunity, and the bulk of these new cars were ordered by small and relatively unknown railroads. Today, the 50'6" boxcar continues to be a mainstay of freight consists, and while most are now maintained by specialized leasing companies or class one railroads, many continue to display the liveries of their original shortline owners - reflecting a curious and colorful era in freight railroading history.
