Kris Rio Grande Boxcars

The Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, often shortened to Rio Grande, was the "Main Line Thru the Rockies." Variations noted are from the Kris Model Trains chapter of Greenberg's Guide to Kusan Trains. Greenberg's lists boxcars under both Denver & Rio Grande and Rio Grande.

Rio Grande 4461 "Cookie Box" boxcar; white; black and red lettering and graphics; sliding white rib doors; half ladders. Denver & Rio Grande and Rio Grande variation (A) in Greenberg's. Photo courtesy of the G. Clarke collection.

Rio Grande 4461 "Cookie Box" boxcar; white; black and red lettering and graphics; sliding white rib doors; full ladders. Denver & Rio Grande variation (A) in Greenberg's. Ladder size not specified in Greenberg's. Photo courtesy of the M. Smith collection.

Denver & Rio Grande and Rio Grande variation (B) in Greenberg's. Photo and description courtesy of the B. Batt collection.

Rio Grande 23400 "Cookie Box" boxcar; silver; black and red lettering and graphics; sliding silver panel doors; full ladders. Rio Grande variation (C) in Greenberg's. Photo courtesy of the M. Smith collection.

Rio Grande 49812 boxcar; brown; white lettering and graphics; sliding brown plug doors; full ladders. Rio Grande variation (E) in Greenberg's. Photo courtesy of the T. Cosgrove collection.

Rio Grande 49812 boxcar; tuscan; white lettering and graphics; sliding tuscan rib doors; full ladders. Rio Grande variation (F) in Greenberg's. Photo courtesy of the M. Smith collection.

Comparison of two Greenberg's Rio Grande variation (G) 61003 boxcars. Common characteristics: silver; black lettering and graphics; sliding silver panel doors; full ladders. Differences: upper car "Cookie Box" is bright red. Lower car "Cookie Box" is not as bright. Photo courtesy of the Blue Room collection.

Rio Grande 61003 "Cookie Box" boxcar; silver; black and red lettering and graphics; sliding black panel doors; full ladders. Rio Grande variation (G) in Greenberg's. Door color not specified in Greenberg's. Photo courtesy of the G. Clarke collection.

Rio Grande 69255 "Cookie Box" boxcar; silver; black and red lettering; sliding silver panel doors; full ladders. This road number is not in Greenberg's. Technical car data is the same as the example above, except road number not underlined and "NEW 8-56" added to the right of the bottom door guide. Lettering applied with high-grade decals - possible prototype. Photo courtesy of the G. Clarke collection.

Rio Grande 288511 "the ACTION road" boxcar; orange; black roof; black lettering and graphics; sliding orange rib doors; full ladders. Denver & Rio Grande variation (G) in Greenberg's. Photo courtesy of the G. Clarke collection.

Rio Grande 288511 "the ACTION road" boxcar; orange; brown roof and ends; black lettering and graphics; sliding orange rib doors; half ladders. Orange with brown roof and ends variation not documented in Greenberg's. Photo courtesy of the T. Cosgrove collection.

Rio Grande 288511 "the ACTION road" boxcar; orange; black lettering and graphics; sliding orange rib doors; half ladders. Orange roof with rib doors variation not documented in Greenberg's. Photo courtesy of the G. Clarke collection.

Comparison of two Greenberg's Rio Grande variation (I) 288511 boxcars. Common characteristics: sliding plug doors; half ladders. Differences: upper car darker shade of orange; more pronounced black printing; "RETURN TO DENVER, COLO. EMPTY" stamped higher on car. Lower car lighter orange; less pronounced black printing; "RETURN TO DENVER, COLO. EMPTY" stamped lower on car. Photo courtesy of the Blue Room collection.

Rio Grande 288511 "the ACTION road" boxcar; orange; silver roof; black lettering and graphics; sliding orange plug doors; half ladders. Rio Grande variation (J) in Greenberg's. Photo courtesy of the M. Smith collection.