In the early 1990s, a national shortage of rail hopper cars made it difficult and expensive for
Washington State farmers to get grain to market. The transcontinental railroads were earning more money
hauling grain from the Midwest to ports in the Pacific Northwest than they could through shorter
distance trips within Washington, which reduced the supply of empty grain cars for eastern Washington
grain shippers. To help alleviate this shortage of grain cars, the Washington State Energy Office and
WSDOT used federal funds from a successful lawsuit against oil companies -- who were found to have
over-charged the nation's farmers for fuel during the 1970s -- to purchase 29 used grain cars for
dedicated service within Washington. These rail cars, built between 1966 and 1981, were then repaired
and repainted. The total cost for the orginal 29-car fleet was $763,000. The program flourished and by
2010 the number of grain cars in the fleet grew to 118 (100 owned by the state, and 18 owned by the
Port of Walla Walla). The Union Pacific Railroad, BNSF Railway Company, and Washington short line
railroads operate the cars and carry the grain to market. ~ Washington State Department of
Transportation