The Virginia Holocaust Museum, Richmond, Virginia

The Virginia Holocaust Museum recently acquired this 1930s German boxcar, which resembles the Gedeckter Guterwagen (covered truck) that is described in numerous German historical references. These covered trucks were built for use as factory transport cars for German private and state railways. Many were used to transport military equipment during the Second World War and, tragically, to deport victims of the Holocaust to concentration camps.

The car was suffering from material deterioration, including wood rot, metal corrosion, and paint failure. Much of its original finish and construction had been obscured by over-painting and renovation, and it was difficult to discern what of the original assembly remained.

Conservation Solutions, Inc. (CSI) was contracted by the Virginia Holocaust Museum to conduct a condition assessment of the boxcar. Paint samples were taken from wood and metal elements for testing and analysis in order to determine the original paint scheme and to identify the presence of replacement materials. Existing conditions were recorded on base drawings. A condition report was generated which included a description of the current condition of the car, the nature and possible causes of deterioration, and a complete photographic inventory of the car.

The report included a treatment proposal that outlined stabilization procedures, proper storage and display requirements, materials and methods recommended for stabilization, and budgetary costs for the conservation of the artifact. In addition, an effort was made to determine whether the car was used for the transport of Holocaust victims , but the investigation remained inconclusive.

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