Freight was the backbone of the railroad’s revenue.  People in the east needed lumber for buildings, the west wanted manufactured goods.  Freight traffic kept both east and west happy.  The Yakima Valley grew an abundance of food and hay which contributed to the market back east.  Commodities determined type of railroad car used,  grain and coal fit best in hopper cars, hay in box cars, ect.  We have collected various cars that the NP used in our area.  Each car has its own unique story of what it shipped.