The railroad modified this flatcar into a brake shoe car in 1971, and it served this function until 1996. Additionally, it is significant for engineering as the car demonstrates innovation by the railroad in the use of a car for the loading, movement and unloading of brake shoes. The Denver & Rio Grande’s method of brake shoe movement had never been used previously. Additionally, this car has its original friction-bearing trucks, once a prominent feature of rail cars, but now are a rare resource due to changes in operating regulations.