Abstract: A railroad car is provided with a retractable cover for transporting material such as speciality lumber requiring dry conditions or kraft pulp requiring dry ventilated conditions. The retractable covering provides complete protection for the load from all weather conditions and provides access to the load from both sides of the car with overhead clearance for forklift unloading/loading and, in the case of kraft pulp, it allows the product to ventilate and thus avoid interior condensation on the product. A furling system is located lengthwise of the car at the top thereof for storing the cover in an opened position and for paying out the cover when the car is being closed. Guide tracks at both ends of the car are used to lead the edges of the cover to its open and closed positions and the cover is opened and closed by a winch mechanism.