Systems and methods for advertising using one or more rail cars

Abstract

Systems and methods for using rolling rail stock, such as one or more rail cars, as an advertising platform are provided. In one illustrative embodiment, a rail car or a portion thereof is adapted to appear like a product model of an actual product. For example, a tanker rail car may be painted or otherwise adapted to appear as an oversized soda can, and/or a box car may be painted or otherwise adapted to appear as an oversized tissue box. Alternatively, or in addition, a product model may be separately prepared and secured to a rail car. For example, the rail car may be a flat bed rail car, and may support a product model of a sour cream container, a car, a boat, or any other product.

1 . A rail car, comprising: 
 a body; and    a product model adapted to appear similar to an actual product, at least part of the body forming at least part of the shape of the product model.    
   
   
       2 . The rail car of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a tank, and wherein the tank forms at least part of the shape of the product model.  
   
   
       3 . The rail car of  claim 2  wherein the product model is adapted to appear similar to a beverage can, and the tank includes a cylindrical portion that forms at least part of the beverage can.  
   
   
       4 . The rail car of  claim 3  wherein at least part of the cylindrical portion of the tank is painted to appear similar to a beverage can.  
   
   
       5 . The rail car of  claim 3  wherein at least part of the cylindrical portion of the tank includes a film secured thereto to appear similar to a beverage can.  
   
   
       6 . The rail car of  claim 1  wherein the product model is shaped as a box or can, and the body includes a box like structure that forms at least part of the box or can.  
   
   
       7 . The rail car of  claim 1  wherein the product model is oversized relative to the actual product.  
   
   
       8 . A rail car, comprising: 
 a body; and    a product model adapted to appear similar to an actual product, the product model being secured relative to the body.    
   
   
       9 . The rail car of  claim 8  wherein the product model is oversized relative to the actual product.  
   
   
       10 . The rail car of  claim 8 , wherein the body includes a flat bed, and the product model is secured on the flat bed.  
   
   
       11 . A method for generating revenue from the use of a rail car, the method comprising: 
 providing a rail car that is adapted to include a product model that appears similar to an actual product; and    accepting a fee to allow the rail car to be moved along the track.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the rail car is released onto a rail road network.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the rail car is parked on a rail road track in a high visibility location.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the rail car is parked on a bridge that passes over a road way.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the rail car is moved along a finite length of rail road track so that the product model passes the high visibility location.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the rail car is moved back and forth along the finite length of rail road track to that the product model repeatedly passes the high visibility location.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the rail car includes a body, and at least part of the body forms at least part of the product model.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the rail car includes a body, and the product model is secured relative to the body.  
   
   
       19 . A method for promoting a product, the method comprising: 
 providing a unique promotional code on each of two or more rail cars; and    providing a web site that allows a user to enter a promotional code, the web site adapted to determine if the promotional code provided by the user matches one of the unique promotional codes that was provided on the two or more rail cars.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of determining if the promotional code provided by the user is a winning promotional code.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising the step of notifying the user if the promotional code provided by the user is a winning promotional code.