Purdue tailgate legends: The Vandewalle family’s customized bus

September 9, 2026 Ava Kuhn , Becky Robiños

Nicknamed the ‘Boxcar,’ this rig represents the history of the Boilermaker Special

Design elements from every version of the Boilermaker Special are incorporated into one vehicle made especially for Purdue football weekends. Abby (BS accounting ’07) and Jason (BS organizational leadership ’07) Vandewalle used visual cues from all eight iterations of the Boilermaker Special, including the five main editions and three styles of the Boilermaker Xtra Special.

“The idea really grew out of family tradition,” Jason says. “My parents were both Reamers (members of the Reamer Club, the student organization that cares for the Boilermaker Special and Xtra Special), so the Boilermaker Special was more than just a mascot. It was something admired, celebrated and cherished throughout my childhood.”

The back of the Boxcar reads “To Your Call,” a reference to the start of “Hail Purdue”: “To your call once more we rally.” It represents the treasured memories that form with every tailgating weekend.

The front of the bus stop-arm, painted to look like a railroad crossing sign.

The back of the bus stop-arm, painted with the phrase “Boiler Up.”

A letter “P” painted on the side of the bus.

Toward the bottom of the bus, tracks and a train are painted.

The Vandewalle family standing in front of their bus.

Toward the middle of the bus, the phrase “Boilermaker Boxcar” is painted.

Toward the front of the bus, the phrase “Route of the Boilermakers” is painted.

Members of the Vandewalle family sitting inside the bus.

The inside of the bus, where the driver’s seat has a Purdue cover.

Black and gold tiles forming a letter “P.”

A photo of the front of the bus taken while standing near its driver side.

A list of the bus design elements inspired by editions of the Boilermaker Special.

Ava Kuhn

Curiosity drives almost all aspects of Ava Kuhn’s life. With a double major in art history and journalism from Indiana University, she loves falling down research rabbit holes. Her drive to learn new things and connect with people drew her to her role as a senior content writer at Purdue Brand Studio.

Becky Robiños

Becky spent 10 years as a cosmetologist before deciding to pursue a career in photography — her passion since high school. She counts returning to college as a nontraditional student to complete her degree and then landing a full-time job as a photographer at Purdue in 2018 as two of her proudest accomplishments. Becky loves meeting people, hearing their stories and translating those experiences into images that showcase the Boilermaker spirit.

Purdue tailgate legends: The Vandewalle family’s customized bus

Nicknamed the ‘Boxcar,’ this rig represents the history of the Boilermaker Special

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