This freight house plan is typical of the many structures built in the halcyon days of railroading to handle L.C.L. (less than carload lot) shipments. Today these shipments are carried by large tractor trailers on the highways all across the continent. In the “good old days”, before the interstates were built, it was common for the railroads to handle LCL freight to freight houses in the various towns and cities. Then smaller trucks, or even horse and wagon, would pick up the loads at the local freight house and deliver them to their final destinations.   

See the PDF slideshow "Railroad Freight House"