BN Flatcar

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Forgot to post about this when I saw it last week and just remembered tonight because I took the same route to work as I did that day.

Last week when I got off from the midnight shift at 8am I desided to drive home avoiding all the highway construction, down the street from my work at the corner of Aucutt & Rt 31 in Montgomery Il. just outside of Aurora I saw a BN Green WOOD flatcar still marked BN sitting on a little used siding with what looked like a crane bucket/scoop sitting on it. I didnt have a camera or I would have stopped and taken a couple pictures, it was gone the next day

I didnt know they still used wood flatcars, or was this just somthing probly used for MOW? [:O]

2

wood deck flatcars are still horribly common. If it was green, it was in general service. (ATSF silver, BN primer brown and BNSF primer brown flatcars tend to be M/W)

Borrowed for picking-up ties, scrap with a jimbo crane?

3

you may have seen it with its cargo freshly loaded on said siding. the next day it was generating revenue. Stay Happy!!! RMR

4

IDK it was shorter than any flatcar I have ever seen in service on the BN in my area atleast 40’ or less with steak pockets on the sides im pretty sure it wasnt just a wood deck the sides looked alot like painted wood but im not sure… Im more into D&RGW Narrow gauge thats why this car really cought my eye it looked alot like the 34’ flats that the rio grande used to run. I would have stopped and taken a closer look but there were a couple hirail pickups parked along the side of the road with some BNSF guys walking around the flatcar

5

BN had some mighty short flat cars that looked like an old design, but trust me, they’re not wooden (except, as MC says, probably the deck).

If you see it again, grab the number and I can give you a bit more information.

I’m wondering whether that wasn’t a charcoal bucket that it was loaded with. You know, to go with the steak pockets! [;)]

6

yes yes im still kicking myself for not atleast writing the number down! Trust me now that I saw it once I will be going home that way more when I work nights and Ill try and get a picture or atleast the car number if I see it again :slight_smile:

7

FRN rule #1: Always carry a camera, even if it’s just the one in your cell phone.

8

On the UP I saw a old 40’ (maybe even 36’???) flat car, that had been used in MOW service. It was lettered ROADMASTER SUPPLY CAR.

Phil