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BNSF replaces business cars at Ft. Worth headquarters
Are these road worthy or for static use only?
Re the BNSF business cars at Fort Worth, bravo BN even though they had to be trucked in by road presumeably because the undercarriages are not up to modern standards for transit by rail. Do any railroads still use Business cars for inspecting their trackage and properties etc.Budd did build some quite modern cars for this purpose years ago. Would like to think some are still fulfilling their original function.
Why were yhese cars trucked? Friction bearing?
Interesting that this car, originally built for GN, is now clad in AT&SF-style stainless steel. Is sister car Yellowstone River, built for NP, also in stainless now? I guess that’s BNSF’s business train livery. I like it! The alternative, I guess, would have been finishing it (them) in BNSF’s loco colors, but this is very classy. You can just imagine a warbonnet scheme on the point.
They’re gorgeous. I glimpse of what was…
The article is a little vague. These ran on their own wheels between Texas and Topeka on the way to refurbishment, and they rode on their wheels from Topeka back to Fort Worth, THEN they were trucked to the headquarters–which doesn’t have rails service.
BNSF’s headquarters in Fort Worth is at least two miles, and maybe more, from their tracks in Saginaw. The cars moved, on their own wheels, from Topeka to Fort Worth, and were then road hauled to the headquarters.
I think that Burlington, Nothern & Santa Fe shouldn’t play second fiddle to Norfolk~Southern. I think they should have two business trains that could also be used for special fan trips to generate some revenue. One should be a late forties or early fifties Empire Builder and the other should be a complete “Chief” consist. Out running their whole system they’d look great and get the road the attention it needs!
GWI and Rail America makes sense. The buys and sells they
can make are unlimited. I still would like the FEC to be part of this deal but I am sure the NS would have plenty to say about that deal. Without going into CP’s problems, I strongly feel that new GWI maybe able buy part of their system. Guilford system has parts that could fit into the new GWI.
A month ago I drove from Minneapolis to Boston. On my way back I meet a owner/operator for the CN near Toledo. He had just picked up a load in southern Ohio for somewhere in Alberta. Guess what!! On a couple other trips he picked up just rail in a CN dry van for western Canada. All these loads where put on the rail in Detroit.
All my CN friends, have a good week. All news is big and beautiful.
Hugh Sweeney.
I dare say they were trucked because there are no tracks at the site where they were installed.
Although widely used the term “friction bearings” is a misnomer. The purpose of all bearings is to reduce friction and the proper term is plain bearing. The friction bearing term was coined by Timken to promote their roller bearings.