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BNSF running “snow coaches” to move crews
I’m glad I wasn’t on that Empire Builder!
I’m glad I wasn’t on that Empire Builder!
I’m glad I wasn’t on that Empire Builder!
I’m glad I wasn’t on that Empire Builder!
I’m glad I wasn’t on that Empire Builder!
At Lincoln, NE they use a caboose for the crews, between a pair of big road engines.
As a Engineer in Lincoln I can tell you that they use a old Caboose spliced between 2 engines for the D-SNOSNO “snow coach”. The problem is that these cabooses are still in the poor condition that they were in the late 70’s. The heaters don’t work well, they are drafty, dirty, dusty. If BNSF really cared about crews they could find the funds to gut and upgrade several of these cabooses with decent heaters, cab seats, and shelving for grips. We have been using the “Snow Coaches” more and more over the last 2 years, but nothing has been done to improve the conditions inside for the safety and comfort of the crews…that would go a long way for moral of crews that have “died” under the hours of service and have been waiting for transportation (I myself have been on duty for 20+ hours before).
Methinks a few coaches with heat and comfortable seats staged at strategic locales might help with this situation.
I’m glad I have the patience to not click Submit 5 times in 16 seconds. trains.com is rather slow at accepting comments.
Why not splice in a caboose, even if it has a coal or oil heater? Cat-nap, anyone? Hot coffee?
Eric, I wish I had been on the “builder”!!
My great grandfather worked MOW for the Wabash Railroad. They bunked in the caboose while on the road.
I am a crew van driver in Longview, WA. I wonder if they would let me run a GP-39 if we get enough snow. Bottom line: Got to get the crews to the trains - SAFELY.
On the UP, we had these great, new at the time, former Rock Island crummies. They rode like a Cadillac and could actually seat 22 people. They were big, bay window cabooses with great suspension systems. I think the Rock Island, actually used to deadhead crews. They would be great for a “snow coach!” The UP numbered them in a 24000 series. My favorite ones to work out of.
Spend the $$, and re-insulate couple of cabooses in key areas, with multiple seating/seat belts, heating. Ballast the cabooses and put them between two units. A rested warm crew is going to do a better job. Also the crew that has expired re the hours of service would have better conditions to dry out, warm out, on the way back to lodging/home terminal.