CSX Weed-whacker train - a kitbashing candidate?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I was driving back to my house and when I went over the Woodstock grade crossing, I saw a CSX B36-7 waiting in the passing siding. I had missed lunch and was awfully anxious to fix myself a sandwich, but as I walked to my back door a little voice seemed to whisper in my head: “Go to the crossing with your camera right now, FOOL!” Fine! I thought, my stomach can wait another 10 minutes; my collection of local CSX photos didn’t include any GE 4-axel units, so I might as well get one now.

Here is what I saw when I got back and had a closer look:

Behind the loco there was a 60ft tank car covered with strange piping (see photos on links below), some type of control car, 3 more pipe-covered tankers like the first one, and a boxcar.

I inserted only the URLs of the remaining close-up photos, as a courtesy to our bandwidth-impaired members:

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e182/CSX_road_slug/misc_etc/Weed_control_train/weed_tanker_3qtr_view.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e182/CSX_road_slug/misc_etc/Weed_control_train/weed_tanker_full_side.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e182/CSX_road_slug/misc_etc/Weed_control_train/weed_train_ctrl_car.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e182/CSX_road_slug/misc_etc/Weed_control_train/weed_train_other_cars.jpg

Immediately after I climbed back into my car and put away my camera (dang!), the train was cleared to go - and as soon as that first tank car was across the road, stuff (herbicide?) started spraying out of a nozzle just outside the forward truck. That’s what led me to believe this is a ‘weed killer’ train. I think they probably use each of those tank cars in sequence, putting another one online as the previous one runs dry.

I think anyone could kitbash a few Athearn bb 62ft tank cars very easily; that control car, OTOH

2

That’s where I’d want my office. Right behind an herbicide car, That would keep those nasty pollen producing plants away from me you betcha.

3

Ahhhhh, this explains the little 3 eyed fish in the north branches of the Patapsco!!
[;)][:D][}:)]

4

That converted box car is one weird looking machine. Would be fun to try and build and even more fun to try to explain to guests. thanks for the pics.

5

Being a huge CSX fan, that is very interesting. Ive never seen a weed killing train before. Great pics.

6

Ken -
As always, you always amaze me with the pics you come up with. I find that 1st ‘car’ a interesting thing. It’s even outfitted w/ several overhead rollup type doors, with the end one closest to the 1st tank car being on the outside and the 2 on the side facing you, are mounted on the inside, if they too are rollup type doors.
JP

7

I wish I could’ve gotten a few more shots at different angles JP, unfortunately an Eastbound freight came blasting thru 30 seconds later, after which the work train was cleared and departed.

BTW one thing I want everybody to realize:

I NEVER walk or stand directly on the tracks[:O] or trespass on RR property whenever I shoot these photos. I don’t want to indirectly give anybody any wrong ideas about railfanning…