Duck Duck Goose

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Today I saw a UP train that was really odd. Not only did it have boxcars, flats, lumber cars, tank cars, gons, etc., etc., etc., it also had loaded coal cars. Usually around here coal trains are unit trains with only coal cars.

Now there were several older boxcars in the consist including CNW, CN, SP, and others, but there were also 2 boxcars with a faded white circle and in the circle was a faded black duck or goose in flight. I think the cars may have had a WWP and another leter (which of course I have forgotten since I did not write it down) but I may be confussed about those letters. But anyway, does anybody know whose cars those were? I don’t ever remember seeing them. (But we all know I have halftimers, according to Dan. [;)] )

Now whoever can answer that question can have the 90 degree weather we are STILL having here in Cental Arkansas (complete with the high humidity too).
I will be more than happy to tell it to come visit you. [;)]

2

The goose cars are Yreka Western cars or at least used to be. Some of their boxcars were a dark blue with a white goose logo.

3

http://www.yrekawesternrr.com/

Dan [:)]

That is close to the logo I saw but not exactly.

Does this railroad still operate boxcars or lease them?

4

I’d bet that the coal was either destined for a small local coal dealer (some of them still exist) or orphans that were bad ordered or something.

5

I’ve seen one of those…hmm…didn’t have a clue it was so unique at the time…I shoulda taken pix!!!

6

Yes Zack. Good Idea. [:D]

OK, guys and gals, EVERYONE be on the lookout for a “Goose” car. [:D]

If you see it, take a pic (if possible) and post it here.

That is all.

Jim Out.

10-4 good buddy.

[:D] [:D] [:D]

7

Actually, didn’t most of the railroads that were owned by Kyle Railways have the goose in the oval logo? I occasionally see 6 bay woodchip hoppers that used by be owned or leased by one of these railroads. They now carry RRLX reporting marks and carry coke. The NRHS does not have this reporting mark in its data base yet.

http://www.nrhs.com/reporting_marks/aar_reporting_marks.htm

8

I’ve seen one of those RRLX woodchip hoppers. The one I saw was RRLX 5108. The reporting marks stand for Railroad Resources Inc.

9

The goos logo appeared on the cars of several companies owned by Kyle Railways. The Oregon, Pacific & Eastern was another one; it got cars at about the same time as YW, and both sets had geese on the sides. Those cars have gone through a number of owners since then. Most recently I saw a couple of cars with the logos obliterated, lettered HS (haven’t dug deeper than that yet).

10

I did happen to see another “Goose” car the other day and posted about it in the “Recently I Saw” thread. Right now I don’t remember the reporting marks but the logo and paint job on the car were VERY faded.

I was driving and didn’t have my camera so I couldn’t get a pic of it. [:(]

Has anybody else seen one? Has anybody else managed to get a photo of one?

11

The cars I have seen are in the RRLX 7000 series.

12

Another possiblity is that they were carrying petroleum coke from an oil refinery.

13

I am not sure how many Goose boxcars [;)] are out there but I have noticed when I see one, there usually are two and sometimes 3 together.

They are always badly faded but the flying goose can definately be seen. Many of the ones I have seen are a light blue.

Have you spotted a goose boxcar lately ? [?] [;)] [:D]

If so, REPORT IT HERE. [:p]

NOW go find a flying goose boxcar. [:o)] [:D] [:I]

Thanks. [:)]

14

Quack![:D][:p][:0][:X][|)][:o)][:I]

15

As some have already mentioned the cars that you saw were probably former Kyle Railway cars. Kyle owned and operated a number of shortlines. The home road was the Yreka Western. Two railroads that were operated by kyle for a peroid of time but not owned were the Pend Oreille Valley Railroad and the St Maries Railroad. The box cars were leased to Kyle by Itel and were lettered for a number of different railroads. Here is a Pend Oreille Valley car at Metaline Falls, Washington - July 1983

I think during the first part of 1997 States Rail purchased Kyle Railways.

Jim

16

Hello Jim,

My best guess on the loaded coal cars in the mix were repaired cars that a unit coal train set out due to bad axles, wheels, or whatever.

I’ll try to keep an eye out for a runaway goose[:D]

You can keep your heat and humidity. We have enough of it, and will get hotter by this weekend here in KS/MO

Take care,

Russell

17

The Wisconsin and Southern also uses a goose in their logo, due to a terminal located in Horicon, WI, near a large protected marsh used by geese on their migratory route. Their herald is quite small, though.

Randy

18

And the WSOR’s goose isn’t in a circle though. Much to small for the one you probably saw Jim. But take a look at my signature, their logo is in there.

Noah