Could someone tell me the name of those railroad cars that have been made into observation cars
for the maintaince crew??? Thanks, Dave Br. saw one near Klamath Falls
Maybe I’m not clear on the question…Are you thinking of a “Theater Car”? Used my management on inspection tours of the ROW, etc…
I think “theater car” is the term you’re looking for, too–the cars with the hind end fully glassed in. But you’re more likely to see managers from division level and above in there, or directors, than maintenance crews. Their inspections deal a lot more with instrumentation (or get-out-of-the-hi-rail-and-fix-it) than with look-at-the-tracks-and-the-scenery.
During such inspection trips, the Division Manager and the Division Engineer are the normal mandatory participants Trainmasters and/or Road Foreman of Engines may participate but it is far from the usual practice.
Both UP and BNSF have Theater cars.
Seems like the UP car is ex CNW (maybe the Fox River?)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2039/2425839008_b617644752.jpg?v=0
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=905867
UP Theater car Idaho
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=762506
BNSF has 2 cars. I’ve been on the BNSF Glacier View twice as a customer. Pretty nice way to travel. They have a speed readout above the rear window, air pressure and 2 TV screens showing a GPS driven map so you know where you are and what’s coming up. First class food, the whole works.