Saw two cars going south marked Canyon Diablo # 83 Research & Test and #82 - Kootenai Research & Test Car. I am sure we have discussed this before, but to keep them from laughing at me, can you whisper to me what these are? They are really cool - look like old pullman cars, maybe?
Unfortunately you just saw the new BNSF Geometry car/ Inspection Car and the support car that goes with it. Like all the glass and theater seating on the back end? Snide remark around here is that they got the bigger bi-level observation car to keep the operating supervisors amused and out of the way of the working people while the track folks watched the computer spit-out the bad news on twist, warp, gage, crosslevel etc.
(computers & measuring frames only take up 1/4 of the car)
I assume the smaller car has the electronics shop, OREO cookie dispenser, kitchen, and sleeping quarters (baggage storage) for the geometry car crew from engineering.
(curtains are for bar service in Kansas[swg], to keep the car cool, keep sunglare off the digital readout screens and when not in use (travelling) to keep folks from seeing that the contents of the car are worth more than the car and would make any computer geek green with envy, maybe even larcenous!)
Besides, you may be old, but you can’t be that ugly with 3 wives to your “credit” (perhaps I should say on your credit) and even if you’re old you can’t be that rich in this line of work…
The other cars set is made of converted biz cars. This set looks like a former Chicago bi-level and somebody’s steel heavyweight. Have seen them at Castle Rock, CO and Trinidad this year and was w/o camera (i.e. working and not expecting them) when they went by.