Noticed the following request in the concurrent Thread here:" When Switching a Big Industry " whose OP was Hubbabubba2. THe following post by Electroliner35 [from that Thread]
Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Saturday, April 23, 2016 4:47 PM
"…Ed, When I clicked on the right arrow on your Photobucket of p41, I found images of a schnauble (sp) car. It had what looked like ABB lettering on it which I presume is Asea Brown Bovari and for hauling large transformers and generators. What can you tell me about it. Is your railroad its home?.."
As a followup and not wanting to enter a potentially conflicting topic in the above Thread; I started this Thread to answer the question posed by Electroliner35.
Not wanting to pick any nits…The spelling is SCHNABEL. for that class of heavy Transport cars, so equipped to move long, and heavy loads about the American/Canadian railroad net.
Here is a link from a couple of years back that appeared on the construction of a couple of ‘new’ 20 axle Schnabel Cars “North America’s Largest Railcar.Kasgro rolls out WECX801” linked @ http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/p/206508/2266205.aspx#2266205
From that link there was this respons that may be of some interest although the information is possibly outdated:
Posted by AnthonyV on Sunday, May 27, 2012 9:01 PM
"…I found this brochure regarding Schnabel car rental from ABB at
This is the Houston to Denver move, a part of a cat cracker that helps remover sulfur from diesel fule if I remember right.
We just brought the train up from the public docks, and are going to hand it off to the BNSF crew at our North Yard.
Thats a lot of wheelset!
Many years ago I was lucky enough to catch one of these sitting in the Southern Pacic’s Santa Clara, California yard. It had been brought in from the Roseville yard and was carrying a nuclear reactor vessel bound for the San Onofrie nuclear power station which was under construction at the time. I was to be moved down the coast line to be delivered to the construction site.
Thank you. I appreciate the correction. I tried to spell it from my understanding of the sound of the word and did not go to the effort to determine its correct spelling feeling that Ed would know (as he did) what I was asking. Working for an Electric utility, we received large transformers and generators by Schnabel car. They are quite unique and impressive, some having the ability to shift the load sideways to navigate tight clearances.
On the posting on the other thread, samfp1943 made the comment,
{Note to Modelcar and others: Would this not be something to see this Beastie going down “The Grade” at Saluda headed down towards Port of Charleston?}
I hope nobody ever trys that. It makes me think of a sign I remember along
I 55that said “What do they call people who don’t wear seat belts”? and below it in huge letters was STUPID which is what anybody taking that car loaded down Saluda should be called.
Wold tend to agree with that comment Electroliner1935, but the context of the remark about using"The Hill" was made a couple of years back, and the point of reference was that the ‘then latest built’ Schnabel Car WECX 801 was scheduled to move from KASGRO’s manufacturing facility in Newcastle, Pa to Charleston,SC. for its first revenue move.
And at that time there was information of the about to be built " Inland Container Port on the bottom end of the NS’s former ‘W’ line in the Greer/Greenville, SC area. So in the light of the ‘then’ current and upcoming events; Maybe? Maybe not? [:-^] Just imagine, That SHOW!
