I was watching “Cities of the Underworld: New York” (http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Episodes&content_type_id=53966&display_order=5&mini_id=53900) on the History Channel. Part of it was about railroads under the Waldorf Astoria. There is a car, MNCX 002, there that they do not know what it was used for. They had some guy on there saying that cars with reporting marks ending in X are more often than not owned by the government.
Cars with reporting marks ending in X are owned by persons, organizations and other entities which are not, themselves, railroads. They are not solely government-owned.
- DODX - Department of Defense.
- GATX - General American Transportation Company (a leasing company, IIRC.)
- TTX - Trailer-train (owned rolling stock, but no track.)
The special siding under the Waldorf-Astoria was used by President Roosevelt (FDR, not Teddy) when he visited New York. His special car carried an automobile, which would be unloaded onto the platform, then raised to street level and driven onto the street through what looked like an ordinary delivery door. Just a little more subtle than a modern President dropping in in Air Force One.
Chuck
I should have clarified that the reason for the post is the absurdity of the guy’s statement that a majority of cars with reporting marks ending in X are owned by the government. Perhaps he is Cliff Claven’s protege.
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SOUNDS LIKE YOUR MAIL IS GOING TO BE UNDELIVERABLE FOR AWHILE.
Regards Cliff
I watched the same program (again). The individual that made that statement was, IIRC, a Metro North (?) bigwig (poohbahh.) What is rather interesting is that it has sat there for so long. You would think that it would have been moved and converted/refurbished into something that would be useful. With it being so heavily armored, and built so HD, there would be something that it would be good for. Fifty some years is a long time to sit idle and with the humidity so high, all it would do is rust away. Wonder if any one recalls seeing it in transit or so, just to keep it in such good shape? The video showed no rust, so they must be maintaining it for something. Just a thought and observation.
Jim
This is from the AAR list of reporting marks.
It is a car owned by a private company NOT the government.
Sorry to be trite, but someone was going to say this, so it might as well be me:
Only white box cars with shackles with reporting marks ending in X are owned by the government.
Gabe
Right on Gabe! [:D]
T’was a dark and stormy night…
Still a classic. I may have to sit down and read the whole thing again tonight when I get a chance.
I TEVOed the reporting marks it reads:
MNCX 002
MW
Which to me would be Metro Norths Maint of Way dept. It was stored with a bunch of other MOW equipment, so the guy was speaking bull.
Roger