The author is Joseph Trevithick, and it was publshed 3/08/2021
Te caboose was built by a company called Vigor Industrial,LLC. at a location in the PNW (?) under contract to USN. This company’s website indicates that they usually build, smaller(?) naval vessels, and other fabrication contracts for the U.S.N.
It is apparently, to be tasked by the Navy as a escort and support vehicle; for transport to locations across the USA. The first one is scheduled to be delivered by the end of this year.
From the photos in the article VWXX-800 would appear to be possibly twice the length of what used to be a normal length caboose(?). It is to be operated by the Naval; Nuclear Propulsion Program, according to the article.
Sort of interesting, that in 2021, the Government is going to build several(?) armored caboose(s)? After almost 40 or so years of saying they were not needed? One would almost expect thay could have, up-armored, another car type ?[:-^]
(shades of railroading meets “The War Wagon” or new car to guard the boxcars w/ shackles?)
Possibly the outcome of the railroads eliminating their waycar fleets and the cars the military and atomic energy commission (AECX) had now at the end of their AAR/FRA mandated lives?
It’s not only the armor, how about those beefy collision posts on the end!
On the head end. They’re going to resurrect some really old GE’s to pull it. They don’t have any electrical gear worthy of the name so they should be able to survive an EMP.
Over 50 years ago nuclear weapons were made at the Iowa Army Ammunition plant at Middletown, IA, just west of Burlilngton. There was an old passenger coach with steel plates over the windows. The coach was parked by the ammunition plant roundhouse.
The coach would occasionally be seen tacked to the rear end of a short freight train passing through Burlington. Years later retired security personal at the ammuntion plant told of riding the coach when nuclear weapons were shipped by rail.
The coach was self contained with bunks, a refrigerator, stove, etc. The coach was reportedly also well stocked with firearms, including Thompson sub machine guns, and ammunition.
So where does the Phalanx and 5 incher get mounted? Reminds me of the Lionel rocket launcher and the exploding box cars. But on a side note, what ever happen to Regan’s traveling nuke trains?