I went up to the old neighborhood last week to snap some photos of a few prominant buildings and landmarks, as I’m modeling the valley in HO scale. As I was photographing a local Steel mill, I came across these cars parked along a siding in front of the mill. It appears to be 3 Amtrak liners, 2 boxcars, and another car that I don’t remember now and can’t make out in the photos. Maybe a gondola? I seem to recall that these cars have been here for years, possibly decades. The steel mill only produces a fraction of what it once did and rail traffic in the area is very low now. I wonder if Amtrak even knows the whereabouts of these cars? Anyway, thought I’d post the photos:
I don’t know how those photos are showing up on your computer, but on mine they’re pretty small. If you want more detail, here’s links to the full size originals:
I wonder if it would be worthwhile for Amtrak to secure these cars? Maybe depend on the level of maintenance work to be done as I understand there’s not a lof cash for that.
The cars are located in Burnham (Lewistown), PA. In front of the Standard Steel complex. The siding they are on is next to what appears was once a loading platform. Maybe once a station? I don’t remember if one was there or not, but I could probably find out from family still in the area. I know there’s no station there any more.
Perhaps they were sold to Standard Steel to be used as some sort of break area for the workers? In the recent decline of the factory, there’s no longer a use for them? Just thinking out loud.
Is that a tree growing up between the cars? I would say they have been there a very long time. Amtrak has no use for these cars, LC is probably right, they were sold off.
It’s always sad to see pieces of railroad equipment like this simply being set aside like yesterday’s garbage. On the bright side, though, it’s better than scrapping them. You would think that there would be a railroad museum in the area that could use them.
…These cars are beyond use without tons of money put into them…Does seem like a strange place to have them; stored. Someone had plans but maybe all the circumstances have changed. I’d say they have only a future to head to the scrap yard.
Since I was technically tresspassing at the time, I didn’t snoop around real close, but I believe I there is still a switch connecting the siding. Whether it is still operable or not…?
The interior of the cars seemed to be worse off than the outside… Graffitti everywhere even though there is basically none on the outside. It looked as if they’d beeen pretty much stripped or ransacked inside, again I didn’t look real close. I was half afraid to go near them for fear of what wild animal may be lurking in those weeds or in the cars themselves.
That is too bad, like said above I’m sure there are many RR museums and whatnot that would have loved to get their hands on those cars.
Looks like they would more likely have to be hauled out on a flat car or a truck to get them out of there, doesn’t look like they would be able to get out under their own steam. [:(]
The cars are on trucks and appear to be on the rails. They could probably be towed out without much problem if anyone wanted them, although I’m sure the braking systems would need attention prior to travel on the rails.
Last week while in Freemont, NE I saw a (short) dome car in the BNSF yard area there. It had no visible markings of any kind but had fluted stainless steel sides but no other markings. It was in pretty good shape other than being on temporary trucks (it was riding very, very high on these temporary trucks). I can only imagine it is being resored for service (are you listening Amtrak?).
Possibly a privately owned car heading from the recent major auction held in Texas of the assets of Denver Railcar and the Acadian Train. Probably going to be rehabbed for PV service.
I doubt you’ll find any McDonalds as old as the average railroad equipment. A typical railfan idea that all of this maintenance and paint work are a priority. The railroad industry has a much higher capital need than almost any othewr industry. A lot of infrastructure means a lot of money to maintain it. Whether that is rolling stock or track and structures the kind of money it takes simply isn’t created in the business of hauling the freight. It isn’t a matter of culture, simply a matter of money, or lack thereof.
