What is The Canadian Pacific doing with its fleet of Soo Line Box Cars built between 1965 and 1979?
I saw some that were repainted in CP Rail Colors 10 years ago.
Is CP still using the fleet of SOO box cars?
Are the SOO Box Cars being repaired and repainted for more years of service?
Andrew
SOO was an US subsidiary that was owned by CP, much like GTW was a subsidiary of CN. In the mid-1990s both CP and CN extended their corporate image into the lower 48, and began painting SOO and GTW rolling stock and locos into their parent railroads’ colors and markings. IIRC, SOO and GTW still exist as “paper” railroads.
For the record, there are fewer than 150 SOO box cars left. A lot of them went to the Wisconsin Central when it was formed, but a lot more are just falling victim to old age. I doubt that CP is renumbering them into its own series.
Then those Wisconsin Central 50’ Box Cars that I see often on the CN/GTW must be those former SOO 50’ Box Cars.
I knew they were becoming rare, but that is even more rare than I realized.
Andrew
This is the Soo Line 50’ Box Car that I saw today. The large name is fading away. The SOO had to be repainted for the SOO LINE reporting marks.
How long before the Canadian Pacific car shops overhaul it?
The reason I have a still shot instead of a video is because the camera battery was mysteriously low on power.
Andrew
It will continue to haul loads in this condition until it gets shopped for a serious mechanical issue - if and when that condition arises, CP wil then make the decision to either rebuild the car for more service or scrap it depending upon the needs of the railroad. If rebuilt it will likely lose it’s SOO identification and be given a CP number.