What is the purpose for these cars?

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

This is the train I saw this morning (02/09/05) while watching the rails.
Here is the power:

Here are the cars I’m wondering about:

And what is this thing?

And the rear of the train:

Thanks for any help, just was curious!
J1[:)]

2

Just a guess - This is an empty continuous welded rail train. Looks kind of like one that I say, loaded, on CR some years ago. The reflective tape on some of the cars lends credence to that, since they would block crossings for extended periods as they slowly drop the rail.

No idea about the doghouse. I’m sure MC will have a full explanation…

3

That is a welded rail train. The rails are pre-welded to 1/4 mile lengths, carried to destination on these cars, and rolled off the rear end of the train at the designated spot.

That “thing” (third photo) looks to be the control box for the unloading equipment.

The first car (bulkhead flat) is for crew protection on the locomotives.

4

Thanks for the info guys!
J1

5

(1) Welded rail train
(2) The “thing” is the doghouse for the tie down car. (two men and pneumatic air wrench…this is where the rail is fastened to the car. (everywhere else is free to move back & forth…otherwise the rail would bind and kink (not a good thing)
(3) Rail comes in 1440 ft. strings… 1/4 mile +120 feet

NO power threaders or rail unloading ramps shown.

[banghead][banghead][banghead]

6

Thanks, MC

7

ps - The gate / door at the rear of the train (last photo) is a safety device in case a piece of rail gets loose in transit. If the rail touches or smashes through that bulkhead/ door, strobe lights are set off and the train must stop. (Somebody gets to call the local M/W people to come tie the thing down. A loaded train will have a buffer car at each end - Usually an old Coal Gon full of ballast or dirt (ATSF used old reefer cars full of sawdust)… if the rail is not caught by the safety device, the buffer cars get speared by the loose rail.

8

There was one of those that went through here about a week ago, took about 3 days to go 15 miles.

9

On the UP they will put a big open top hopper on the head end in front of the cars…some of those cars were CP, correct?

10

CP?

11

Here’s a loaded version of an NS rail train I caught about a month ago. I love these trains because of their eclectic variety of older flatcars and boxcars! (I even once caught a WWII wood-sided SOU gon on one of these…with new roller bearing trucks of course)

http://anb740.rrpicturearchives.net/archivethumbs.aspx?id=3267

anb740

12

http://images.snapfish.com/342%3A%3B89923232fp58%3Dot>2327%3D959%3D%3A35%3DXROQDF>232376%3B543694ot1lsi …Looks like CP to me!

13

Thanks for those pics, ANB

UPTRAIN, those were CP.