RAILforum: BNSF Business Train

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Posted by coach34135 (Member # 1979) on :

I know I'm a freaking crazy trainfan cause I chased the BNSF biz train from Santa Ana to Alicia overpass(in mission viejo)...just seeing that at night going southbound was just WAY cool. It was like the ol Santa Fe lived again. Except they were pulled by a pair of pretty C44-9Ws.

Posted by atsf3751 (Member # 1538) on :

How many cars were there and what types did you notice? Any big domes or rear-platform obs cars?

Posted by daniel3197 (Member # 27) on :

The Trainweb staff posted many photos on Trainweb of this same BNSF business train. This should be the very same train that "ATSF3751" saw and chased. These photos were taken while it stayed in Fullerton on Nov 18 and Nov 19th.

Here is that web link in SHORTENED form:
http://shorterlink.com/?1TY47R .

If that Link does not work, look at the "Whats New" listing at Trainweb for 11-19-02(Nov 19th of 2002) :
http://www.trainweb.com/whatsnew/index.html

I hope this info helps!
--Daniel

Posted by coach34135 (Member # 1979) on :

quote:
Originally posted by atsf3751:
How many cars were there and what types did you notice? Any big domes or rear-platform obs cars?

Well, it was hard chasing it...it was night time and I had just fueled at the Chevron on Fairhaven by the tracks, I pulled out saw the rxr lights and then floored it when i noticed they were not normal railcars. Then I floored it right into traffic on the 5s. I tried spotting it off the freeway best I could, I beat it to GatewayCenter in MV by 10 seconds. Soon as I pulled to the back which is right by the track it went by. I saw the consist at BNSF Commerce, and noted I think 2 domes..i could be wrong. The last dome has a huge window to look out.

Posted by atsf3751 (Member # 1538) on :

I haven't yet seen the train, except for the photos on the web. It looks very similar to the equipment they use for the Christmas Express which is typically run on the first weekend every December. I remember those higher-level cars in the consist. They're ex-Metra gallery cars and have been converted from double decker to single level. I think most of those other cars are actually from ex-BN roads, but have been done up in a more Santa Fe-like scheme.

Anyone know what this train is out here for? Are these the cars they will be using on the Christmas Express?

Posted by PullmanCo (Member # 1138) on :

3751,

BNSF train is a hybrid of ATSF & BN (CB&Q/GN specifically) stuff.

Each road brought a Budd "Great Dome" to the deal. I know BN had a Budd-built business car, and so did the Santa Fe. I don't know how many are active right now.

The double-deckers were acquired by BN just before the merger.

FWIW, the fleet's home is now Topeka Shops. Prior to the merger, ATSF kept theirs in Argentine Yard, KC, KS, and BNSF kept theirs (including a small but excellent shop) in Murray Yard, Nortk Kansas City, MO.

Made life nice around here, since the KCS also keeps their train here half the year. Three business fleets in one town. Not bad.

Oh: BNSF now has some cars permanently at their DFW headquarters, and KCS has taken a page from that book, placing one of their old heavyweights under a trainshed at their new headquarters building in downtown KC.

John

------------------
The City of Saint Louis (UP, 1967) is still my standard for passenger operations

Posted by atsf3751 (Member # 1538) on :

Apparently, the BNSF business train was out here giving shippers and potential customers rides for a business expo. This article explains it: http://railroadnews.net/news/11-26.html

Posted by PullmanCo (Member # 1138) on :

Woo the shippers ... a good meal and a train trip.

It's worked for years.

Too bloody bad the RR's didn't recognize the tool for their elite operations in the late 60s...

What's done is done.

John