posted
Hi, I was waiting at my nearby crossing in my car where only freights go by and I saw a locomotive with only 2 cars and got my camera ready. This is what I saw and I've never seen anything like it so I wanted to ask people who knew more about this stuff. My first thought was that it is like an RV. If so, I am envious of its owner.
Looks like a pair of former passenger train cars (one bilevel) that have been converted for some sort of track testing and data gathering....
But that's a guess.
Perhaps someone more familiar with what you spotted will respond.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
That is a inspection train. Good catch, seeing you weren't planing on it. As those are rare.
Posts: 465 | From: elgin (s-line) | Registered: Dec 2008
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posted
Interesting, 2 leather seats in the back window looked very inviting.
On another note, I once saw an Amtrak heading south on these same tracks (BNSF tracks running south through La Crosse, WI to Galesburg and Chicago). The Empire Builder tracks run E-W a few miles north of this crossing. There is not an Amtrak route that way normally. Perhaps it was a random reroute to Chicago, but what about all the other stops some passengers would miss?
Posts: 3 | From: LaCrosse, WI | Registered: Apr 2011
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quote:Originally posted by slfranke: On another note, I once saw an Amtrak heading south on these same tracks (BNSF tracks running south through La Crosse, WI to Galesburg and Chicago). The Empire Builder tracks run E-W a few miles north of this crossing. There is not an Amtrak route that way normally. Perhaps it was a random reroute to Chicago, but what about all the other stops some passengers would miss?
Generally if a train is rerouted Amtrak either provides bus transportation for passengers traveling to/from the intermediate stops which are skipped or else they announce in advance that the train will not serve those stations on that day and that "no alternate transportation is available" and offer refunds.
-------------------- --------Eric H. Bowen
Stop by my website: Streamliner Schedules - Historic timetables of the great trains of the past! Posts: 413 | From: Houston, Texas | Registered: Mar 2006
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posted
Cool, that is totally it. So it just goes around all the BNSF tracks an inspects them.
BTW if heading to Chicago, that would be a fortunate reroute as its much more scenic.
Posts: 3 | From: LaCrosse, WI | Registered: Apr 2011
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posted
Mr. Franke, when Ol' Man River starts a risin', the Builder gets a reroutin'.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
I flew to Minneapolis in July 2009 just to ride an excursion train from Minneapolis to Chicago using the BNSF routing. It was worth the trip.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
Do I see the "antenna" for the old Pennsylvania Rail Road induction telephone system on top of the car in the first picture?
Posts: 1 | From: Clovis, New Mexico USA | Registered: Apr 2011
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