Western Railroad Discussion > BNSF 8237 12-car Inspection Train

Image; BNSF 35 Canyon View north of Trinidad, CO, August 25, 2016.  Train had departed Trinidad, CO, for Pueblo, CO, where inspection trip ended.

Video-BNSF 8237, ES44C4, with 12-car Kansas Division general manager inspection train from Amarillo, Texas, approached Trinidad, CO, at Beshoar Siding August 25, 2016.  Fisher Peak at right.  "Silver Veranda" square ended obs-11 seat parlor-bar lounge-1 drawing room for Denver Zephyr now BNSF 35 Canyon View.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/26/16 06:16 by cozephyr.

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First of all, thanks for reminding us what the "Canyon View" started out as.  Much appreciated.  I did
enjoy the video.  

Now, what happened to that former CZ dome/lounge/sleeper/obs car BNSF had stuffed and mounted at
their Ft. Worth HQ.  I don't remember seeing it there last summer during the Santa Fe Historical Society
convention.  IIRC, both that car and the "Canyon View" were sent to Topeka.  Updated information
would be appreciated.

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA

Nice job, CZ

ntharalson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> Now, what happened to that former CZ
> dome/lounge/sleeper/obs car BNSF had stuffed and
> mounted at
> their Ft. Worth HQ.  I don't remember seeing it
> there last summer during the Santa Fe Historical
> Society
> convention.  IIRC, both that car and the "Canyon
> View" were sent to Topeka.  Updated information
> would be appreciated.
>
> Nick Tharalson,
> Marion, IA

It is still there on the campus as of a few months ago, used as a coffee and sandwich shop for employees.  It is not in front where the other four business cars are located (Yellowstone River, Canadian River, James J. Hill, and Cyrus K. Holliday), it is in the plaza on the back side between the Network Operations Center (where the dispatchers are) and Administrative Office Building.

Thought and a question.

The thought first:  this is as close as we'll come to seeing the Super Chief.  Something of which the Amtrak train is a pale (at best) imitation.  So use your imagination and enjoy it. 

The question:  Why waste a large trainset on a (commercially speaking) nothingburger line like this one?

billio Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thought and a question.

> The question:  Why waste a large trainset on a
> (commercially speaking) nothingburger line like
> this one?

I'm sure the Kansas Division GM wanted to see the new territory that his division took over from the Powder River Division in the recent organizational realignments (when BNSF went from three regions to two).

As for why the large trainset, often these types of internal inspection trips are scheduled in conjunction with deadhead moves of equipment from other events to their home base in Topeka, KS.  For example, perhaps there was something going on in southern California recently that required use of these cars to entertain customers, etc., and this equipment was deadheading back to Topeka (an event that would have been scheduled many weeks or months ago).  The GM may have worked with whoever schedules the business train to arrange for it to make a detour from Amarillo to Pueblo on its way back to Topeka.  The cost would be fairly minimal, a little fuel and crew expense.  Depending on how many people were coming along, they may have only required use of a couple cars at the rear of the train, the rest were simply deadheading.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/26/16 09:25 by czephyr17.

czephyr is exactly right. That train, or parts of it, has  been up in the Pacifci NW and Wyoming since it left its base in Topeka.
No doubt, has seen a number of trips for various purposes and people.

czephyr17 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ntharalson Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> > Now, what happened to that former CZ
> > dome/lounge/sleeper/obs car BNSF had stuffed
> and
> > mounted at
> > their Ft. Worth HQ.  I don't remember seeing
> it
> > there last summer during the Santa Fe
> Historical
> > Society
> > convention.  IIRC, both that car and the
> "Canyon
> > View" were sent to Topeka.  Updated
> information
> > would be appreciated.
> >
> > Nick Tharalson,
> > Marion, IA
>
> It is still there on the campus as of a few months
> ago, used as a coffee and sandwich shop for
> employees.  It is not in front where the other
> four business cars are located (Yellowstone River,
> Canadian River, James J. Hill, and Cyrus K.
> Holliday), it is in the plaza on the back side
> between the Network Operations Center (where the
> dispatchers are) and Administrative Office
> Building.  

Thank you.  This was not an area we got to see during our brief tour.  

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA

It seems like BNSF has converted a lot of the business cars open platforms into a vestibule end. Whats the reasoning behind this?

Seth-
 

sethamtrak Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It seems like BNSF has converted a lot of the
> business cars open platforms into a vestibule end.
> Whats the reasoning behind this?
>
> Seth-
>  
I would suppose this has been done to reduce the hazards of moving between cars, as well as to provide protection against the elements.

ATSF3751 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> sethamtrak Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > It seems like BNSF has converted a lot of the
> > business cars open platforms into a vestibule
> end.
> > Whats the reasoning behind this?
> >
> > Seth-
> >  
> I would suppose this has been done to reduce the
> hazards of moving between cars, as well as to
> provide protection against the elements.

Add mid-train to this and I totally agree.  We should note several of the Santa Fe
cas were equipped with temporary, if that's the right word, bulk heads to make theis
conversion, and coiuld run without them as needed.  I'm wondering if what we're seeing
here isn't some of that. 

Nick Tharalson,
Marion,IA