Finding classic BN cars without graffiti is getting more difficult... This one has a little bit, but also a recent repair to the ladders.
About five years ago, I spotted ths converted box car in the Whitefish, Montana yard. What little I could learn about it, seems to be it is/was used during work inside tunnels across this part of the Rockies:
That's really cool! I'd like to see more detail on the roof. Looks like conduits for electrical outlets and power tool use. Probably additional roofwalks too.
I'd love to get back up there, but work keeps me down here in the flatlands. Haven't been up there in a couple years now.
The car has roller bearing trucks. There is a photo on RRPictureArchives that shows the truck profile a bit better. Other cars of the same class had roller bearings trucks too, but most have been scrapped. I think all the 40' boxcars that BNSF keeps for MOW use are from this class of double door cars.
I will join in the fun! Not seen today, but most are BN green! Believe that the original pix were taken in the middle 90's, printed then scanned to .jpg so they may have some issues. East portal of the Cascade Tunnel ( Berne ). above is bn8007 and bn6331 and woops, a blue thing. bn6499 and others
Maybe it's just me, but I get broken links for the photos. And I'm stoked to see them, since 6499 would be an SD45! If you have trouble linking them, try uploading them directly. Use the "Upload a File" button right next to the "Post Reply" button. You can upload from your computer.
Not cascade green, but here are some 40' BN tool cars that showed up here in Fort Worth back in April:
Those are come cool cars. There are photos on RRPictureArchives dated 2002 that show those two car together. Maybe they operate as a pair, or at least get used on the same assignments. They also have folding steps under the doors; you can see them a bit in your photo. That's one thing the cascade green cars might not have. Unfortunately, it looks like I might have to add two more cars to my too-long project list. What AAR standard boxcar are they? 1944? I don't know the difference between that and the 1937 standard.
Found some more Cascade Green last Sunday NB 1456 at Auburn Yard... A nice Autorack at South Seattle... ...and a sad sight at Tacoma Yard.