Identify this car!!

[88gta350]

I'm posting this on several different forums in hopes of getting an answer......

There is a railroad car(s) at my work that has sat there since I started 2 years ago. I hasn't moved, as we don't use our line unless we have a serious part coming in for repairs (It's a nuclear power plant). This "car" is actually two cars. Each half as a coupler on one end and... well, I think the pictures would do a better job of describing it. In between the two halves sits what appears to be a spare transformer of some type, although it doesn't really look like any other transformer on site. It appears the cars are supposed to somehow transport the "transformer" between them. I really have no idea. The cars have a build plate on them that says "Built By Maxson". I have more pics of the cars if you need them, but most are just different angles, nothing new... so, here are the pics... can anyone identify what this car is and just what it is used for?

First is an overall side view of one of the halves:


This is the non-coupler end of one half:


A wider angle of the non-coupler end:


An overall shot of both halves with the transformer situated bewteen:


Another side shot:


The "BUILT BY MAXSON" plate:


A different angle of the non-coupler end:


Any help would be appreciated. I'll try to ask around at work and see if anyone knows what it's for. I thought you guys would appriciate seeing an unusual car.

[Anonymous]

It looks like the end of a special purpose flat car.

[Anonymous]

This car is owned by ABB and is used to haul extremely large transformers and other large equipment used in the electric power industry. Overland Models produced a model several years ago and it was a massive model.
Ch

[88gta350]

I don't think you can see it in the photos, but the owner was GPUX, or General Public Utilities, which owned the plant I work at until about 5 years ago when it was bought by Exelon. Thanks for the info, though.

[Anonymous]

The transformer is pinned at the bottom to the two halvesof the car. Same type of pinning as used in oil field rigs.

[Anonymous]

It's a transformer carrier - I think similar cars are available from one of the European HO manufacturers, though to a slightly different design. I saw one listed in a German hobby store catalogue a few years ago but they didn't say who made it. Now there's a cool scratchbuilding project!

Anyone seen the new Walthers heavy duty cars (Flat and well) "in the metal" yet? From the photos in MR they look very interesting. How would these cars be moved? On their own or as part of a normal train? Would barrier cars be used (or a caboose)? Would make an interesting operation in model form.

[DSchmitt]

Link to site devoted to cars of this type

http://southern.railfan.net/schnabel/schnabel.html

The car is GUPX 100

Description:
This twelve axle schnabel car is owned by GPU Corp., and is still in service. It was built in November 1979.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Specification:

Capacity
505,000 lbs.

Light Weight
154,100 lbs.

Number of axles (33" wheels)
14

Empty Car Length
80' 8"

Loaded Car Length
106' 1"

[philnrunt]

Hey finally a topic I can contribute to- it's called a schnabel car, and it is used to haul huge transformers. They are loaded by breaking the car apart and lowering the transformer, then joining the 2 halves together leaving the center of the transformer body suspended between the 2 car ends.
There were 2 ( I observed 2 different cars, there may have been more) of these cars dedicated to the Large Transformer Division of Westinghouse in Muncie In, my home town. (Also Overland Models). I watched a movement one day, by NW, it took over 3 hours to move the load to the NW main, less than a mile away. I don't know if this was normal ,timewise, but it was way interesting, me watching wise! Once on the main, it was 2 GP's, the schnabel and 2 cabeese, so these were obviously special movements.
Hope this helped.

[Eriediamond]

Yep, and what they haul can be seen in the fourth photo sitting between the two units.

[88gta350]

I got a lot of great responses to my question on all the forums, thanks for all the input guys!! Definately answered my question.

[Dough]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Railroading_Brit

Anyone seen the new Walthers heavy duty cars (Flat and well) "in the metal" yet? From the photos in MR they look very interesting. How would these cars be moved? On their own or as part of a normal train? Would barrier cars be used (or a caboose)? Would make an interesting operation in model form.

I actually managed to get some pictures of these a few years ago. I remember wondering if I would ever be able to model them, and then low and behold Walthers comes out with models of both! And as a matter of fact I looked at the build dates on the well cars and they both were brand new.

I also have pics of a third kind of car used in transporting some kind of crazy looking piece of electrical equipment. The train was made up of the engines, a barrier car(box car), the long electrical flat, tractor on flat, and transformer on flat, and then the rest of the train. I'll try to scan up some pics of the train if you or anyone else is interested.