Caught a Canadian Pacific heading east through Elm Grove toward Milwaukee (and perhaps Chicago?) this morning about 8:30 a.m.
One locomotive (all cleaned up), a vintage Canadian Pacific box car, and two Canadian Pacific silver passenger cars. Nothing else.
The second passenger car had a very large window off of the back. Saw someone in there with an orange vest.
Wondering if anyone knows what this would be, where it's heading, etc.
One more note, it was on the traditional westbound track. Not unheard of, but not all that common.
Nice surprise to start the day--but happened so dang fast!
Thanks in advance.
A guess would be some kind of 'inspection train'. As to the 'boxcar'-No idea- from time to time around here BNSF has sent similar type moves. One engine (sometimes pretty'new', and sometimes not so much). I've seen cylindrical hoppers, recently a gondola, and it rear was brought up by one of their Office Car Fleet cars. Usually around here the Theater Cars resemble large commuter cars with the seating facing a large rear window, the row seating slopes towards the rear of the car. The BNSF paradigm for their Office Car Trains seems to be, the more of their Business Fleet Cars there are on the move, the shinner the locomotive(s)?
Boxcar could possibly contain HEP generator for the passenger cars.
What you saw is one of CP's Track Evaluation trains. Measuring gauge, cross-level, surface, rail wear and various other parameters, often leaving in its wake a shopping list of defects of various priorities to keep the track forces busy removing resultant slow orders. Main tracks will be tested several times a year by one or other of the trains. The other one has older passenger cars in the classic tuscan.
I think the boxcar has some measurement functions (gauge restraint?) as well as providing useful space.
Thanks, CX, DMoore and Sam for the responses--appreciate it.
It's never a good thing if you see one stop in the middle of nowhere - it means they probably found something they want to take a closer look at... And likely something that will demand immediate attention.
I rode one of the FRA's cars a few years back when they visited us.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
WisconsinCy a vintage Canadian Pacific box car
Only to some of us.
I Googled images of what you saw and the boxcar was definately built after I was!
Bruce
So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.
"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere" CP Rail Public Timetable
"O. S. Irricana"
. . . __ . ______
Point well taken, Bruce!
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tree68 It's never a good thing if you see one stop in the middle of nowhere - it means they probably found something they want to take a closer look at... And likely something that will demand immediate attention. I rode one of the FRA's cars a few years back when they visited us.
mudchickenAnd did you feel like Quasimodo? (Bells? - I hear bells!)
Only one such stop. Nothing major. Ate good, though....
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