Sounds like a string of cushion underframe cars. They have a sliding center sill inside the fixed center sill, so buffing forces aren't transmitted to the carbody. The ends of the sliding center sill extend 24-30 inches beyond the fixed end sills, and carry the coupler draft gear (which has the normal short travel.)
What's really fun is to watch the end AWAY from a coupling being made. The sliding center sill jerks out like a trombone slide, then the car centers itself on the sill.
Speaking of trombones, the cut levers have a remarkable resemblance to that musical instrument - they have to accommodate the movement of the sliding sill.
Chuck
A couple of days back I noticed a northbound BNSF witha string of "empty tables". I was too far away to see lettering or more of the cars detaills, there were a good number of cars. All appeared to be single cars; there did not appear to be any multiple unit cars ( ie. two cars on three trucks).
What was most noticable was the distance between the cars. Having seen cars coupled together with cushioned couplers before, these cars appeared to have a much larger spacing (possibly 5or 6 feet apart). I first thought it might have been a welded rail train,but there were no structures on any of the cars, particularly the first car or the last car ( such asunloading aids for welded rail).
The cars were all a yellow color, similar to the one TTX uses, but again, I was too far away to tell for sure. I am curious to learn what they might have been used for...
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