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After the BNSF merger did any of the former Great Northern-Burlington Northern ACF Cylindrical Hoppers get saved?

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Posted by ericsp on Monday, August 29, 2016 1:12 AM

BOB WITHORN

Andrew,

 

If they are still being used, they are in captive service and not leaving CSX at 50+ years old. They are not allowed to be used in interchanged / sent off line.

Bob

 

There is a rule and a law regarding age of cars.

AAR Rule 90 prohibits cars built before July 1, 1974 from being interchanged after they are 40 years old unless they are rebuilt per AAR Rule 88.

49 CFR 215.203 (federal law) prohibits use of a freight car once it has reached 50 years old. There is no mention of interchange. The owner of the car can petition the FRA to continue use.

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Posted by Andrew Falconer on Thursday, August 25, 2016 7:52 PM

The CSXT reported marks were patched over in black paint with new white reporting marks and road number. From memory the reporting marks were EMAX.

The ACF Center Flow Cylindrical covered hopper was on CN's Grand Trunk Western in Michigan. The train might have been headed to Canada.

Andrew

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Posted by BOB WITHORN on Wednesday, August 24, 2016 6:32 AM

Andrew,

 

If they are still being used, they are in captive service and not leaving CSX at 50+ years old. They are not allowed to be used in interchanged / sent off line.

Bob

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Posted by Andrew Falconer on Monday, August 22, 2016 11:24 PM

BN ACF Center Flow from Fallen Flags website

There are CSXT CSX ACF Center Flow Cylindrical 3-bay Covered Hoppers built between 1963 and 1965 that have been sold off and are still running on the rails under new reporting marks on the dirty, old CSX scheme. I have digital photos of those I took over the past 18 months, but I have to search through my files for them.

 

Could BNSF be using them for another purpose or have sold them to a small private owner?

 

The people at AMERICAN CAR & FOUNDRY did say that their ACF Center Flow covered hoppers should last 100 years.

Andrew

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Posted by jrbernier on Monday, August 22, 2016 11:39 AM

  Andrew,

  Unless they got a major rebuilding, they would have been outlawed from interchange service by this time.  In June of 1974(IIRC), the 40 year rule was replaced by the 50 year rule.  Since the cars you are describing were built in 1964, the 40 year date would be 2004.  I suspect scrapping, unless they have found an on-line use for them.  I remember CSX scrapping a whole group of ACF center flows after one pulled apart from rust/corrosion...

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Posted by CandOforprogress2 on Monday, August 22, 2016 9:15 AM

Can you give us a pic?

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After the BNSF merger did any of the former Great Northern-Burlington Northern ACF Cylindrical Hoppers get saved?
Posted by Andrew Falconer on Sunday, August 21, 2016 10:53 PM

After the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railway merger did any of the former Great Northern  to Burlington Northern ACF Cylindrical Hoppers in the BN 443000 series and BN 445000 get saved and preserved somewhere?

They were among the first ACF Center Flow Covered hoppers built between 1963 and 1965.

Were any of these early ACF Center Flow 6-bay covered hoppers set aside for historical preservation?

Thank you.

Andrew

Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer

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