Trains.com

Auotrack

2079 views
5 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Auotrack
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, August 24, 2003 6:13 PM
In July 2003 an old Grand Trunk autorack was sent to the Pickens Railroad in Anderson, SC off the NS. The car was placed in a small yard for a few days and then sent back via another NS local. To my knowledge the car was never loaded or unloaded. Does anyone have any information about this car and its reason for delivery.

Patb
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Auotrack
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, August 24, 2003 6:13 PM
In July 2003 an old Grand Trunk autorack was sent to the Pickens Railroad in Anderson, SC off the NS. The car was placed in a small yard for a few days and then sent back via another NS local. To my knowledge the car was never loaded or unloaded. Does anyone have any information about this car and its reason for delivery.

Patb
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,291 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Sunday, August 24, 2003 6:18 PM
The car could have been sent to be scrapped.Csx is sending a lot of old auto racks to a local outfit here in Defiance to be scrapped.
stay safe
Joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,291 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Sunday, August 24, 2003 6:18 PM
The car could have been sent to be scrapped.Csx is sending a lot of old auto racks to a local outfit here in Defiance to be scrapped.
stay safe
Joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,792 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Wednesday, August 27, 2003 6:24 PM
Well over 100 BNSF and UPRR heritage autoracks have been cut up at Pueblo (Progress Rail) in the last few months. It appears all of the older autoracks that do not completely protect new autos (i.e NO openings!) are getting cut-up. Also seeing plenty of older covered hoppers getting the torch as well.
Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,792 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Wednesday, August 27, 2003 6:24 PM
Well over 100 BNSF and UPRR heritage autoracks have been cut up at Pueblo (Progress Rail) in the last few months. It appears all of the older autoracks that do not completely protect new autos (i.e NO openings!) are getting cut-up. Also seeing plenty of older covered hoppers getting the torch as well.
Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, August 28, 2003 6:04 PM
well let's see the Railroads should go back to open screend cars that let's you see the cars or trucks.. now that's a sight to see. can't you see that long line of open screend autoracks cruising down the tracks. gone are the days.....
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, August 28, 2003 6:04 PM
well let's see the Railroads should go back to open screend cars that let's you see the cars or trucks.. now that's a sight to see. can't you see that long line of open screend autoracks cruising down the tracks. gone are the days.....
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 29, 2003 12:58 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by antbro

well let's see the Railroads should go back to open screend cars that let's you see the cars or trucks.. now that's a sight to see. can't you see that long line of open screend autoracks cruising down the tracks. gone are the days.....


What a great sight indeed! Unfortunately I can only imagine it as I'm a bit young. I can see the dissadvantages, though. I once saw a picture in a National Geographic of two kids with bows and arrows shooting at a train of autoracks. This wasn't a posed picture.

I heard this story about two guys who climbed aboard a train loaded with new Hondas that was in the yards at Vancouver. They rode the train in one of the vehicles (that part actually does kind of sound like fun) and actually started the car and burned rubber right there in the autorack! They also honked the horn and waved at people as the train went through towns as well as to the crew of another train they passed. I can't help but wonder if these guys were on drugs. Eventually though, someone had the brains to call the cops. At one town the train stopped where police cars were waiting on either side of the tracks and the two men were then arrested.

Open autoracks are becomming a thing of the past, like steam locomotives, wood rolling stock, RPO's, etc. and in my mind should be preserved instead of being scrapped. Besides railroad museums I also think it would be great to have them at classic car museums as well. Just a thought, but I can't stand to see any piece of railroad equipment go to the torch, whether it's rare/historical or not.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 29, 2003 12:58 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by antbro

well let's see the Railroads should go back to open screend cars that let's you see the cars or trucks.. now that's a sight to see. can't you see that long line of open screend autoracks cruising down the tracks. gone are the days.....


What a great sight indeed! Unfortunately I can only imagine it as I'm a bit young. I can see the dissadvantages, though. I once saw a picture in a National Geographic of two kids with bows and arrows shooting at a train of autoracks. This wasn't a posed picture.

I heard this story about two guys who climbed aboard a train loaded with new Hondas that was in the yards at Vancouver. They rode the train in one of the vehicles (that part actually does kind of sound like fun) and actually started the car and burned rubber right there in the autorack! They also honked the horn and waved at people as the train went through towns as well as to the crew of another train they passed. I can't help but wonder if these guys were on drugs. Eventually though, someone had the brains to call the cops. At one town the train stopped where police cars were waiting on either side of the tracks and the two men were then arrested.

Open autoracks are becomming a thing of the past, like steam locomotives, wood rolling stock, RPO's, etc. and in my mind should be preserved instead of being scrapped. Besides railroad museums I also think it would be great to have them at classic car museums as well. Just a thought, but I can't stand to see any piece of railroad equipment go to the torch, whether it's rare/historical or not.
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • 964 posts
Posted by TH&B on Friday, August 29, 2003 2:01 PM
Beleive it or not I still see the occasional loaded open auto rack with just a net on the sides for protection. It must be one in 10,000 or more because it seems that closed auto racks comprise half of all the trains I ever see.
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • 964 posts
Posted by TH&B on Friday, August 29, 2003 2:01 PM
Beleive it or not I still see the occasional loaded open auto rack with just a net on the sides for protection. It must be one in 10,000 or more because it seems that closed auto racks comprise half of all the trains I ever see.

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy