Trains.com

Unusual Freight

1357 views
20 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Unusual Freight
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 8, 2003 12:03 PM
Earlier this week, I saw the local switcher pulling a single depressed flatcar carrying this huge transformer-like contraption. A first for me.

What is the most bizarre or unusual load you've come across?
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 8, 2003 12:49 PM
Trash, yep, trash! Trash from N.Y. in dumpsters on spine cars destined for a dump in Texas or New Mexico.
Ken
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,319 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Saturday, November 8, 2003 1:09 PM
They had a reactor go from michigan to south carolina on Csx a few weeks ago.
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
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 8, 2003 1:35 PM
I hauled a steam locomotive on flat car to its final resting place. The tender was brought in by truck later. One odd load I remember was a brand-new starting gate, as used to start horse races, loaded on a TTX flat.
  • Member since
    March 2002
  • 9,265 posts
Posted by edblysard on Saturday, November 8, 2003 3:41 PM
Windmill train, the huge GE wind mills you see in their comerical, blades well over 85', with the nacels on spacer cars between the blades.
Ed

23 17 46 11

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 8, 2003 3:41 PM
Damn Yankees [:p]

The South will rise again [:)][:D][8D][:p][;)]
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,319 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Saturday, November 8, 2003 6:52 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Windmill train, the huge GE wind mills you see in their comerical, blades well over 85', with the nacels on spacer cars between the blades.
Ed

bowling green picked up a few of those windmills too
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
    October 2012
  • 527 posts
Posted by eastcoast on Saturday, November 8, 2003 7:09 PM
I have seen many strange things, but nothing as strange as a train consist
on top of flatcars being towed by a train. Actually I think it was a promotional thing.
The (then new) ACELA set was being transported to it's destination through Vermont.
  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: US
  • 304 posts
Posted by andrewjonathon on Sunday, November 9, 2003 2:06 AM
When I was a teenager about 20 years ago a local houseboat builder got a contract to build a couple hundred houseboats. All of them were shipped out at the over two days or so on a couple of "unit" trains. The sight made for a couple of very unique looking trains especially because the town where I lived was on a branchline. Unfortunately, it seems it was a one time deal.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 9, 2003 11:22 AM
i was going through the paperwork on my train one day and we had 12 loaded boxcars of condoms and 3 boxcars of tampons all going to montreal
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,319 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Sunday, November 9, 2003 2:08 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by jchoochoo71

i was going through the paperwork on my train one day and we had 12 loaded boxcars of condoms and 3 boxcars of tampons all going to montreal

mamma said trains was like a box of chocolates you never know what your going to haul![:)]
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
    August 2002
  • From: Memory Lane, on the sunny side of the street.
  • 737 posts
Posted by ironhorseman on Sunday, November 9, 2003 2:41 PM
I don't know how I'm going to describe this but his summer I saw a very short, maybe 20 feet, all white car that wasn't exactly a flat car. It was flat but had slightly sloped roof line, angeled down side to side, and in the middle was a box the width of the car but not very long.

Aw, this is too hard to describe. I'll have to figure out how to draw a picture. Wish I had my camera with me.

yad sdrawkcab s'ti

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 10, 2003 5:44 AM
Ironhorseman, maybe it was a scale test car. Don't know, just guessing.
Ken
  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Monday, November 10, 2003 6:50 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by ironhorseman

I don't know how I'm going to describe this but his summer I saw a very short, maybe 20 feet, all white car that wasn't exactly a flat car. It was flat but had slightly sloped roof line, angeled down side to side, and in the middle was a box the width of the car but not very long.

Aw, this is too hard to describe. I'll have to figure out how to draw a picture. Wish I had my camera with me.

We see a whole train of maybe 10-15 cars go thru here every so often that sounds just like that. Odd shaped boxes on flat cars. I have seen disassembled airplanes go through on flat cars and we have acouple of nuclear power plants not too far away - so always figured it was something like that it those "little boxes".

Mookie

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Denver / La Junta
  • 10,820 posts
Posted by mudchicken on Monday, November 10, 2003 9:24 AM
Space shuttle heading east out of the desert (Edwards AFB) by rail.....and NOT disassembled.
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
    August 2003
  • From: Bottom Left Corner, USA
  • 3,420 posts
Posted by dharmon on Monday, November 10, 2003 10:33 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by jchoochoo71

i was going through the paperwork on my train one day and we had 12 loaded boxcars of condoms and 3 boxcars of tampons all going to montreal


It didn't perhaps having a flashing blue light on it????
  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 13,488 posts
Posted by Mookie on Monday, November 10, 2003 11:55 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

QUOTE: Originally posted by jchoochoo71

i was going through the paperwork on my train one day and we had 12 loaded boxcars of condoms and 3 boxcars of tampons all going to montreal


It didn't perhaps having a flashing blue light on it????
Nope! Had a yellow thingie and a hangy down!

[:I]

Moo (I can't even sign my real name to that one!)

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Bottom Left Corner, USA
  • 3,420 posts
Posted by dharmon on Monday, November 10, 2003 12:22 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

QUOTE: Originally posted by jchoochoo71

i was going through the paperwork on my train one day and we had 12 loaded boxcars of condoms and 3 boxcars of tampons all going to montreal


It didn't perhaps having a flashing blue light on it????
Nope! Had a yellow thingie and a hangy down!

[:I]

Moo (I can't even sign my real name to that one!)



WHOO HOOO[:D][}:)][;)]
  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: US
  • 389 posts
Posted by corwinda on Monday, November 10, 2003 3:24 PM
I once saw several flatcars carrying what I believe to be a small oil drilling rig and associated equipment.
  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Harrisburg PA / Dover AFB DE
  • 1,482 posts
Posted by adrianspeeder on Monday, November 10, 2003 3:28 PM
Umm, this is getting intrusting, or maybe out of hand.

Adrianspeeder

USAF TSgt C-17 Aircraft Maintenance Flying Crew Chief & Flightline Avionics Craftsman

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • 9,265 posts
Posted by edblysard on Monday, November 10, 2003 7:10 PM
Yeah, hangy down thingies can be a hassle, but it the
Standing Up things that usually cause most of the troubles!
Ed

23 17 46 11

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