UP's Heritage/Business Car Fleet/Shop

[kenotrainnut]

After a recent visit to the Omaha/Council Bluffs area and a brief stop by UP's Council Bluffs passenger car shop, I was struck by how little I know about that facility.

Certainly Cheyenne gets most of the press when it comes to heritage subjects, but the passenger car fleet undoubtedly gets far more mileage than the steam locomotives and are seen by many more people--albeit not with near the enthusiasm of the general public.

I'm curious if there are any significant articles available detailing the work that is done in Council Bluffs. If not, perhaps this is a significant subject opportunity for this publication (hint, hint, Mr. Wrinn, et al.)?

Question I have:

• How much work--interior (furnishings, decorations, etc.), internal (structural), and external (body)--is actually done in Council Bluffs? How much is farmed out?
• How widely available are parts, given that the fleet probably averages around 60-70 years old and the manufacturers (Budd, ACF, Pullman) are long gone?
• What sort of mileage does the company get out of the fleet?
• Is UP still acquiring cars?

Related/sidebar articles could look at what other railroads do to maintain their fleets.

[ROBERT WILLISON]

All good questions. Wonder if they buy cars to scrap out. I knew a guy who brought many old cars sy auctions just to part them out.  Trucks and truck parts were high ticket item's. Interior parts as well especially off the old heavyweight.

Another company that maintains a large fleet of light weight passenger cars is PT Barnum circus. They have a large shop in Sarasota FL.

[daveklepper]

And of course 'Ed Ellis and Corman

[samfp1943]

ROBERT WILLISON

All good questions. Wonder if they buy cars to scrap out. I knew a guy who brought many old cars sy auctions just to part them out.  Trucks and truck parts were high ticket item's. Interior parts as well especially off the old heavyweight.

Another company that maintains a large fleet of light weight passenger cars is PT Barnum circus. They have a large shop in Sarasota FL.

 

It seems only fair that we include a couple of other railroads that maintain their own Business Car Fleets:

BNSF has a sizeable fleet of 'Business Cars' in their Fleet, based out of the Topeka,Ks. Shops. Linked here is a list of cars, and thazt links to a photo roster as well: Links are @ http://www.qstation.org/BNSF_Biz_Cars/index.html

 Here are a couple of YouTube videos of Tours of the BNSF Topeka Car Shop @ Video#1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfIiQUUfgas

Video#2    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB-5JnKD9ys

As is presented BNFS still keeps the fluted sides, and stainless steel look in their Business Car Fleet, which reflects their Santa Fe Lineage.

Kansas City Southern also maintains a Business Car Fleet based in the Kansas City area. Their fleet is mostly smooth-sided type of cars and is painted in the " Southern Belle Paint scheme [ Silver roof, Brunswick Green sides, with red and yellow bands just above the lower rail line.] Link @ http://passcarphotos.info/Indices/KCS.htm

Interesting fact is that the KCS had dropped its Passenger Service and discontinued its named Southern Belle Train, in 1969 KCS sold all its' passenger equipment; prior to AMTRAK starting up.

 So when Mike Haverty took over as President, and CEO one of the changes he brought about was the Company Business Car Fleet; which equipment KSC had to go out and buy in the equipment markets.Also purchased were from CNR,three F units (A-B-A), They were also decorated in a similar paint scheme to the former KCS's Southern Belle scheme; as when he was at AT&SF, where he had brought about the 'WarBonnet' scheme for their new diesel locomotives. .

[pajrr]

If you want to see an example of a "used railroad equipment showroom", then visit here.   http://www.ozarkmountainrailcar.com/index_rw.asp    There are some great items for sale.

[kenotrainnut]

samfp1943

 

 

 

Interesting fact is that the KCS had dropped its Passenger Service and discontinued its named Southern Belle Train, in 1969 KCS sold all its' passenger equipment; prior to AMTRAK starting up.

 So when Mike Haverty took over as President, and CEO one of the changes he brought about was the Company Business Car Fleet; which equipment KSC had to go out and buy in the equipment markets.Also purchased were from CNR,three F units (A-B-A), They were also decorated in a similar paint scheme to the former KCS's Southern Belle scheme; as when he was at AT&SF, where he had brought about the 'WarBonnet' scheme for their new diesel locomotives. .

 

 

I believe much of UP's current collection is made up of original UP cars that were (mostly) unloaded at Amtrak's startup and then later reacquired and restored. I don't know if BNSF, KCS, NS, or CSX have made any concerted efforts to acquire cars built for roads which are now part of their portfolio. Of course, UP is the only company that can purchase back cars that were built for it.

I wasn't aware of BNSF's shop in Topeka, but it is quite extensive as well! Thanks for sharing those videos.

Going back to my original post, it's easy to forget that all of the freight railroads are still in the passenger train business (sort of). Perhaps Trains could do a broad survey of Class I passenger car fleets?