how much does it cost to move a railcar?

[beefmalone]

I have a buddy that bought a depot that he's restoring & turning into a shopping area. It has a dining car parked next to it that he wants moved or scrapped. He said I can HAVE it if I can move it. So how do I move it? Any idea what it will cost ballpark?

[rrandb]

I will assume that it has not been moved by rail to get it there. To move by truck it will reguire a crane and a heavy duty tractor trailer or two. Now you have to have some where to put it and the nessesary permits. If there is in fact rail access you will need to have it inspected, repaired and certified to move by rail. Either senarios can become very expensive very fast. I would think since he bought a depot the dinner would be an asset and a draw to his shopping center. With the correct renevation it could even become novel retail space. Another option would be to offer it for sale and then it is the buyers responsibility and expense to move it. I hope this helps. [2c]

[beefmalone]

well keeping it there unfortunately isn't an option. I have a place to put it, but moving it is the problem. It was actually brought to the depot on a truck back in the 80s. I'm just trying to get a ballpark idea of what it would cost. It's a LONG way from railworth (no couplers, needs new brake lines, etc.) so trucking is the only option. Where I could put it is nowhere near rail access so a long flatcar would be out of the question as well. thanks

[Anonymous]

Ballpark $ 5,000 -10,000

[adrianspeeder]

How did you do it before? You can't do it again?

Adrianspeeder

[Anonymous]

I live in Pleasanton California...helped a friend move a caboose and box car from Moffett Navel Air Station about 15 years ago...same deal..."you can have them or we burn them and toast marshmellows"...it was a nasty old metal box car....but...the cab...was a C 30 Northwest Pacific #13...did a rebuild and restore....but bottom line...each cost about 5k each...so you other mention of 10k sounds correct. We had the tracks moved on the flatbed first.....removed the caboose.....trucks came off....loaded the trucks then mounted the cab on the trucks...tricky...but worked. We had them on display near the old train station on the old SP right of way...and the city went with them for 15 years...but finally got sick of them and the box car was donated to the Pacific Loco Association in Sunol and the Cab is in Santa Rosa CA and restored and running.....all great fun...good luck with this project.

Russ Trapani
Alameda Model Train Club

[beefmalone]

I wasn't around when they did it before and I can't find anyone that was. I called some crane places and they all wanted to know how much it weighs. Where in the world can I find out how much a pullman diner weighs???

[Chi Town Hustler]

I have worked moving several passenger cars. In the Chi the cost is $30,000. Cranemasters, Hulcher. 2018 money

[BaltACD]

beefmalone

I wasn't around when they did it before and I can't find anyone that was. I called some crane places and they all wanted to know how much it weighs. Where in the world can I find out how much a pullman diner weighs???

'Lightweight' passenger cars are 'fat fingered' at a nominal 60 tons including trucks.

'Heavyweight' passenger cars are 'fat fingered' at a nominal 80 tons including trucks.

Your weights may vary.  A diner would likely be heavier in both categories of cars.