QUOTE: Originally posted by BNSF4ever I see "Golden West Service" rolling stock all the time with various reporting marks--GVSR or what appear to be patched SSW, SP, and UP cars. What was/is Golden West Service?
23 17 46 11
"No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld)
QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken Clandestine marketing effort by SP to generate carloadings without customer thinking they had to deal with the attitude problem that was Southern Pacific.
Originally posted by SP9033 [ Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 2, 2005 1:41 AM Well, if it's "Golden West" then why are the cars blue? Reply Edit CShaveRR Member sinceJune 2001 From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois 13,681 posts Posted by CShaveRR on Tuesday, August 2, 2005 1:59 AM They're blue because blue lettering would have been impossible to see on gold after a short while. GVSR, CRLE, and VCY were the big operators of these cars, and in that order. There was a fourth reporting mark for these cars early on: KCS (theirs were relettered CRLE after only a matter of months). I believe that Greenbrier Leasing operated and managed these cars. Lots of these cars have been restored to SP and SSW reporting marks--often to their original numbers, but not always. Subsequent reletterings include ATW, TKEN, UPFE (and ARMN, after repainting), and CEFX. Oh--and most of Amtrak's express box cars (not the reefers) were former Golden West cars. I'm sure other folks can add reporting marks that I've forgotten about. (UP, by the way, is not one of them, to the best of my knowledge.) Some of the Golden West cars are former D&RGW cars, as well--has anyone seen any of those restored to D&RGW reporting marks and numbers? Carl Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!) CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM) Reply ericsp Member sinceMay 2015 5,134 posts Posted by ericsp on Tuesday, August 2, 2005 2:32 AM QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR Some of the Golden West cars are former D&RGW cars, as well--has anyone seen any of those restored to D&RGW reporting marks and numbers? All is quiet on the western front (no). Since, to the best of my knowledge, all of the former DRGW GWS cars are RBLs, I am sure it will not take long to see them when, or if, this does happen. By the way, the former DRGW cars are class B-70-D or B-100-D. "No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld) Reply CShaveRR Member sinceJune 2001 From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois 13,681 posts Posted by CShaveRR on Tuesday, August 2, 2005 10:33 AM Eric, I've seen some ex-D&RGW gons painted for GWS, too. They're in the 300000 series. By the way, did you ever figure out the numbering system for these cars? The second and third digits of the six-digit numbers are always the last two digits of the SP system classification (except on the mechanical reefers). So when the "unclassified" ex-D&RGW cars were included, the second and third digits were "00". The first digit, of course, signifies the car type: 1--100-ton box-type cars (includes RBLs); SP class B-100-nn 3--Gons 4--Flat cars 5--Covered hoppers 6--Open hoppers 7--70-ton box-type cars (includes RBLs); SP class B-70-nn Carl Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!) CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM) Reply ericsp Member sinceMay 2015 5,134 posts Posted by ericsp on Tuesday, August 2, 2005 7:47 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR Eric, I've seen some ex-D&RGW gons painted for GWS, too. They're in the 300000 series. By the way, did you ever figure out the numbering system for these cars? The second and third digits of the six-digit numbers are always the last two digits of the SP system classification (except on the mechanical reefers). So when the "unclassified" ex-D&RGW cars were included, the second and third digits were "00". The first digit, of course, signifies the car type: 1--100-ton box-type cars (includes RBLs); SP class B-100-nn 3--Gons 4--Flat cars 5--Covered hoppers 6--Open hoppers 7--70-ton box-type cars (includes RBLs); SP class B-70-nn Carl, your timing regarding DRGW GWS cars renumber to DRGW was almost perfect, if not perfect. Today, I saw DRGW 61667, in Golden West Service paint. It is a 50' PCF, exterior post, 10' plug door (horizontal latch bars) RBL. Actually, I found that information on Lee Gautreaux's Golden West Serivce Page before I tried to figure it out. It is a pretty good page. For those who want to know about Golden West Service, I recommend going there. "No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld) Reply ericsp Member sinceMay 2015 5,134 posts Posted by ericsp on Saturday, August 6, 2005 12:31 AM Carl, I have a Microscale decal sheet for Golden West Serivce cars that includes decals for a white, GWS cryogenic reefer. From the drawing it appears as though it is a converted 60' PCF RBL. I have found no other evidence of the existance of these cars. Do you know if they ever existed? Did they become Cryo-Trans cars? "No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld) Reply kenneo Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Upper Left Coast 1,796 posts Posted by kenneo on Saturday, August 6, 2005 7:55 AM QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR Eric, I've seen some ex-D&RGW gons painted for GWS, too. They're in the 300000 series. By the way, did you ever figure out the numbering system for these cars? The second and third digits of the six-digit numbers are always the last two digits of the SP system classification (except on the mechanical reefers). So when the "unclassified" ex-D&RGW cars were included, the second and third digits were "00". The first digit, of course, signifies the car type: 1--100-ton box-type cars (includes RBLs); SP class B-100-nn 3--Gons 4--Flat cars 5--Covered hoppers 6--Open hoppers 7--70-ton box-type cars (includes RBLs); SP class B-70-nn Umm, Carl, 1 was for single door box cars 2 was for double door box cars 5 had the non-bulkhead flat cars (53'6" plain flats were 564000 series) 7 also had 50 foot flats - cast steel frames (ex ROCK, I think) You are correct, however, that the first digit of the SP number system was the general car type when the 6 digit numbers were concerned. Different for DRGW and SSW marks which carried 5 digits and SP's "old" 5 digit system. Eric Reply ericsp Member sinceMay 2015 5,134 posts Posted by ericsp on Saturday, August 6, 2005 1:59 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by kenneo QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR Eric, I've seen some ex-D&RGW gons painted for GWS, too. They're in the 300000 series. By the way, did you ever figure out the numbering system for these cars? The second and third digits of the six-digit numbers are always the last two digits of the SP system classification (except on the mechanical reefers). So when the "unclassified" ex-D&RGW cars were included, the second and third digits were "00". The first digit, of course, signifies the car type: 1--100-ton box-type cars (includes RBLs); SP class B-100-nn 3--Gons 4--Flat cars 5--Covered hoppers 6--Open hoppers 7--70-ton box-type cars (includes RBLs); SP class B-70-nn Umm, Carl, 1 was for single door box cars 2 was for double door box cars 5 had the non-bulkhead flat cars (53'6" plain flats were 564000 series) 7 also had 50 foot flats - cast steel frames (ex ROCK, I think) You are correct, however, that the first digit of the SP number system was the general car type when the 6 digit numbers were concerned. Different for DRGW and SSW marks which carried 5 digits and SP's "old" 5 digit system. I have to agree with Carl on this. I have been paying attention to the car and class numbers since hearing the same from a different source, and what Carl wrote seems to be accurate. I do not remember ever seeing any Golden West Service cars in the 200000s. All of the 700000 series cars I have seen are 70 ton boxcars. It looks like you are refering to SP's number scheme from the 60s and before. They must have changed that as I know I have seen single door SP boxcars in the 600000s, as well as double door and two sets of double doors. "No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld) Reply CShaveRR Member sinceJune 2001 From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois 13,681 posts Posted by CShaveRR on Saturday, August 6, 2005 11:54 PM I think you're right, Eric--he's referring to the SP numbering system, adopted in the early 1960s or thereabouts. The 600000s were basically for equipped box cars--insulation, DF loaders, whatever--and length didn't matter, as the cars could be 40, 50, 60, or 86 feet. As for the Golden West Service cryogenic cars, that would have been neat (no, I never saw one, nor did I see a listing in the ORER). I think Greenbrier rebuilt a bunch of RBLs for CRYX, but those were ex-Santa Fe cars, to the best of my knowledge. I'm sure that some old SP cars would have fit the bill, if they'd gone ahead with the program. Carl Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!) CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM) Reply ericsp Member sinceMay 2015 5,134 posts Posted by ericsp on Sunday, August 7, 2005 12:38 AM The cryogenic boxcar numbers they include with the decal set are CRLE 20000 and CRLE 20001. I wonder if it was something that made it to the planning stages but no further. Did some of the Cryo-Trans RCs come from other sources? Some of the CRYX 1400 series RCs appear to have Hydra-Cushion underframes. "No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld) Reply CShaveRR Member sinceJune 2001 From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois 13,681 posts Posted by CShaveRR on Sunday, August 7, 2005 10:29 AM Thanks for jogging my memory! CRYX 1400-1438 were acquired from Logistics Resource Management, and had previously been in the LRMX or GBRX 20100 series (interesting choice of numbers, given what you've discovered). Some of those may have come from sources that had Hydra-Cushion underframes. Also, CRYX 1204-1222 came from the SSW 28700 series, and probably would have Hydra-Cushion underframes. Carl Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!) CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM) Reply ericsp Member sinceMay 2015 5,134 posts Posted by ericsp on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 1:28 AM A curve ball. http://shastaroute.railfan.net/Golden_West.html I wonder why these cars and the mechanical reefers did not follow the number system. I guess there has to be at least one in every crowd. "No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld) Reply Join our Community! Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account. Login » Register » 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 More great sites from Kalmbach Media Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy
Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR Some of the Golden West cars are former D&RGW cars, as well--has anyone seen any of those restored to D&RGW reporting marks and numbers?
QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR Eric, I've seen some ex-D&RGW gons painted for GWS, too. They're in the 300000 series. By the way, did you ever figure out the numbering system for these cars? The second and third digits of the six-digit numbers are always the last two digits of the SP system classification (except on the mechanical reefers). So when the "unclassified" ex-D&RGW cars were included, the second and third digits were "00". The first digit, of course, signifies the car type: 1--100-ton box-type cars (includes RBLs); SP class B-100-nn 3--Gons 4--Flat cars 5--Covered hoppers 6--Open hoppers 7--70-ton box-type cars (includes RBLs); SP class B-70-nn
QUOTE: Originally posted by kenneo QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR Eric, I've seen some ex-D&RGW gons painted for GWS, too. They're in the 300000 series. By the way, did you ever figure out the numbering system for these cars? The second and third digits of the six-digit numbers are always the last two digits of the SP system classification (except on the mechanical reefers). So when the "unclassified" ex-D&RGW cars were included, the second and third digits were "00". The first digit, of course, signifies the car type: 1--100-ton box-type cars (includes RBLs); SP class B-100-nn 3--Gons 4--Flat cars 5--Covered hoppers 6--Open hoppers 7--70-ton box-type cars (includes RBLs); SP class B-70-nn Umm, Carl, 1 was for single door box cars 2 was for double door box cars 5 had the non-bulkhead flat cars (53'6" plain flats were 564000 series) 7 also had 50 foot flats - cast steel frames (ex ROCK, I think) You are correct, however, that the first digit of the SP number system was the general car type when the 6 digit numbers were concerned. Different for DRGW and SSW marks which carried 5 digits and SP's "old" 5 digit system.
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