Inspection Car

[r_i_straw]

What were these used for? Same thing as the modified passenger cars with the big window and theater seats on the end?
http://www.railimages.com/albums/russellstraw/adp.sized.jpg

[BoxcabE50]

You have me curious, too! Have never seen anything quite like this unit.

I wonder if there is any track geometry equipment inside? Or if it's intended more for officials to eyeball the appearance of any rights of way?

:D

Boxcab E50

[ 04. March 2004, 23:54: Message edited by: BoxcabE50 ]

[r_i_straw]

OK, just found out it was for visual inspection only, for railroad brass and marketing to show potential customers property along the line. So, it was used kind of like the modified passenger cars still out there today. I guess UP must have got rid of it because they did not want to be embarrassed dragging folks around in a modified box car.

[BoxcabE50]

Originally posted by r_i_straw:
I guess UP must have got rid of it because they did not want to be embarrassed dragging folks around in a modified box car. I suppose that you are correct. UP probably disposed of this car. Definitely unique. Something that would be great in preservation somewhere.

graemlins/222.gif

Boxcab E50

[Larry E Shankles]

According to "MKT Lines in Color" by Raymond B. George Jr. The car was built at Denison in 1973 under the orders of VP of Operations Billy R. Bishop because business cars 400 and 401 had been sold in 1971. In 1989 it was given to city of Denison. After months of inaction by the city, UP repossessed it and sold it to a private individual.

[BoxcabE50]

Originally posted by Larry E Shankles:
After months of inaction by the city, UP repossessed it and sold it to a private individual. Now you have me curious. I wonder if it's safely preserved? Hope so!

:D

Boxcab E50

[r_i_straw]

The car was supposed to have gone to the Red River Railroad Museum in Denison. That deal did not fly so somehow it ended up at Fort Sill outside of Lawton, Oklahoma. From what I just heard on another list, it is still there.

[Alan]

That is an amazing looking car! I do hope it is eventually safely preserved.

[r_i_straw]

Originally posted by Alan:
That is an amazing looking car! I do hope it is eventually safely preserved. From what I have gathered it is now painted
up in field artillery colors and called the "Commander's Car" at Fort Sill. I don't know if it belongs to a private individual or the US Army. As long as they don't decide to use it for target practice, it should be safe. As for preserved, it would be nice if they repainted it back to its original colors.

[BoxcabE50]

Well, I guess that for now, we can say that it's "surviving." Whether safe or preserved, time will tell us.

:D

Boxcab e50

[r_i_straw]

New information on this car. The US Army bought it to use as a guard car on military movements. However it never saw service as such from what I have been able to find out.