I found this today --- at Stacy Yard. It's definitely a fresh paint job. The computer show it used to be FWD 187.
I've heard it's to be used by Job 303 out of Stacey Yard in Seattle. This is an industry switcher which serves the old Shore Line
BN 12547 was FWD 183. Just looked and FWD 187 wasn't part of the WFE rebuild program. Must be going to a museum, Or private owner.
This is what I had heard was the story with this caboose. While talking with a friend of mine (who is a BNSF engineer out of Interbay) I asked him at an op session what the deal was with this caboose. He told me that this caboose was shopped and repainted during the process. He explained to me that someone at Interbay convinced the shop crews to paint it into a heritage scheme. The rumor is that BNSF is to do some of the remaining cabooses in heritage paint schemes.
303, the shoreline job works 5th Avenue, 7th Avenue and the small stretch of Airport Way that is still operational. I'm not exactly sure which line is the Shore Line, but one of them follows the original shore line before the tide flats were filled in. The big customer is Franz Bakery. UP also has an intermodal loading facility on the 5th Avenue Lead. Thanks for the info cwwrman. I heard it's going to stay local, didn't know any other details. It's cool working at Stacy Yard because you see a lot of interesting stuff come through, even cooler when they are not just coming through, but staying.
Ah. That's got to be in the industrial area just below I-5 and Beacon Hill? All those old tracks that once served cold storage plants, breweries, etc?
not so sure that it would be museum bound with an air horn on top of the cupola roof. any one else notice that ?
Besides Stewart and I, Stewart, Looks like you got to it first. My original post: Did anyone notice the horns on the roof top? Perhaps, to protect the train during a reverse move. If so this would be a working crummy, in a pretty dress. I hope, that we will eventually see more of these working locals.
Yes. Saw the horns. I'd suppose they could be left in place if museum bound,. But as both Greg and Ryan have noted, it's to be in railroad service.
It really doesn't mean a whole lot weather the caboose has a horn or not if it were actually museum bound (not likely according to cwwrman's source). Even if it were museum bound, they may have a push/pull ride on the grounds. Through the eyes of most railroads, especially Class I's, the worth of an old 3-chime on a caboose would be pretty insignificant... if a caboose even survived to the end of its service life these days still having all of it's doors and windows. Regardless, that is a pretty paint job and it is nice to see "cabeese" out there that aren't burned out rust buckets with doors kicked in and the glass shot out.
Glad you saw the horns. Yep, anyway you look at it, museum or working local's she will be a working crummy. I don't think she is going to a museum as already pointed out. Most railroads let the museum bear the expense of painting it.
Not entirely true. When BN donated the Northern Pacific F7 to Mt Rainier Scenic it was painted in NP livery before it was delivered to them.
