Was watching trains today at Balmer Yard in Seattle and saw this caboose freshly painted in a GN scheme. All I had was my iPhone so the picture is a little blurry. Was number X234.
Yes this is very interesting. I know BNSF has been using the GN name and stencil as of late but I have not seen anything like this. Also of note is that former CB&Q SD9, now BNSF SD9-3, 1551. Very nice!
I talked with a guy I know that is an engineer based out of Balmer and he told me the following onfo on this. The caboose had gone in for some work and was going to be repainted as part of the shop process. Well apparently some people (he did not say who specifically or what they do for the RR) talked the paint shop forman into painting this into GN colors. Apparently the sad part of this is this caboose is assigned to the Shoreline run, and more than likely wont see the public eye that often as that train runs at night. Chris (the guy that I spoke with) told me that there are rumors (we all know how that goes) of BNSF starting to refurbish cabooses and they are apparently going to be doing the cabooses in heritage schemes!
According to the Great Northern Empire website, the real X234 was built in 1943 and is at a resort in Poison, MT. This caboose is probably a heritage repaint.
I found this today --- at Stacy Yard. It's definitely a fresh paint job. The computer show it used to be FWD 187.
I sure hope the rumor I heard is trure that BNSF is going to be doing heritage cabooses. I would about have a heart attack if they did a NP! Or even a GN in Big Sky BLue!
Hope they'll actually do these, as rumored. Might need to have multiples to see enough across their system. Maybe they'll even do a GN BSB.
No, she is in POLSON MT , looks like Poison though , just way up the road from Sandpoint Id. quote from the web site for GN: Montana Pines RV Resort, 6913 E Shore Route. Located along the east shore of Flathead Lake on Hwy 35, 7 miles north of Polson. The wife and I are keeping alist of stuff to see next year and I will be putting this on the list for sure... no tents for us so we will have to either rent a RV or get a motel room.
Let me guess what the 5 are: 1-GN (already done this one) 2-NP 3-SP&S 4-CB&Q 5-GN Big Sky Blue Ryan P.S. Lets just hope the thugs with the rattle cans dont get to them.
Sorry I am quoting myself here but on another forum I am on I just heard that BNSF is seeking the proper "RED" color for a SP&S caboose. Looks like these will be coming true at last!!!!!!!
I am not entirely sure. As I hear more, I will let you all know. I know someone that works at Interbay that is my inside information connection.
