Gn x234

[ES44AC]

For those who has not yet seen the GN X234 in action, here it is on job 303 shoving their train back into the Stacy yard in Seattle, shot taken last week Wed while I was working at Argo.

 

[ES44AC]

BTW, I took that shot with my phone.

 

[papio]

Very nice!

 

[Mr. Pick]

Now you're getting me all teary eyed....I sure do miss cabooses.

 

[ES44AC]

We need an NP, and a SP&S next.

 

[TV-14]

X and a 3 digit number, is this in the original GN caboose numbering system?

 

[Shack]

X and a 3 digit number, is this in the original GN caboose numbering system?

Yes that's how GN numbered their cabooses. Here's link to what the original X234 looked like in 2004. http://www.gngoat.org/gn_flathead2.JPG

 

[pporro]

Yes that's how GN numbered their cabooses. Here's link to what the original X234 looked like in 2004. http://www.gngoat.org/gn_flathead2.JPG

Wow antlers and tomatoes, that was a revolutionary rail design!

Seems like there are cabooses (is that right or are they Cabboci) all over. I was doing some back-roading and found two. One was on a back street in a little town, the other at a factory near a junction in the NE Wisconsin boondocks.

One trip to Arkansas I spotted one in Stanton, MO (needed rescue) and one in Cotter, AR. Rural locations, one, nowhere near any rail lines.

Three of the four were restored and very well preserved. It makes me wonder how many there are, stationed all around the country on scenic spots?

Is there a site that documents all of these? Should there be?

I'll partly answer my own question. I went and did a search after I left here:

http://cencalrails.railfan.net/cabooseindex.html

 

[Trainfanne54]

Nice shot.

 

[bbronov]

certainly you didn't take that picture on the job!??

 

[UP Scott]

Sweeeeeeeettttt

I'll see if I can dig up a shot I have of one just on teh outside of a trailer part in Carson City NV. Don't remember if it was a UP or something else.
Later...

 

[markgillings]

I wonder what the AEI tag says. I have been all around the caboose and never saw the former number. I would guess that it is to stay strictly in the Seattle Terminal.

 

[bbronov]

Yeah, that caboose is used on one of the local jobs, as are most these days. I'd love to know what job it is and what it entails, but I won't be senior enough to work it for years, so probably better to not know...

 

[LoganTrackdog]

And here is Great Northern caboose # X234 in 1970, Minot, North Dakota. As you can see, they are not the same car. Or are they?????


From my collection.

 

[Tuscor]

And here is Great Northern caboose # X234 in 1970, Minot, North Dakota. As you can see, they are not the same car. Or are they?????


From my collection.

No, not the same car. Though I must say I really like your photo of the original X234!

I believe the new X234 is former FW&D 187 that this job used in years past. So far no one has run the 187 though the BNSF computer to verify it is or not though. The answer may be there.

Here is a photo I took of the new X234 last month. The coupla is very different from the one in Big Sky Blue.

Brian Ambrose
Renton, WA

 

[LoganTrackdog]

OK, then here's FW&D caboose #187.

Tacoma, WA. 1996

From my collection.


Nice shot there Brian!

 

[markgillings]

FW&D 187 it is! Go to page five of the link:

http://www.newslink.com/pubs/PRNW/PRNW1209.pdf

 

[BNSFFaninOK]

They need to do more of them!