I went through the CB&Q/BN rosters, and I have two candidates for oldest
waycar in service.



The first one is a Class NE-1 waycar number 14118 built by the B&MR at
Plattsmouth, NE in 1880, sold to the Oregon Pacific & Eastern in 1975, and
retired in 1981 at the ripe old age of 101.



The oldest Burlington waycar I could find that stayed on the railroad
throughout its life is also a Class NE-1 waycar number 14315 built by the
KCSt.J&CB in 1874 and retired by the BN as number 11060 in 1972 at the age
of 98 years.



Several waycars made it past the BN merger to be retired after 95 to 96
years of venerable service.



In addition to steel underframe and wood-beam trucks, the Burlington used
galvanized steel panels on the front, back, and sides of cupolas,
contributing to the long life of their wooden waycars.



Nelson Moyer