I can understand why the state utilities board might want to certify
scale test cars or maybe brake sleds (or at least the brake equipment
thereon); it's less clear why they'd care about an idler.

Al Brown, Melbourne, Fla.

--- In STMFC@..., Doug Polinder <mikado3399@...> wrote:

Ferry operations between Seattle and Bellingham ceased well before

1979--around 1954 IIRC. Following that date the Milwaukee used
trackage rights from Renton to Everett on the NP and then Everett to
Bellingham on the GN. The apron still exists, but it seems unlikely
BX 100 was an idler if it was restenciled in 1979.

Doug Polinder
Grand Rapids MI
Pere Marquette Country


Doug Polinder
Grand Rapids MI

---------------------------------
Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell?
Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Ferry operations between Seattle and Bellingham ceased well before 1979--around 1954 IIRC. Following that date the Milwaukee used trackage rights from Renton to Everett on the NP and then Everett to Bellingham on the GN. The apron still exists, but it seems unlikely BX 100 was an idler if it was restenciled in 1979.

Doug Polinder
Grand Rapids MI
Pere Marquette Country


Doug Polinder
Grand Rapids MI

---------------------------------
Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell?
Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos.

Frank,

In some types of heavy yard operations braking is more
important than tractive effort. For example the former
SLSF hump in Tulsa is so arranged that the tracks they
hump off of are downhill. The power is only using
braking during the actual humping.

A "Brake Sled" is a modified car or locomotive that is
only there for it's braking power. Saves brake shoes
and wheel wear on locomotives. I'm fairly sure some
existed during the STMFC era.

While we are in this part of the country I think that
there are still a couple of SP&S 36M flats cars in barge
idler service in Vancouver BC and Seattle. Rather old
cars.

Some coal mine loading loops are downhill. This requires
that the loading be done with the locomotives in reverse.
It's called "Plug Loading". I do not think that steam
locomotives could do this but early diesels certainly
could. The now closed York Canyon Mine in New Mexico was
one example of a plug loading mine.

Russ Strodtz

Could this be used as a brake sled? Just a WAG on my part.Charlie A.

And a SAQ on my part: what's a brake sled?

Frank Valoczy

Yahoo! Groups Links





!DSPAM:1291,463572a4224028701643219!

Could this be used as a brake sled? Just a WAG on my part.Charlie A.

Richard, that's as good a guess as any as I've heard so far.

Given the security atmosphere nowadays we didn't feel like climbing the
fence to get a closer look, but we're hoping to talk to the gatemen next
time we're down there, and see if we can't get a closer look at it.

Frank Valoczy

I have no real idea regarding what this car is. It seems odd that one would use a concrete car as a reach. There's so many other cars that would work, including retired flat cars, box cars, cur down or not, etc. Since it seems to be associated with the ferry, is there any chance it could have been used as a counterweight when loading or unloading the ferry to keep the ferry relatively level? Pure speculation on my part, FWIW.
Richard Townsend
Lincoln City, Oregon





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Frank Valoczy wrote (replying to my suggestion of an idler car):

What are those for?

That way a locomotive need not get onto the ferry to load or unload cars--some places the locos are even banned from the apron on the dock. Several idlers may then be required to "fish out" cars on the ferry. Same goes, of course, for loading.

Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA
2906 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 www.signaturepress.com
(510) 540-6538; fax, (510) 540-1937; e-mail, thompson@...
Publishers of books on railroad history

It seems to have been certified by the State Utility & Transportation
Commission at Bellingham in 1979, if that's any help.
Scott Pitzer

--- In STMFC@..., destron@... wrote:

Tony Thompson wrote:

Could be a scale test car. The total weight, if accurate,

of

184,200 pounds, is very high and would likely reflect considerable
(scrap?) steel inside the concrete. That volume of concrete alone

would

NOT weigh that much. If it is just a capacity, it just reflects

the

trucks.

Well. It was either 134 or 184 - couldn't make it out exactly.

I did mention the scale test car idea to my friend, but he thought

that

wouldn't be likely.

I also thought of it being an idler car for car ferries,

though

the ballasting with concrete seems extreme for that application.

What are those for?

There was, beside it, a fishbelly flat with a build date of (IIRC -

photo

is too dark to make out) 1962. Perhaps that might add a clue to

what this

was?

Frank Valoczy

Tony Thompson wrote:

Could be a scale test car. The total weight, if accurate, of
184,200 pounds, is very high and would likely reflect considerable
(scrap?) steel inside the concrete. That volume of concrete alone would
NOT weigh that much. If it is just a capacity, it just reflects the
trucks.

Well. It was either 134 or 184 - couldn't make it out exactly.

I did mention the scale test car idea to my friend, but he thought that
wouldn't be likely.

I also thought of it being an idler car for car ferries, though
the ballasting with concrete seems extreme for that application.

What are those for?

There was, beside it, a fishbelly flat with a build date of (IIRC - photo
is too dark to make out) 1962. Perhaps that might add a clue to what this
was?

Frank Valoczy

Frank Valoczy wrote:

Went out driving around after the Bellingham RPM meet yesterday, and at the port, near what we figure was the old MILW line, found this odd car behind the fence. Has a vertical brake staff with the flower-petal-like wheel... AB brakes... looks like a concrete block sitting on a frame. To judge from the corrosion on both the rail and the wheels, it hasn't moved in a while.
Anyone have any thoughts as to what this might be?

Could be a scale test car. The total weight, if accurate, of 184,200 pounds, is very high and would likely reflect considerable (scrap?) steel inside the concrete. That volume of concrete alone would NOT weigh that much. If it is just a capacity, it just reflects the trucks.
I also thought of it being an idler car for car ferries, though the ballasting with concrete seems extreme for that application.

Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA
2906 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 www.signaturepress.com
(510) 540-6538; fax, (510) 540-1937; e-mail, thompson@...
Publishers of books on railroad history

Went out driving around after the Bellingham RPM meet yesterday, and at
the port, near what we figure was the old MILW line, found this odd car
behind the fence. Has a vertical brake staff with the flower-petal-like
wheel... AB brakes... looks like a concrete block sitting on a frame. To
judge from the corrosion on both the rail and the wheels, it hasn't moved
in a while.

I've uploaded two photos of it to the Files folder, in the folder named
'BX 100'.

Anyone have any thoughts as to what this might be?

Frank Valoczy