Re: MOW Bunkcars & 1 From SP at Carlin, NV
Author: mistertower
Date: 08-27-2009 - 13:24
Well, I can tell you that to my knowledge, NS is still using "outfit cars", but they are basically Mobile Homes on flatcars. The MofW union on NS is trying to work out an agreement to go to hotels/motels, like all the other class 1's currently do. Haven't heard anymore on that in more than 6 months, but I do know they spotted an "outfit train" at Jacksonville, IL on the NS Springfield/Hannibal District (yes, NS RR still calls their lines Districts, like Santa Fe once did) here around the first quarter of this year for a tie gang they had working on the line.
In other news, there was an old SP business car that had been converted to a honest to god MofW bunk car, complete with many bunks that had sat out at Carlin, Nevada for some time. It had some of the windows broken out of it and a little rain damage in its interior as a result, but looked to be in fairly good shape when I saw it up close in 1993. It still had sheets and pillows on the beds, and looked to be un-disturbed otherwise. I then saw it again while passing by on Amtrak #5 about 3 years ago. However, when I passed by on Amtrak #5 last month, it appeared to be gone, anyone out here know the car I speak of and where it was moved to. It was painted in SP MofW Silver and had an SPMW reporting mark.
Thanks.