Western Railroad Discussion > 18-car BNSF Office Train to WA: O-TOPINB

This afternoon, a number of local fans got out to photograph BNSF's 18-Car O-TOPINB behind the BNSF #4139, and here's my contribution to the shots that will likely show up here. The clouds were pesky all day, but you don't often get to see passenger trains this large.

From Emporia, it'll be taking the La Junta Sub west towards CO, then up north to Interbay, WA.

Photo 1: Here, the massive train is seen rounding the sweeping curve just south of Carbondale, KS. Nikon1 and I spent a LOOONNGG time waiting for it here, as it took quite a bit of time to get out of Topeka.

Photo 2/Video: Now onto the Emporia Sub, we've got the train rolling west on Main 1 at Merrick in Emporia, KS.

Thanks for looking, and heads up out west!

- Jeff Carlson

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Sweet train for sure. Glad they repainted the silver on the crash9.

Posted from Android

Nice shots. Here's my contribution from Carbondale.
Charlie
MP 53 on the BNSF Topeka Sub

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any idea when it will come though CO?

Really can't say. The train was going slower than track speed which is 55-79 depending on the train.
Charlie
MP 53 on the BNSF Topeka Sub

That is a lot of low capacity cars so that would mean the riders might be upper level mucky mucks. Anyone know who is aboard?

Posted from Windows Phone OS 7

The train was a deadhead move. The only persons aboard were the car attendants.
Charlie
MP 53 on the BNSF Topeka Sub

nikon1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Nice shots. Here's my contribution from
> Carbondale.
> Charlie
> MP 53 on the BNSF Topeka Sub

Man, Charlie, that location looks awfully familiar... Thanks again for letting me in the bed of the truck!

Nice shot, and it was good to see you again,
- Jeff

fbe Wrote:
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> That is a lot of low capacity cars so that would
> mean the riders might be upper level mucky mucks.
> Anyone know who is aboard?
>
> Posted from Windows Phone OS 7


Yeah, had their been any brass aboard, they would've been awfully upset with the time it was taking to do about everything today.

Thanks for looking,
- Jeff Carlson

bnsfsd70 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> nikon1 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Nice shots. Here's my contribution from
> > Carbondale.
> > Charlie
> > MP 53 on the BNSF Topeka Sub
>
> Man, Charlie, that location looks awfully
> familiar... Thanks again for letting me in the bed
> of the truck!
>
> Nice shot, and it was good to see you again,
> - Jeff


No problem on the bed of my truck. As always remember my legal disclaimer. I'm not responsible for your accidents.
Charlie
MP 53 on the BNSF Topeka Sub

Man...that train would look great behind a pair of F45's rebuilt to SD40-3 specs with Q-tron.

Eric

sd39u Wrote:
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> Man...that train would look great behind a pair of
> F45's rebuilt to SD40-3 specs with Q-tron.
>
> Eric


Personally, I'd take the FP's rebuilt as eco units w/10 cylinder 710 power plants.
Charlie
MP 53 on the BNSF Topeka Sub

Now ... THAT ... would be a consist worthy of the 2926.

Looks to be set up for the dignitaries to be on board leaving Seattle area. Board of Directors time! Wonder what day that will run out of Seattle?

Rob

Probably going to Whitefish, MT

The westbound move seems to be planned over the MRL but who knows about the return out of Seattle.


WAF Wrote:
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> Probably going to Whitefish, MT

Posted from Windows Phone OS 7

6pm crewed at evans



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/28/14 17:42 by dan.

Anyone know what the ETA for Interbay will be? Or passing through Portland? Or over
Stampede? A lot of possible routings for this train.

SilvertonRR100 Wrote:
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> Looks to be set up for the dignitaries to be on
> board leaving Seattle area. Board of Directors
> time! Wonder what day that will run out of
> Seattle?

4th of July trip from Seattle to Vancouver, BC. I hear a hyrail trip out the Cherry Point Sub is planned as well.

Wow,it is a beauty. One could ask a milieu of questions as to how the consist was assembled in the yard with the two domes up front and not towards the rear or mid train, but when I see this much ex AT&SF varnish in a train I don't care HOW they marshaled the train together. It is wonderful just to see it. It seemed to have Pullmans from the Pine, Indian, Regal series and whatever might be left from the old days all of which are likely in excellent condition inside. If any T.O. reader has a consist list for this move it would really fill our memories to the fullest with the names of the cars like Pine Arroyo or Indian Drum or whatever cars are left from the Super Chief/Chief days. I can just imagine a luxury train running a couple of times a year using equipment like this that would cost a lot to ride but could potentially be a duplicate of the old Super Chief minus the F Units and train could be sold and marketed by Amtrak using BNSF cars. A couple of P-42s on the head end would not look bad. Oh well, dreaming is fun, especially recalling the heydays when trains like this were common place less the BNSF power. Thanks so much for posting these images and the video. (P.S. I just found a consist list on the Passenger Train part of T.O.. I read them in a different order and missed it so if you need the consist it is there. I asked there if any of the Pullmans were from the Indian, Pine or Regal series I recall riding in as a kid in the late 1940s and 1950s?)

Phil Blommendahl
Getzville, NY