Western Railroad Discussion > BNSF's Super Bowl Special w/ NEW ex-Denver Zephyr Dome

This afternoon, BNSF's Super Bowl Special (O-TOPBEL) departed Topeka, KS for Richmond, CA behind the great looking Tier IV ET44C4 #3951.  I was able to track it down at Merrick "tower" on the west end of Emporia, KS after the train hopped onto the Emporia Sub at NR Jct.  

Of note in this train was the inclusion of the BNSF #35, the newly minted "Canyon View."  This beautiful car was originally built as Burlington's "Silver Veranda," which ran on the Denver Zephyr.  The car was repurchased by the BN in the 90's, stored for years, and just recently rebuilt by the Topeka shops.  Outside of its recent shakedown run on the Topeka Sub, this is the car's first trip out in a business train.

Photo #3 is a picture I took of the car in October, 2012 outside of the shops just before the rebuild.

Thanks a lot for looking,
- Jeff Carlson



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/28/16 16:27 by bnsfsd70.

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For those of you out west, this train will be running via Belen, NM on its way to Richmond.  

Happy hunting!
- Jeff Carlson

Awesome I will be looking out for it here in Kingman, AZ! 

Wonderful to see another ex-DZ Vista Dome back in service!  Thank you for posting.

-John

Nice Jeff with interesting facts. Thanx!

Thanks Jeff, the car looks great!

Regards,
Burlington John

Where they gonna park the train for the Super Bowl?

Here are some photos of the (nice) before and the crappy before - Silver Veranda.
http://www.trainweb.org/web_lurker/Q236/
The Topeka Shops did a swell job.

Did anyone else think it out-of-character only one loco on this train? Maybe the cars are emptys.
It is early -- Super Bowl isn't unitl 7 Feb. So I'm guessing cars (like in the past SBs) will be positioned for occupancy and parties near Levi's Stadium.

Also I wonder if BNSF will ever name/rename biz car "Warren Buffet." Maybe a diner in which they could serve a buffet,,,

TheChief Wrote:
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> Also I wonder if BNSF will ever name/rename biz
> car "Warren Buffet." Maybe a diner in which they
> could serve a buffet,,,


Ba-dum-dum!  He's here all week folks!  Don't forget to tip your wait staff.

Nice photos, Jeff.  Thanks for sharing the before/after of the dome.

Paul Birkholz
Sheridan, WY

Fantastic!  Welcome back "Silver Veranda" !!!  Full skirts and all!

  Thank you. ​What a catch!

BNSF tracks do not get anywhere near Levis Stadium in Santa Clara.  BNSF terminates in Richmond, more than 40 miles away.  

Would require rights to move on UP to Santa Clara for the nearest hotelling tracks.  Or maybe Oakland? 

Look forward to watching this train roll by Pinole.  Any schedule outlook? 

What big wigs will be on it ?  The only way to travel.

That dome sure is a sweet addition. Great catch and shots

PQM

Curios about the former Drawing Room (parlor service). The frosted window looks to be a new dorm area or restroom lounge?  Just a guess. 

Great to see the DZ dome in service! In the early Amtrak days I road the tail end of one of these cars on the "Abraham Lincoln". It rode like a heavyweight, had Amtrak drumheads, and the bar was staffed by an attendant in a bright red cocktail tu-tu and heels! Oh well...

srlawton Wrote:
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> BNSF tracks do not get anywhere near Levis Stadium
> in Santa Clara.  BNSF terminates in Richmond,
> more than 40 miles away.  
>
> Would require rights to move on UP to Santa Clara
> for the nearest hotelling tracks.  Or maybe
> Oakland? 
>
> Look forward to watching this train roll by
> Pinole.  Any schedule outlook? 

sr,

BNSF has trackage rights to Warm Springs/Milpitas but they would have to deal with the UP to park there.

Anybody know if the UP is bringing a train?

J.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but BNSF has trackage rights to Milpitas from Richmond on UP, which is 3-4 miles from Levi's stadium. The Milpitas yard is on the East side of Great Mall. Great mall Pkwy runs West becoming Tasman which passes within 25' of the stadium with VTA light rail down the center the whole way. It's possible to park it there, *IF* UP approves, and bus people to the stadium or put them on light rail.
just throwing that out there.

Rob

srlawton Wrote:
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> BNSF tracks do not get anywhere near Levis Stadium
> in Santa Clara.  BNSF terminates in Richmond,
> more than 40 miles away.  
>
> Would require rights to move on UP to Santa Clara
> for the nearest hotelling tracks.  Or maybe
> Oakland? 
>
> Look forward to watching this train roll by
> Pinole.  Any schedule outlook? 

Well, yes, you have the geography right but as a practical matter you'd expect the train to be spotted at a location with security, access and services.  That would be UP's Santa Clara yard, or Oakland.  Richmond is BNSF but no passenger yard. 

The shipper executives and BNSF officials are not going to step off onto some muddy toepath in the rain. 

The big shipper in Milpitas is Tesla (formerly GM, formerly NUMMI) with it's small yard.  Secure, but no sewer, power, etc. for passenger equipment, I would not expect. 

mtnwestrail Wrote:
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> mtnwestrail Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> Ba-dum-dum!  He's here all week folks!  Don't
> forget to tip your wait staff.
>
Thanks for the props Paul; weighty coming from another Jayhawk.

Here's a magazine ad from CB&Q on Vista Dome launch. Great view of women in hats, and also mountain scenery.
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Would trackage rights really be of much concern?  I presume they could pay their way wherever they need to go if needed.  If there's space at the San Jose Amtrak Statioin, I'm sure thst would be an ideal spot for the train to lay over.

Davis