Western Railroad Discussion > UP Caboose, Why Large Propane Tanks

Here is a photo of UP CA-11 caboose 25822, taken by Ron Mitchell at Ogden, Utah, on October 14, 2016.

Note the large propane tanks on the platforms. What are they used for?

Is UP 25822 in special rescue, or "snow bus," service like UPP 430?

http://utahrails.net/caboose/caboose-special.php#upp430

Don Strack

---

      If you are going to used in snow service, you better be prepared for long term heat if necessary.
 

Since cabooses are no longer common on the railroads propane supply locations have likely been retired as well. If the cabooses are supplied by contract trucks it likely makes sense to order a larger quantity at a time and also less costly. Those tanks look way to heavy to be filled at a car shop to be hauled out to the yard like the old smaller tanks.

Posted from Android

Cabooses traditionally used oil for the stoves but UP has modified a number of cabooses for snow service by changing the stoves/heaters to propane and adding MU capabilities. The cabooses are used to transport multiple crews to outlaying locations during heavy snow storms when roads may be impassible. The reason for the MU capability is so the caboose can be coupled between two locomotives to allow the units to be MU'ed through the caboose to allow free movement in either direction. If you look closely at this photo you can see the MU receptacle on the caboose.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/20/16 08:03 by Railbaron.

That's a lot of propane on the caboose.  I wouldn't want to be anywhere near that in a collision.

Maybe 150 gallons in each? 

Coal stoves would be cheaper....

Posted from iPhone

Great idea but where do you get coal? Not everywhere like propane..
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> Coal stoves would be cheaper....
>
> Posted from iPhone

I can see the electrical control MU receptacle but do not see any evidence of MU hoses for air brake control. So I would doubt this would be placed between units in the locomotive consist. Perhaps someone with firsthand experience with these cabooses might identify the exact purpose of the MU receptacle.
ALLEN

krm152 Wrote:
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> I can see the electrical control MU receptacle but do not see any evidence of MU hoses for air brake
> control. So I would doubt this would be placed between units in the locomotive consist. Perhaps
> someone with firsthand experience with these cabooses might identify the exact purpose of the
> MU receptacle.
> ALLEN

​While I do agree hoses are not visible the modification includes MU hoses. There are probably photos available online of this configuration.

​In fact here is a previous thread on Trainorders about this.

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,3891509,3891509#3891509
 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/20/16 09:36 by Railbaron.

They are there.

It's also a rough ride for crews as you get hit by both units being in the middle.

Most try to jump on motors before people having to be on caboose.

BAB Wrote:
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> Great idea but where do you get coal? Not
> everywhere like propane..
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Coal stoves would be cheaper....

The old caboose stoves burned wood or coal.  So not having coal around did not prevent keeping warm.  By the way, burning pieces of old rotted ties gives lots of heat but the flames shooting out the stack is not a good thing.  Any other scrap wood works fine.

I know UP has used 'Snow Bus' waycarset up like that in Denver and Cheyenne. Do they have them anywhere else on the system?

James Nelson
Thornton, CO
www.flickr.com/mojaveflyer

Company BBQ!

Jamie 

wingomann Wrote:
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> The old caboose stoves burned wood or coal.  So
> not having coal around did not prevent keeping
> warm. 

Right, but this is 2016. Just run down to a welding supply store and exchange cylinders.

> By the way, burning pieces of old rotted
> ties gives lots of heat but the flames shooting
> out the stack is not a good thing.  Any other
> scrap wood works fine.

The last thing any railroad wants these days is for employees to be exposed to an open flame!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/20/16 11:16 by MP555.

Old, rotting ties also release creosote and arsenic when they burn.  i can't imagine the company's EPA and OSHA officers would be pleased with having folks today exposed to these chemicals.

 

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
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> That's a lot of propane on the caboose.  I
> wouldn't want to be anywhere near that in a
> collision.
>
> Maybe 150 gallons in each? 

30, 50 max each.

I was going for the nostalgia aspect of this guys....

Posted from iPhone

Railbaron Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> krm152 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I can see the electrical control MU receptacle
> but do not see any evidence of MU hoses for air
> brake
> > control. So I would doubt this would be
> placed between units in the locomotive consist.
> Perhaps
> > someone with firsthand experience with
> these cabooses might identify the exact purpose
> of the
> > MU receptacle.
> > ALLEN
>
> ​While I do agree hoses are not visible the
> modification includes MU hoses. There are probably
> photos available online of this configuration.
>
> ​In fact here is a previous thread on
> Trainorders about this.
>
> http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,3
> 891509,3891509#3891509
>
Thanks for posting the link.  There is really no need for both units to be online.  One unit could easily handle the caboose and an isolated unit.
With the MU Cable, the engineer in the online would know if any alarms went off in the isolated unit.
Hence, really no need for brake control MU hoses.  
Doubt they would put this caboose between two units actually pulling a train.
ALLEN
   

Now that most road units have DPU, you wouldn't need a M-U cable between them. Look at ballast trains and other operations where they have 1 X 1 DPU set ups now.

James Nelson
Thornton, CO
www.flickr.com/mojaveflyer

jst3751 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Lackawanna484 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > That's a lot of propane on the caboose.  I
> > wouldn't want to be anywhere near that in a
> > collision.
> >
> > Maybe 150 gallons in each? 
>
> 30, 50 max each.

really?  My little bbq tank is 20 gallons  and is only about 2 feet tall.  These look to be about five or six feet, with a 24 inch diameter