Western Railroad Discussion > Buffer Car Shortage?

Just had a sb oil train by MP 193 on the BNSF Gateway Sub. Buffer cars were an open-top hopper and a boxcar, in lieu of the usual Airslide covered hopper.

TJY

icancmp193 Wrote:
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> Just had a sb oil train by MP 193 on the BNSF
> Gateway Sub. Buffer cars were an open-top hopper
> and a boxcar, in lieu of the usual Airslide
> covered hopper.
>
> TJY

Have seen other trains use those cars instead of Airslide hoppers.

I've caught a tank train (not sure if its ethanol or oil) in Arizona on the BNSF Seligman Sub. that uses open hoppers as buffer cars. Seen this train with these hoppers twice now. Here is a pic of one last week. 

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icancmp193 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Just had a sb oil train by MP 193 on the BNSF
> Gateway Sub. Buffer cars were an open-top hopper
> and a boxcar, in lieu of the usual Airslide
> covered hopper.
>
> TJY

We went through today, maybe you saw us too! Anyway we  an old CP Rail open top hopper loaded with ballast on the head end and a loaded boxcar, against the remotes for buffers. I was wondering the same thing lol!

arizonaBNSF Wrote:
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> I've caught a tank train (not sure if its ethanol
> or oil) in Arizona on the BNSF Seligman Sub. that
> uses open hoppers as buffer cars. Seen this train
> with these hoppers twice now. Here is a pic of one
> last week. 

Great catch, as that open hopper was bought new by the Clinchfield RR.

Russ

Anything can be used as a buffer, as long as it doesn't contain hazardous material.  I once caught a loaded oil train, full of diesel fuel for Havre, MT, in Savanna,
IL that was all tank cars.  Turned out the first car was full of water to act as a buffer.  In other words, there is no set rule for buffer cars, they just can't have
anything hazrdous in them.  

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA

ntharalson Wrote:
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> Anything can be used as a buffer, as long as it
> doesn't contain hazardous material.  I once
> caught a loaded oil train, full of diesel fuel for
> Havre, MT, in Savanna,
> IL that was all tank cars.  Turned out the first
> car was full of water to act as a buffer.  In
> other words, there is no set rule for buffer cars,
> they just can't have
> anything hazrdous in them.  
>
> Nick Tharalson,
> Marion, IA


There are some rules,,UP requires a buffer car for unit trains be loaded.
JC

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