Western Railroad Discussion > Putting a biz car DHQ together

Here’s a look at the second reason I made the trip over to Topeka yesterday: BNSF was putting together 9 business cars for a DHQ movement with Spokane, WA as its destination. For those of you with brand-new frowns, the abbreviation DHQ stands for “DeadHead eQuipment”. It was a traditional and much-used Santa Fe term. It ranked right up there with the classic “see no fail” messages, which were usually delivered with train orders.

Let’s see what the captions have to say>>v

1. BNSF 3261 has just coupled on to the string of 9 business cars at the Car Shops, and the crew will apparently perform the initial terminal air test right there.

2. The 3261 is now dragging the train out into the man yard.

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3. & 4. Having just cleared the 4th St crossing the 3261 will cut away and run back around its train through another yard track.

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5. & 6. Here’s the 3261 now, waiting for the crossing gates to lower into position. The engine will cross 4th St, come out the east end of that track and move over one track to couple onto the waiting cars.

At this point the DHQ crew/train will have to wait for the arrival of a local before they can leave for Kansas City. Tick tock tick tock tick tock....

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7. The sun decided to make an appearance, so I made good use of the photo-op. With the local train still inbound it will be nearly another 30” before they can leave town. During this period the afternoon switch job came on duty

8. Aha, progress is afoot! I’m shooting straight down 4th Street as the train rolls east.

9. The full-dome ‘Glacier View’ brings up the rear with BNSF 2704/switch power waiting off to the side. The DHQ is accessing the main line through a connection switch that wasn’t there in my Santa Fe days...
(9 photos taken August 3, 2022 in Topeka, KS)

Thanks for the heads-up!
Lance Garrels
santafe199



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/04/22 10:40 by santafe199.

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Impressive looking stainless varnish.....stainless with brass inside I guess you could say....glad you took the time to record it all.

Oh boy i sure hope Katie is on it. Anyways its nice to see the company that is crying poor and treats its lower class workers so well is spending the money to wine and dine some higher ups. Maybe its for shippers though and they want to show off how fluid and well running the RR is right now?

Lance, wonderful coverage of the BNSF DHQ.  Nice to see you added the caboose, I mean shoving platform, in photo 8.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/04/22 11:00 by cozephyr.

I think we need to fly Franz in for a little weed control.

3261 looks great with a trip through the wash rack

Pacific5th Wrote:
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> Oh boy i sure hope Katie is on it. Anyways its
> nice to see the company that is crying poor and
> treats its lower class workers so well is spending
> the money to wine and dine some higher ups. Maybe
> its for shippers though and they want to show off
> how fluid and well running the RR is right now?

Come out and see the queen parade by in her luxuary "motorcade"...

Nicely done Lance.
Go

Certainly could be an opportunity to remind her to stop stalling on the contract.

Maybe a few big signs, a marching band, probably too dry for fireworks...

Posted from Android

Pacific5th Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Oh boy i sure hope Katie is on it. Anyways its
> nice to see the company that is crying poor and
> treats its lower class workers so well is spending
> the money to wine and dine some higher ups. Maybe
> its for shippers though and they want to show off
> how fluid and well running the RR is right now?

The train is an Employee Appreciation Special.
For Katie and her entourage, not you. (sarcasm, I know it is a deadhead
movement)

jtwlunch Wrote:
>>I think we need to fly Franz in for a little weed control.>>

Beavers don't like grass and weeds. 
Franz in MT

cozephyr Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Lance, wonderful coverage of the BNSF DHQ.  Nice
> to see you added the caboose, I mean shoving
> platform, in photo 8.

The one in the coach yard is even better! And from what I could see, the other ATSF one barely seen in these pictures. But I still grabbed some pictures of this BN one while I was there last week.

Posted from iPhone

cozephyr Wrote: > ... Nice to see you added the caboose ...

It was just sitting there, minding its own business...

;^)

Nice shots, Lance!

RC Lundgren