tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post1130368578655913686..comments2024-03-29T00:38:49.531-04:00Comments on THE BEACHBURG SUB: Lament for the boxcarMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-1410480906777626712019-03-05T21:01:26.765-05:002019-03-05T21:01:26.765-05:00I too like boxcars, I don't see that many, but...I too like boxcars, I don't see that many, but I do have a picture I took of a Southern boxcar on the Alexandria Sub a few years ago.<br />M. James Schijffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11700983829576492346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-32210339625082464022019-02-08T19:20:26.965-05:002019-02-08T19:20:26.965-05:00There are pretty much three options I can think:
1...There are pretty much three options I can think:<br />1. Supplies for Maintenance<br />The car could have been filled with stuff required for track maintenance in Kinburn. <br />2. Delivery for Arnprior Plant<br />The plant needed a delivery by box car. This is very unlikely, I've never seen a box car at that plant before.<br />3. Long way to Coteau<br />It was crazy cold that day, so perhaps they marshalled that car on to the train in the morning so that they could head straight back out of Ottawa on the Alexandria sub after Arnprior without having to stop in the yard and attach it.<br /><br />I'm thinking that 3 is probably the most likely.<br /><br />DaveMDaveMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16121999816938895914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-53972900441839799092019-02-05T09:11:47.275-05:002019-02-05T09:11:47.275-05:00Steve - I recall your post not too long ago when y...Steve - I recall your post not too long ago when you spotted an old Rock Island hopper on a train. That was classic!Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-41708119176386345932019-02-03T23:49:02.843-05:002019-02-03T23:49:02.843-05:00Boxcars are equally rare around Winnipeg. I'm ...Boxcars are equally rare around Winnipeg. I'm glad we have variety with grain cars, at least.Canadian Train Geekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05525092107895665275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-71712759114814279432019-02-03T17:22:12.683-05:002019-02-03T17:22:12.683-05:00Thanks for the comments, gentlemen. Eric raises an...Thanks for the comments, gentlemen. Eric raises an interesting point. How come containers are never tagged but boxcars are constantly plastered with graffiti? I suspect it has to do with the fact that loaded well cars aren't left to sit in rail yards as boxcars are.<br /><br />Good info, Dave. I must say I am stumped as to why oversize boxcars are being left on the Renfrew Spur. Maybe there's some maintenance of way going on or perhaps a one-off delivery somewhere.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07917230984518214781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-16236670741725292682019-02-02T23:10:59.425-05:002019-02-02T23:10:59.425-05:00Definitely good news to hear that DaveM!
I certai...Definitely good news to hear that DaveM!<br /><br />I certainly feel for you in that it is sad to see so few boxcars these days. I lived a couple of years in Trenton around the turn of the century and was just down form the CP mainline in town. They often stashed a few boxcars there (and I mean stash - some of these were from the 40/50's and looked like they hadn't been moved since that time!) and as kids we would be down there checking them out every so often. Passing trains would always have a few sprinkled in. These days, as you pointed out, just containers. Containers have their own fun flavour, but aren't the same. Then again, all of this nostalgia is most likely the notion of things changing to the point where this no longer is commonplace and therefore desirable (flip side for containers where its almost boring to see them because they are so common).<br /><br />I will suggest the opposite of Eric though - I find most of the boxcars I see today to be littered in graffiti which is always disappointing (never did get the allure of going out after dark and painting things in the neighbourhood....). AJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13805174926952294860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-54114038360560291902019-02-02T09:29:27.987-05:002019-02-02T09:29:27.987-05:00On a related topic, there was two over height box ...On a related topic, there was two over height box cars on the Renfrew Spur this Wednesday. I don't know if any customers on that section of the who get boxcars.<br /><br />DaveMDaveMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16121999816938895914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3680264279342137192.post-39164840966306598992019-02-01T22:15:49.188-05:002019-02-01T22:15:49.188-05:00Boxcars are endlessly variable. (Except for the st...Boxcars are endlessly variable. (Except for the strings of 50-foot and 40-foot CN boxcars we used to see.) They are colourful. (Except for the strings I already mentioned). Boxcars can be coupled together and form different rainbows of colours at different times. And who knows what they're carrying. <br /><br />Everything I've just said holds true if the word 'containers' is substituted for 'boxcars'. Though an entire train of containers has me wondering 'gee, how long is this train going to be?' instead of 'gee, I wonder what colourful, different one will be next in the consist?'<br /><br />Perhaps the most interesting and colourful facet of boxcars today is the graffiti they hold (gasp!!). (Not supposed to legitimize graffiti!) Hey, how come so few containers have graffiti on them??<br /><br />Anyway, thanks for boxing up your thoughts on boxcars, sliding the door shut on this post and sharing it, Michael. <br /><br />I actually do miss the IPD boxcars, Conrail-predecessor boxcars, shortline RR boxcars and the whole concept of loose-car railroading that boxcars represent. <br /><br />I think the reason I've gravitated backwards-in-time to the early 70's is: the mix of traditional boxcar red-era cars with the colourful 70's cars!<br /><br />EricErichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11822288099043790296noreply@blogger.com