Just saw WECX 800 pass by

"daender" (daender) 08/20/2014 at 19:13 • Filed to: None

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It's also known as the World's Largest Railroad Car (well...until 801 is shipped over from Germany). That thing is HUGE. Headed for Charleston for whatever reason with no load, a lone locomotive, and a caboose. Example picture since I had no camera on me.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > daender 08/20/2014 at 19:21

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Awesome. What was pulling it?

daender > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 08/20/2014 at 19:31

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I believe a Norfolk and Southern SD-40.

ilostmypants > daender 08/20/2014 at 20:18

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A caboose really? Only seen a caboose in the last 10 years used as accommodations on a work train.

daender > ilostmypants 08/20/2014 at 20:19

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I guess it's required for a train with a top speed of 15 mph once loaded.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > daender 08/20/2014 at 21:15

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Seriously? A lone SD40 was hauling that?
Well, I guess it's empty. Still, impressive. What's it designed to haul?

daender > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/20/2014 at 21:20

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Basically anything from what I did on a quick research as long as it can be held by both ends. Mostly transformers or generators. It could have been the SD40-2 model which has more power and advanced systems over the original model.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > daender 08/20/2014 at 21:59

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And a generator would be heavy enough to require a rig like that? Wow.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/20/2014 at 22:00

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It seemed odd a small engine like an SD40 was hauling that while around here you have quad Dash9s just to haul an empty consist. Of course, that might be intention. Idunnolol

Wagons-Midwest > daender 08/21/2014 at 15:18

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The picture is from Evans Ave in Denver looking south. SP (then UP) had two Rio Grande GP30s (3003 and 3006, both with small lettering) doing local moves asouth of the city back when I was in school in the late 90s.

BeeJayDubya > daender 08/21/2014 at 21:12

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Excellent catch. A rare one to seen anywhere, I've never been so lucky.

That SD40 could even be a -3 unit by now. The sheer number of SD40-2 units produced far, far outnumbered the plain SD40, and in recent years they have been rebuilt with more modern electronics and some good mechanical upgrades. If it was in the current NS paint scheme, it's a good bet it's a rebuild.

Unless the cargo is oversize but lightweight, one SD40-2 isn't enough. Most cargoes for this setup would take two or three, depending on the route to be taken.

B Humphries > daender 01/04/2015 at 16:20

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Saw it today (1-4-2015) in Columbia, SC. Was transporting a generator to the VC Summer Nuclear Station in Jenkinsville, SC.

daender > B Humphries 01/04/2015 at 16:24

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I saw it last November in Charleston where it was under repairs and paint while waiting for its next load, which I guess is that generator! Apparently those monster cars constantly break their weld seams while under such a tremendous load!

B Humphries > daender 01/06/2015 at 12:02

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From what I heard, there is one more generator to move from Charleston that is supposed to occur in the next couple of weeks. There is a Facebook page called Palmetto Rails that usually has all of the high and wide movements posted.