10 Obscure Railcars Explained In 10 Minutes! PART 2!

In todays video, we take a look at some of the worlds lesser know railcars, such as coal hoppers that are almost 300ft long, cabooses that escort spent nuclear fuel, and tiny tank cars that carry dangerous bromine!
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[@getmeagator]

Rumor has it, the new Nuclear Security Caboose has a soft serve machine in the galley.

[@thesledgehammerblog]

Another one that might be interesting for a future video: the specialized carriers that BNSF uses to haul Boeing 737 fuselages from Wichita Kansas to the 737 assembly plant in Renton WA. Used to see these somewhat regularly when I lived in Everett.

[@BNSF_7777_Productions]

they still run these trains very frequently, usually a lot less in bulk however. Typical unit train of them nowadays has two if you're lucky. Every now and then the Q-ALTPTL will have up to 10, saw one with about 5 of them earlier this year. Remainder go directly on a J-NEWINB where they get put onto R-NWE737 directly to the Renton plant.

[@Robostrike1]

I’ve seen those before

[@bnsffan6584]

yes they also go to Everett I think and they get sent over the cascades through the cascade tunnel and its interesting to watch them come in or go out there's some videos on KZbin

[@kens.3729]

Great Job with Part 2. It’s safe to say that the majority of your Viewers have never seen or ever heard of these cars unless they’re Huge Railfans. Thanks! 👍🙏

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thanks! That’s the plan, lol!

[@Tonkgerman]

@@Southern_Plains_Railfan another one please

[@NotDaender]

Well done on these videos! If you ever decide to make a part 3, then I recommend looking at the specialized caboose used by the original Auto-Train which was 75% car carrier and 25% caboose!

[@deltanine6497]

Indeed the auto train cabooses were really cool 👍

[@1_railfan]

There was an auto train caboose?!

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

The Dynamometer coach at the 6:08 mark is the one that recorded Mallard's run at 126mph. It was originally built for the North Eastern Railway in 1906 at Darlington and retired in 1954 and preserved. Dynamometer coaches had to be turned at the end of each run as the equipment could only record in that direction, something that computers don't need.

[@carlosnavarro921]

nice to see a Ferromex locomotive in the video, it was a pleasant surprise

[@gearhorse]

If you ever do obscure locomotives, look into Haysi #1! A F7B given a little cab and turned into a switcher! Also Alaska Railroad 751, a one of a kind DMU!

[@yogiperogy]

Absolutely fascinating! A lot packaged into 10 minutes. My compliments sir. Subscribing to your channel was one of my best choices in months.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you so much!

[@michaelwheeler2275]

AY, IT'S NILE RED!! At 2:48!!😁 That's a cool shoutout man. ^w^

[@Joeztrainz]

Nice video! Loved hearing about the bromine tanker

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you!

[@1309westernmaryland]

And the fact that you used footage from NileRed is amazing, since he’s one of my favorite scientist KZbinrs!

[@WMAC_Master]

really appreciate these. Can't wait for part 3! Don't think i've ever seen any of these, but i'll definitely keep an eye out.

[@petertimowreef9085]

I love the way you pronounce English and I think the word "skid-steer" is a fantastic invention. It perfectly describes what it is: it steers by skidding.

[@Canadian_Yoshi]

This was a pretty good video! Part 3 Gang: | | \/

[@Tesingaccount12Productions]

Great video. Really looking forward to seeing part 3!

[@johnnydeville5701]

The Boeing cars used to haul fuselages from Kansas to Renton, Washington are impressive too. I've seen those navy cars in action!

[@ThomasTalksAlot]

I'm not sure if you've talked about it yet, but the Whopper Hopper actually has competition, the Big John Grain Hoppers are about as big as the Whopper Hopper, and even made a rail ferry company sue the Southern over how massive they where, as far as I'm aware, a few are still in service, with one preserved alongside the Whopper Hopper

[@godlugner5327]

Right around the time the Whopper Hopper was getting publicity a few companies had also made lesser-known rolling stock such as the MCD Triple Big Flat lumber cars, or the enlarged diameter on the Wendy&Co. Tankanator cars?

[@charlesolson9019]

10:03 I'm reasonably confident the Nuclear Escort Caboose does not actually have a Phalanx CIWS.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

lol, you never know!

[@AnontheGOAT]

Nor does it come equipped with AK-47’s in the “firing ports”.

[@kootenairiverrailseries]

Now you need to make Part 3 that includes the DOTX Geometry boxcar! Also great job on this video, I enjoyed it

[@railfanningjonah3981]

The Whopper Hopper wasn't always in Spencer. It use to be in Rocky Mount NC. I actually caught it when CSX moved it.

[@DesertRailProductions]

Now we need part 3! Can't wait!

[@FrogandFlangeVideo]

Definitely one of the more educational, not to mention interesting as well, videos that I have seen recently. Thanks a ton ! James.

[@themspspotter593]

For part 3 I’d suggest Taconite cars. They’re used in the north shore of Minnesota to haul iron ore pellets to the docks

[@anthonyeveler4820]

Thanks for part two can’t wait for part three love all the different cars and their overview and what they are and carry.

[@danielcobbins8861]

How about a video about the Pugh transfer cars? Those are the bottle cars that carry molten iron from blast furnace, to the furnace that will finish the product into steel.

[@CrazyBear65]

You ought to do one about the trash train. (The _stinky_ train.) I'm not sure where it originates from, or where it eventually ends up, but i've seen in in PA, MD, and VA. I had the unpleasant experience of waking up to it parked in Pittsburgh's northside yard, on the track right behind my buddy's house. And it _stunk._

[@robertadams6606]

We call them "Oscar heavy( loaded) or light on return". They pass regularly through Horseshoe Curve. It goes to a place in Ohio. Originates in NJ. There's also 1 in Va, but I don't know much about that 1.

[@Trainrhys]

I love how the tiny cabooses are bigger than most guard vans

[@jamesthomas5109]

Love these videos, hope we can have a whole series. Maybe with railcars, wagons, etc from across the world?

[@richardjonsson1745]

Very nice format, good info and content! The southern dialect is just the cherry on top. ;-)

[@Steven_Williams]

Love your videos! "Big ups 👍 from Chicago "

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thanks!

[@ogitakasi3030]

I'm obsessed with your accent! Great stuff

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you!

[@metra167productions]

Great job can't wait for part 3!

[@Deciple0000]

Very enjoyable. Please do a third video covering another 10, or maybe a video covering 10 obscure engines.

[@SteveInPalmSprings]

Part 2 is every bit as good as the original. Great info, well edited...

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you!

[@TheTrainFreak]

Great video! I recently got to tour and do a video of the Amarillo, TX Railroad museum, and they have a couple of neat pieces there that aren't anywhere else in the US that I know of. One was a helium car and the other was the Pantex White Train. Either of those would be a good mention for a Part 3 of this series. - Jason

[@fastoutnotforkids7192]

Cant wait for a part 3! If you got things in mind! Keep it up!

[@illinois_rails]

Yes, an informational video at best, but there was a short part that caught my eye. At timestamp 5:18 it shows you using a BNSF website restricted to BNSF engineers and conductors which is simply not acceptable. If you are a BNSF employee that I don’t know about, that is sure one way to get terminated from your job.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

That websites not restricted, anyone can visit it. I found it while digging through forums.

[@ih1440]

It became visible to the public during the transition from TSS to SAP. We don't need to be doing things to bring it to their attention and publicly showing it to the world - that's a great way to get it put back under lock and key again.

[@cameroncintel1284]

@@Southern_Plains_Railfanplease remove this part from the video, don’t want to draw attention to BNSF about it and let it get out of hand to the public. Thanks! It’s just for security sake!

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

@@cameroncintel1284 I’m working on it. My apologies, I didn’t know this could be an issue for the railroad. Thank you for letting me know.

[@illinois_rails]

@@Southern_Plains_Railfanyeah, I suggest not using anything Class I related unless you can confirm that is is for the public, like a rail map.

[@rogerr4620]

Great video full of great content. Thank you! I look forward to the next one.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

You're welcome, I'm glad you enjoyed!

[@scotthjeltness9879]

I just love your videos. I love the history about the railroad.

[@ShadowDragon8685]

I hope you're going to do another. Weird and quirky rolling stock is fascinating.

[@MinnesotaRailProductions]

Awesome vid! Please make another one!

[@codywhite96]

Great Video! If you plan on a part three may I suggest the BN's "Bopper Car", an aluminum boxcar that doubled as a covered hopper. Intended to haul Koalin clay one way and finished paper on the return route. It was even equipped with a walking floor. Three are preserved in Duluth, MN out of the 8 that were built. May I suggest a video of unique MOW equipment like Southern's Gravel Gertie ballast cleaner, Great Northern's big Sno-Melter, Bros Rotary Plow and the Julls and Mann-McCann spreaders.

[@victoriacyunczyk]

I have an HO model of a top-loading boxcar. Nice to hear the story behind it. I've also worked with the MILW dyno car at IRM, it's very interesting.

[@CentralPALocos]

As a railcar fan I like this series quite a bit. Here are some other cars you may find interesting: FCA Dynastack: experimental skeleton body wellcar, it only lasted a few years until all were hurriedly removed from service and scrapped because the structure of the car was known to collapse mid train leading to a Dynastack shaped sandwich. JAC Grainporter 5400: A once fairly popular covered hopper which was built from aluminum built in the 90s. Many of the cars were scrapped after a little over a decade of service, so they are not as common for their age. Amtrak Metroliner cab car: Cab cars from the Metroliner high speed EMU sets were refurbished by Amtrak as cab cars for bi directional trains. They were built by Budd, who also built the successful Amfleet series of cars for Amtrak, and the cab cars shared the same exterior design so they fit in with the existing fleet and allowed reuse of obsolete equipment. BUDX 6250: Budd’s freight car affiliate Transit America built a one off 6250cf articulated covered hopper BUDX 6250. The car lasted for at least a decade but it probably scrapped. This car could be considered a spiritual predecessor to the infamous Budd/TA designed BFCC articulated flatcar most known for carrying EPIC sewage sludge containers. NP Big Pig Palace: 85’ long bi level livestock car, built by Ortner and are some of the largest livestock cars ever built. They were later converted to tie gons for BN.

[@benwise6517]

Did anybody ever tell you you have one of the best voices I have ever heard? It's like the very personification of the South. Amazing voice, my man.

[@ace.iv.m]

MAN, I love your videos. we have never seen those here in México, so im 100% interested in these rare railcars

[@maximmatusevich3971]

We can stay here until next tuesday. Part 3 please!

[@Sigil_Firebrand]

I'd love to see the cars used to transport ballistic missiles on navy bases, when I was a kid on Navy Base Bangor WA, I saw two of them sitting on the siding by our gas station, I'll never forget the huge white tubes with giant lettering say, "DO NOT HUMP, MISSILE ON BOARD", on the side. I imagine that specific car you'd probably only VERY rarely see, outside of the bases at Bangor and King's Bay, but dang if they aren't both obscure and interesting!

[@JackieBright]

Definitely need that phrase on a t-shirt, bumper sticker, and a pair of booty shorts

[@absentjake123]

0:51 i do appear to have spotted the V&SAR dynamometer car, as a VR fan, good choice 😂

[@MTP_CHANNEL_]

Well done looking forward to the next😊

[@Texasrailfan9021]

Best Part 2 Southern Plains Railfan!

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you!

[@4-8-4Northern]

I love his content. I am so entertained and informed by it❤

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you!

[@UncleJakesRaidersVideos]

Just stumbled on your channel, your speaking voice is fantastic 👍

[@blllrando207]

LOVE THIS CHANNEL, VERY COOL.

[@josepantoja5033]

i’m happy you made this video

[@zlee11]

I love this topic. Thank you.

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

You're welcome!

[@garrettsubproductions8705]

Love these video keep them coming

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you!

[@ethanserrsno]

I love ten minutes of obscure rail cars can you do a part Three ?

[@doctordeath.5716]

This is a really cool video and I enjoyed it alot.

[@FreedomRailfan1776]

Very interesting! I did not know about a single one of these cars!

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thanks! Glad I could show you something new!

[@tobythewhale]

there's a Nuclear Boxcar at the Air Force Museum at WPAFB in Dayton, OH. It was ment to launch a nuke like the Soviet Union had all over. Its the only survivor of a scrapped program.

[@Goofyahhampster65]

thank u 4 part 2 and doing the trough train

[@drewfullhart1750]

Loved seeing my comment! What a great video. Looking forward to more of these

[@The_Kitchen_Sink]

5:43 basically it was like taking your cool race car to be tuned but is ready of going to the dyno shop the dyno shop comes to you

[@SuperFastmover]

This was great..thanks!

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

You’re welcome, I’m glad you enjoyed!

[@Primon4723Studios]

2:40 TF2 Heavy: "It is so tiny!"

[@jasonhadfield1551]

I would like to personally Congratulate u on reaching 10k subscribers

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you!

[@jasonhadfield1551]

@@Southern_Plains_Railfan u are welcome

[@Dirt-bike-racer69]

Great job keep it up

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you, will do!

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

Awesome video and enjoyed watching. Have a very nice upcoming weekend.(Steve)

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you very much! You do the same!

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

@@Southern_Plains_Railfan you're welcome

[@davidschick6951]

3:17 "Dow" rhymes with "How."

[@JohnSmith-lw2bm]

Oh I hope the navy caboose has a CIWS on it. That thing is biblical in it’s destructive power.

[@user-TheBestRailfan]

Awesome video! Norfork Southern 1071 is coming to Galesburg! You might want to see it.

[@gkjsooley]

Excellent video - should you do a part 3, how about mentioning helium transporters?

[@jeremiahshoemaker9512]

Trough Train is awesome! I recently found some mechanical drawings, so I'm going to try and 3D print one in N-scale...

[@sparkymotive]

Those dynamometer cars must've been the pre-cursor to today's geometry cars. Every now and then you'll catch one by itself with a (typically holier-than-thou) crew on board that pretty much lives there being hauled by a single locomotive. DODX cars kinda rare and they all seem to have 3 axle bogeys. You can almost hear the bald eagles cry out seeing 100+ APC's roll down the line. BNSF has a boxcar converted into a climate-controlled classroom that gets parked in various cities to train First Responders in HazMat. It's quite plush. You could probably do a whole video on Maintenance of Way cars. The specially made flat cars that haul roadway equipment has a roll-up ramp in the back!

[@scouttroopergaming]

This guy needs at least 1 mil subs

[@mircomuntener4643]

For part 3 may I recommend the rail cars that carry new rails, in full-length format? I have seen some go by, and the lengths of one piece rail they carry, presumably daisy-chained on shared bogeys like shipping container cars, is absolutely stupendous. I'd love to know more about them and the rails they carry. I have seen them on CN train and track in western Canada.

[@robertadams6606]

These are called Continuous Rail cars. You can spot them at Steel mills. Like one here in Pa. (Bethlehem, now with a new Co name) but they can be seen leaving.

[@mircomuntener4643]

@@robertadams6606 thank you! It is incredibly pointless to search 'rail carrying rail car' or the like.

[@robertadams6606]

@@mircomuntener4643 Agreed but you could mention it in your podcasts as a train piece that was not a good thing to create. It could be a etc thing.

[@mircomuntener4643]

@@robertadams6606 huh? What's wrong with it? And what podcast? I'm just a plebe here.

[@robertadams6606]

@@mircomuntener4643 I don't have a problem w the Podcast, just wanted to see about those things. Maybe like a Miscellaneous part.

[@sernajrlouis]

Great video

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you!

[@GE_EMD6006]

Fantastical Video true friend 😁

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you!

[@DHoberer]

I enjoy your videos so much. One of my favorite things to do is see specialty cars. One thing though, that company you mentioned DOW… That’s pronounced similar to cow.

[@hydrashieldbasementservice8453]

The Navy has a train that goes from Howell NJ "Earl Naval base" to almost the middle of Raritan Bay.Years ago I would see the Nuke trains ship rockets to naval vessels they had Soldier's with sand bags and heavy 50 cal. machine guns set on several intermediate cars. It was very intimidating. lol...the rail is very private however several civilian properties backed up to it and I used to be a landscaper in my youth.

[@dionst.michael1482]

These are great video's. #subbed

[@southernwolfgaming]

Can I ask for a oddball compilation of passenger cars next?

[@Paulftate]

nice video....thanks

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

You're welcome!

[@kingkoopa64]

It would be cool if you could talk about event or special train paint schemes.

[@trainfan4014]

Amazing video

[@Southern_Plains_Railfan]

Thank you!

[@adamwoods4273]

I actually have a model of the trough train and I’ll say it was one of the most difficult projects I’ve ever done but also there’s a section in Alabama I believe at a scrapyard still intact

[@vodnikdubs1724]

YES GIMMIE A PART 3!!!! Edit: live by main Dow facility and Am frequently along GLRR lines, will keep an eye out for your bromine tankers 😎

[@cxmx3295]

Cool video maybe you could do a part three

[@TM-bk3ok]

That IDOX caboose was quite the whacky catch when I saw it. UP’s former Boy Scout unit and foreign NS power tied to it.

[@NRRenggli]

Never would have predicted the Navy would resurrect the caboose 🤯

[@user-pp5qg8jj8d]

your awsome keep up the great railfan work dude and at makes everybody and you awsome

[@Steve-vf7se]

Love it. I really love trains, different ones too. Thomas is also a train, but do you really think locomotives have faces? (Don't think so)! Anyway, I saw biggest locomotives in the museum, trains back from the 1940s and 50s, SUPER-COOL! A old time train, that crashed into a wall, how interesting🤔😉. This is why locomotives are the coolest thing, nice

[@MissRailfan]

the Trough train was built at Johnstown America when they were in Johnstown PA. CSX was the railroad to take the cars out of the plant property to rockwood, pa. then points west on its way to BN. They were great till like you said, repairs. so in the end they were a flop. 7:33 i see a fire hydrant make in my hometown, elmira ny :D sorry had to.

[@scottmmafan925]

Southern Plains Railfan Love the video! One error I can't get over, however. "Dow" rhymes with "cow."

[@KevinRichards-rk3gp]

That tiny tanker car, I've never seen one that small before😂

[@loganadams3360]

Awesome, a video. Can we get apart 3

[@pastasauce]

4:28 Amtrak has a similar system. The now retired Talgo Series VI train sets used for the Cascade Service in the PNW used the main reservoir air line for exterior and interior doors. Consequently this created a lot of air leaks that the air compressor on the single locomotive struggled to keep up with. A few NPCUs (aka Cabbages, former F-40PH's that had their diesel guts removed and converted into operating platforms for push pull service and the engine room was converted to a baggage area) were retrofitted with an electric air compressor to help keep up with the air demand. Because the brake pipe follows the main reservoir air pressure, once the main reservoir air pressure fell below 110 PSI (Amtrak's brake pipe pressure), the brakes would apply. Without the extra air compressor engineers would notice brake applications while blowing the whistle (also runs off the MR) in areas where there are many crossings congested together. Today only a couple NPCUs still have this air compressor, and all will likely be retired (or at least cease use in the PNW) after the arrival of the Siemens Aero Cascades train sets in 2026, which will have their own operating cab.

[@humve50]

There is a Bromine car on display in Picayune, Ms… as well as an old gear driven side boiler.

[@David-kk3jf]

6:44 American Toad Stands By

[@deltanine6497]

Very cool! I would be surprised however, if the navy mounted a CIWS cannon on the escort caboose. I suppose GE Miniguns could be supported?