CSX Freightyard Framingham,Ma USA

[Rick A]

I poked my head in to the CSX freight yard today and the yardmaster was nice enough to let me wander around and take some pictures. I don't know what a couple of the cars are. Specifically the yellow one with the "missile" like object mounted on the front.

[Rick A]

Here are a few more.

[Rick A]

And a couple more.

[Beeyar Wunby]

Hi Rick.

Thanks for the pics, I love those thumping great American locos.

The first pic looks like a jet engine, though I would have thought that it would need far more 'plumbing' of cables and tubes if it were to actually run. Very strange. Perhaps it's a travelling test bed?

The 4th and 5th pics look like a railhead applicator of some sort - though it doesn't look like it could travel far enough to be used for the low adhesion season (aka The Fall)

Cheers, BW

[JEB-245584/2]

The hazard symbol on the 4th and 5th shots is for Liquid Petroleum Gas, surely it can't be for weed control can it?

Cheers John

[JEB-245584/2]

The "missile " one is labelled with the HazChem symbol for Kerosene. Wouldn't want to be standing in front of that if its lit!!

Cheers John

[Beeyar Wunby]

Yes I've just had a rethink.

I believe that the big yellow snow plough is a clue. Do you usually get much snow in Framingham?

I now reckon pic 1 is a Snow Blower / melter. John's mention of the Kerosene kinda points to that and makes me think it's a giant blow torch/fan. There is an end cap nearest the camera. Possibly to keep the crap out when it's stabled, and prevent birds nesting in the mechanism.

And maybe 4 & 5 applies de-icing fluid to the track, but I'm still fascinated why its wheels are so puny. Doesn't look like it goes very far.

Rick it looks like you're just gonna have to go back and ask the nice man to explain.

BW

[JEB-245584/2]

An average of 47 inches of snow a year BW. You could be close to the mark with a snow moving device, that end section shows the characteristics of a space heater with the rusty bit on the end.

Cheers John

[Rick A]

I've been told they are all snow removal "toys". The one that looks like a huge hair dryer is actually some kind of jet engine that melts snow.

We do get a fair amount of snow each winter. Rumor has it we are gonna get blasted this winter. Oh well, no worries with these massive snow removers on the job.