Norfolk & Western BPe (Combine) No. 600

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 17, 2020 1:55 pm

A project I just stumbled on is one by the Roanoke Chapter of the NRHS. I'll let the caption for their Facebook album describe it.

Quote:

The N&W 600 is the last remaining BPe class combine. It has been part of a hotel / restaurant for the past 40 years. The Chapter is salvaging the body to preserve it.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/roanokenrhs ... e_internal

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 17, 2020 2:06 pm

Photos from the album, with captions if available.

Quote:

Removing the drywall false interior of the car to get it ready to load and move to Roanoke.

Quote:

Seam where the car was cut in half when it was moved to the restaurant location.

More drywall removal.

Quote:

Framing and drywall removed from the interior of the car.

[img]https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/s960x960/89945664_3098107263574916_1143031049622650880_o.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_sid=0be424&_nc_ohc=kT9QjWVfrpYAX-ai9ew&_nc_ht=scontent

Steamguy73 · **Joined:** Wed Dec 24, 2014 3:15 pm **Posts:** 635

The Roanoke Chapter is always great to follow. I love what they do and it’s awesome to see that such a little known car like the 600 gets another chance. Looked it up, it’s located in Blacksburg, VA (so, really not too far from Roanoke).

Does this car have its trucks?

PMC · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm **Posts:** 2876

The diagram shows two axle trucks which is a bit surprising for what must be a heavy car. I wonder what is left underneath, and the windows will be a challenge obviously, but a great save.

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 17, 2020 6:29 pm

PMC wrote:

The diagram shows two axle trucks which is a bit surprising for what must be a heavy car. I wonder what is left underneath, and the windows will be a challenge obviously, but a great save.

Oh, I don't know if the car is that heavy. The diagram lists the light weight at 117,500 lbs, or just under 59 tons.

That works out to an axle load of under 15 tons. It's just slightly higher than that of a 12-wheel Pullman weighing 85 tons.

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 17, 2020 6:32 pm

As to what's under the car, from the comments at Facebook, it looks like there isn't anything, and even the center sill may be missing.

Still, it's a find and a rescue, even if the car was cut in half at one point to get it into the restaurant!!

ted66 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 17, 2020 9:02 pm

Folks,
Does the data sheet mean that the combine was built by Norfolk & Western or was it some other builder like Pullman-Standard?

Ted66

EJ Berry · **Posted:** Tue Mar 17, 2020 9:17 pm

The diagram shows car had stoves. Was it in mixed train service?

N&W did run a mixed train between Christiansburg and Blacksburg.

Phil Mulligan