Looks like BNSF is getting into some retro repaints at least on one caboose. Here are links to a couple photos I took on 7/26/12 at the BNSF rip track at Interbay in Seattle:








I talked to a couple carman and one thought it was going to another car shop and the other said it was going to a switching crew. From what I'm hearing it is a former BN caboose built in 1980.

Richard Wilkens

Now there's an idea. While UP, CSX, and Amtrak have all repainted modern locomotives into heritage schemes (which is very cool, don't get me wrong), BNSF seems to be taking the "heritage movement" in a different direction, retro-ing a piece of American railroading that is already "retro" in and of itself: the caboose! I do hope to see some more of these. :)

This is a great idea, but I'm wondering if we're looking at a radio control car, so a reduced engine crew can do all the switching? Love the retro paint scheme; love the caboose!

BNSF still uses the cabooses for switching platforms, work trains, etc. All the remote crews I have seen are always riding on the locomotive. In the last couple years BNSF has been repainting a number of cabooses at this shop but they were repainted into BN Cascade green and yellow.

Richard

BNSF repainted one of the Snowdozers into full, 80s BN paint last year. Sometimes they do this stuff to boost morale for shop crews or as a reward for such and such (no time missed accidents, etc).

Without any windows it looks more like a boxcar with a cupola.

Now all they need is that Black Bear seen on top of the grain cars in Jasper last week to keep the taggers away :)