RE: [CBQ] Weed Sprayer

["'Tom Kline' TKline@airmail.net [CBQ]" <CBQ@yahoogroups.com>]

I’d have to concur with Leo about these photos, also every weed sprayer that I’ve seen or been around always had a white or yellow-ish staining on the lower carbody from the bleaching action of the chemicals to any painted surface.

 

I seem to recall Fairmont or another railroad equipment manufacturer offered a weed burner as a self-propelled vehicle.  We had one on the Burlington-Rock Island joint line and it was an interesting looking machine with two long kerosene drums mounted parallel to the rails on the units frame with a platform deck and roof on top for the crew to ride upon.  Two moveable booms with flared ends stuck out over each rail to work each side of the roadway.  They basically operated like a blowtorch with the flame being largely shrouded by the flared end and the operators swinging them side to side as needed.  The crew sitting atop the big tanks under the large full-length awning always reminded me of the big aluminum pontoon boats fishermen used on the lakes which were very popular at the time.  I haven’t thought about these things in decades and may be a little fuzzy on the exact details but they sure looked like something out of the Flintstones.

 

Tom Kline

Houston

 

From: CBQ@yahoogroups.com [mailto:CBQ@yahoogroups.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2017 5:34 PM
To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [CBQ] Weed Sprayer

 

 

I didn't work on either a weed sprayer or rail oiler train as by the time I came along the weed spraying was contracted out and the RR had stopped oiling the rails.

 

That said I think the picture shows the rail oiler train. Note the black goo everywhere on the sprayer and the lack of sprayer arms. For these reasons I think this is an oiler. 

Also the tank cars are 10,000 gallon insulated and jacketed class 103w that were the type typically used in heavy oils,creosote,etc. 

 

For those who are too young to remember. Produce,meat,veggies,etc were moved in ice bunker reefers. Salt was widely used to drop the temperatures quickly and lower than it might  otherwise reach. The brine that dripped from the cars would corrode the rails. So on lines with reefer block movements the sides of the rails were oiled to retard the corrosion. 

 

On the east end only tracks two and three were oiled as the empties returned West primarily on track one and were long dried out by then. The loads came east on three and two. There have  previously been a couple photos showing tracks after the oiler had gone through.

 

Finally while the train was referred to as the rail oiler I believe what was sprayed was 

Creosote or something similar.

 

Leo Phillipp

On Jan 25, 2017, at 3:21 PM, LZadnichek@aol.com [CBQ] <CBQ@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

January 25, 2017

 

Jeff and Ken - Here's an inserted and attached image that may answer your questions:

 

<CBQ211581ChadwickIL8-17-64-2.jpg>

 

It shows CB&Q weed sprayer No. 211581 at Chadwick, IL, on August 17, 1964. Looks like the car was painted box car red. Today, the EPA would immediately send this train to the RIP track for being environmentally incorrect what with it's open viewing windows and underframe dripping weed killer.

 

But, in it's less environmentally sensitive era, I bet No. 211581 was very efficient in killing weeds. I don't know what kind of poison was used, but I remember it smelled awful, particularly after a rain. May be Leo or another Group member can share their memories of working on a weed killer train. Best Regards - Louis 

 

Louis Zadnichek II

Fairhope, AL 

 

In a message dated 1/25/2017 10:37:59 A.M. Central Standard Time, CBQ@yahoogroups.com writes:

I think I have a shot of one I took at Galesburg in 1972 still in full Q orange MOW colors.  I'll try to scan and post it later today.

Ken Thompson

On Jan 25, 2017 10:32 AM, "zephyrus@aol.com [CBQ]" <CBQ@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

A friend asked me if I had any plans/pictures of Q weed sprayers circa 1950's.  He seems to think the car would be a boxcar with windows or a boxcar/flat car combo.  The only picture I could find was a "speeder" type car with a trailer, and a leased unit from 1963.  Can any of you help me point him in the right direction?

 

Jeff Jones

 

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Posted by: "Tom Kline" <tkline@airmail.net>

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