Does anyone know what this load is? One of three on a CSX train today in Richmond VA
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It's a nuclear material flask.
Jim
@Jim Policastro posted:It's a nuclear material flask.
Jim
Probably right, I have no better guess.
Could this be containing materials from the Navy at Newport News Shipbuilding (Huntington Ingalls now)? Flasks I have seen before were more vertical- this has the horizontal thing going on. Let's hope the ends are screwed on well...
@773Hudson posted:Does anyone know what this load is? One of three on a CSX train today in Richmond VA
Looks like a 48:1 scale one pound exercise weight! 
Aside from the unknown flask I find the fact that a caboose is attached much more interesting as how often if ever do you see that at the end of a freight train?
I saw the exact same car 5 years ago in Richmond. It was heading south on the bridge that connects the old RF&P and ACL lines.
Not sure what it is, but @Menards will probably be putting one out in time for Christmas. 
Mitch
TIFI.
Mitch
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If I can find the right pepper mill, I can model this.
@hokie71 posted:Apparently a mega caboose is on the way to accompany these shipments. https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/t...nd-a-nuclear-secret/
I seem to remember a thread about these cabooses in the past???
I believe the proper term is "caboooooose" . . .
There was a thread about a year ago where someone visiting the Horseshoe Curve took a video of one of those passing through it. I searched for the thread and couldn’t find it. I did take a screen grab of the carrier. Note it’s just the engine, an empty flat car, the nuclear load, another empty flatcar, and a special caboose full of security personnel.
Update: Someone just posted something with info on the caboose.
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"Does anyone know.. " Yes.
Looks like a "Spent Fuel Cask" to me.
Ron
The link that Hokie 71 provided shows the exact car that the OP asked about. Here is a picture. It is an M-290 Naval Spent [Nuclear] Fuel Shipping Container on a special design Atlas railcar. Walls are 10-11" solid stainless steel. The link also discusses the new Rail Escort Vehicles that are being built. Details are hush-hush, but there are no windows, just small apertures described as firing ports, length is 69 feet long and weight is 185,000 pounds fully loaded. Gotta wonder if the sides are armored . . .
The full consist is 2 Locomotives--Buffer (flat) car--M-290/Atlas Railcar--Buffer (flat) car--Rail Escort Vehicle. Pretty cool!
Bob
