Anyone here able to track a BNSF railcar?

[fishpick]

I'm almost positive my truck is going to be parked at Argentine for about a month longer - but I do have a railcar number - if anyone has access and wouldn't mind running the number for me on the BNSF site - I'd be super grateful!

Thanks in advance!

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[Brocked]

I'm almost positive my truck is going to be parked at Argentine for about a month longer - but I do have a railcar number - if anyone has access and wouldn't mind running the number for me on the BNSF site - I'd be super grateful!

Thanks in advance!

Try This. I know its CSX but it might still work.

CSX
1. Call the CSX 1-800-235-2352
2. When prompted for location or weight, press "1" on your phone for location.
3. When prompted for the car initials, say CN (or whatever initials you have) then wait for the next prompt.
4. When prompted for the car number, say 907048 (or whatever your number is)
5. When prompted for next car say DONE.
6. That's it; enjoy your updated status report.

 

[fishpick]

Thanks @Brocked - I did that and it says the car got to Lincoln NE last night... assuming that car number is NOT doing something else to get mine later... I dunno if they reuse numbers and over what time frame.
Regardless... it's going the wrong way...
Pretending my truck is actually ON that car - purple is traveled, red is to be traveled... And I'm totally sure the red line aint gonna be that straight... Maybe a 3/5 ETA is legit...

 

[ArmySooner405]

Thanks @Brocked - I did that and it says the car got to Lincoln NE last night... assuming that car number is NOT doing something else to get mine later... I dunno if they reuse numbers and over what time frame.
Regardless... it's going the wrong way...
Pretending my truck is actually ON that car - purple is traveled, red is to be traveled... And I'm totally sure the red line aint gonna be that straight... Maybe a 3/5 ETA is legit...

If it were heading straight to your town/city, it could get to the destination in about 3 days on the fast side. Realistically, the rail car will sit at different terminals for who knows how long and trains are broken apart and then put together at different terminals depending on the individual rail car’s specific destinations. I’m a conductor for BNSF and know from the other side it can take it’s time.

 

[fishpick]

If it were heading straight to your town/city, it could get to the destination in about 3 days on the fast side. Realistically, the rail car will sit at different terminals for who knows how long and trains are broken apart and then put together at different terminals depending on the individual rail car’s specific destinations. I’m a conductor for BNSF and know from the other side it can take it’s time.

@ArmySooner405 - thanks - and yeah - I know it can take time... o rush - it's turned int oa game to try and find it... I'm gonna be offering squares for date it arrives... I think - given it's going the wrong way - and what you said - the Ford based ETA I keep making fun of might actually be right!

That said - maybe you can answer a question - I thought BNSF didn't go East of Chicago... so pretending my truck is actaully in that car in Lincoln right now... what happens when it gets to Chicago - does another carrier pick it up? Just wondering how the world of rail logistics works!

 

[ArmySooner405]

@ArmySooner405 - thanks - and yeah - I know it can take time... o rush - it's turned int oa game to try and find it... I'm gonna be offering squares for date it arrives... I think - given it's going the wrong way - and what you said - the Ford based ETA I keep making fun of might actually be right!

That said - maybe you can answer a question - I thought BNSF didn't go East of Chicago... so pretending my truck is actaully in that car in Lincoln right now... what happens when it gets to Chicago - does another carrier pick it up? Just wondering how the world of rail logistics works!

You’re right, the cars that will be advancing east of Chicago will be transferred to another carrier(NS, CSX, etc). If I knew what train it was on, I can track its movement as far as BNSF has ownership of the rail car. I can’t track rail cars individually unfortunately. It’s difficult to track them even sometimes because so frequently the trains change symbols(names) as it’s broken apart or put together along it’s travels at different terminals.

 

[Mast2Beam]

I’m a rail fan so enjoy learning about how things work. Just hope that NS didn’t forget about my car sitting at an intermediate stop for a week!

 

[fishpick]

@ArmySooner405 are train numbers just short 4 letter things? Cause I called the CSX number for an update and it moved and said something the car is on and gave a 4 character value... at any rate - this is "promising"...

 

[ArmySooner405]

@ArmySooner405 are train numbers just short 4 letter things? Cause I called the CSX number for an update and it moved and said something the car is on and gave a 4 character value... at any rate - this is "promising"...

Top left is the train symbol, top right is the lead locomotive number. What’s the 4 digits you have?

 

[fishpick]

Top left is the train symbol, top right is the lead locomotive number. What’s the 4 digits you have?

I didn't write them down when I called the CSX hotline earlier that told me the car left Osceola at 4am this morning. But in the message there was a 4 letter mumble that sounded like it might be the "line" or something - I was thinking maybe that's the train... when I call tomorrow - because -why wouldn't I - I'll have a pen handy and see if I can catch hit and post it up here!

 

[ArmySooner405]

I didn't write them down when I called the CSX hotline earlier that told me the car left Osceola at 4am this morning. But in the message there was a 4 letter mumble that sounded like it might be the "line" or something - I was thinking maybe that's the train... when I call tomorrow - because -why wouldn't I - I'll have a pen handy and see if I can catch hit and post it up here!

This will give you an idea of the BNSF routes in that area. It’s a mess.

 

[ArmySooner405]

My guess is it’s either in Galesburg, IL or passing near Pequot, IL now.

 

[fishpick]

@ArmySooner405 - I clearly don't understand "trains"...

 

[ArmySooner405]

@ArmySooner405 - I clearly don't understand "trains"...

That’s the beauty of the transportation world. Priority, sequence, manpower, and above all…the folks in the company office that determine when stuff moves or where it moves. I’m not familiar with that area, but there’s a number of things that could cause it to go that route(I gave up most the time trying to make sense of some of the routes things took). I would have thought it would go east from KC, but it depends on the tracks and yards where things get switched around. I know it’s a headache.

 

[fishpick]

He @ArmySooner405 - my car switched to CSX in Chicago - as expected... but now the voice prompt systems says the car has been "received at interchange Gibson IN" - does received mean - the rail car is no longer part of the train - and the the contents (i.e. my truck) have been unloaded onto a truck?
That would make some sense given my sticker says "convoy" which is supposed to be by truck - not rail...

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