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The Nevada Northern Railway has acquired a unique boxcar known as the “Safety Powder Car,” bringing it back from a family-owned property just one block away from the railroad in Ely.

The Powder Car was transported from the nearby property to the railroad’s East Ely Yard, where it was unloaded.

The car is believed to have hauled blasting powder for the Nevada Consolidated Copper Company, which owned the Nevada Northern until the early 1930s. Originally built as a refrigerator car, it was later repurposed for the copper mining operations along the Nevada Northern just west of Ely.

Its metal roof helps insulate it, and while the insulation was originally meant for perishable products, it worked the same way for blasting powder. The roof would also protect the blasting powder from cinders thrown off by steam locomotives and steam shovels.

It currently lacks a frame and trucks, but the railroad intends to restore it to its working appearance. Little is known about the car right now, but the railroad’s archive department is working to fill the gaps.

— Nick Stewart

The post Nevada Northern Acquires “Safety Powder Car” appeared first on Railfan & Railroad Magazine.

BNSF has opened a new bridge over the Missouri River in Bismarck, North Dakota, replacing a 140-year-old bridge built by its predecessor, Northern Pacific.

The first trains crossed the new bridge last month, which spans 1,554 feet. Work is now focused on removing the old bridge, which was near the end of its life according to the railroad. Vertical and horizontal clearances of the old bridge limited loads that could be transported across the river.

The official cutover took 20 hours and a team of 50 people to shift rail traffic over to the new bridge.

“Putting our new BNSF bridge in service is incredibly important for our ability to continue serving customers in North Dakota and across our network,” said Amy McBeth, general director of public affairs, in a release. “It’s a massive private infrastructure project that facilitates interstate commerce and is the biggest project we’ll have in the state for several years.” 

Designing and permitting the bridge took nearly eight years to complete, and the railroad was challenged by winter weather, which shortened construction windows.

Work to remove the old bridge will continue through fall and winter, weather permitting, and full removal of the bridge is expected to be completed by mid-2027. 

— Nick Stewart

The post New Bridge Enters Service on BNSF in North Dakota appeared first on Railfan & Railroad Magazine.