I model modern-era trains (UP specifically, though I know this can apply to any railroad). Are autorack unit trains strictly made up of either Bi-Level or Tri-Level autorack cars, or are they mixed together (I'm sure in consecutive strings of each type)? I know that Bi-Level autorack cars carry larger vehicles like SUVs, large pickups and vans, while the Tri-Level cars carry standard sedans/coupes and compact cars. So would a typical autorack train carry one specific type of autorack car?
Metro Red LineI know that Bi-Level autorack cars carry larger vehicles like SUVs, large pickups and vans, while the Tri-Level cars carry standard sedans/coupes and compact cars. So would a typical autorack train carry one specific type of autorack car?
That would be to limiting since these loaded rack trains is bound to a automobile mixing center for unloading where the vehicles are sorted for destination and reloaded into autoracks for that destination.Some vehicles remains for deliverly to dealers.
I have see Bi-Level,Tri-Level and those big Automax cars in the same train.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I have seen both ways, from the plant, one type, after remixing the train in the yard, anything and everything together, in any order whatsoever. So, are you modeling a plant run, or a delivery run? Plant run could be all one type, delivery run any and all kinds.
And empty's? Now we get real fun, I have seen empty auto carriers of all three styles, bi-level, tri-level, automax articulated, mixed in with intermodal, general manifests, even short "layout style" trains with one loco and a handful of empty's. I have even seen a CSX mainline freight, with 2 modern 6 axel loco's, and a whopping 4 () empty cars! (So, 8800 horsepower, decided by 4 cars, so they needed 2200 horsepower per car!!! I could see that... Hey, I can model that in HO scale in less than 8 feet! I just wonder, how many horses to move those 4 if they were loaded? )
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
Sometimes a railroad schedules locomotives on the basis of the usual train. At other times a light loco move (to balance power) might add a few odd cars going in the same direction, either to fill a requirement or to get them out of the way.
I recall a situation I saw in Japan, where everything ran on timetable authority. Train A usually had a fairly heavy load, and ran every day with two D51 class 2-8-2s. A DMU schedule later, train B would come along with a rather short motley collection of cars.
So, I staked out a good photo spot where I could also set up a recorder. Along came Train A - two locos, about three cars and a brake van, gliding almost silently up the grade. The DMU train went by. Then I saw a cloud of smoke approaching, accompanied by the sound of thunder. Train B's lone 2-8-2 was dragging its own usual load, plus all the cars that had missed Train A, up the 2%, gasping and straining while the fireman shoveled as fast as he could to keep up pressure.
As for auto racks, the JNR never owned a tri-level. It wouldn't have fit under the catenary.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
For a train they take all loaded cars going the same direction, but they mostly come in batches. It's when they unload them that they have to sort them because you can't drive the taller mini vans through the smaller space on the tri-level racks.
Lone Wolf and Santa Fe For a train they take all loaded cars going the same direction, but they mostly come in batches. It's when they unload them that they have to sort them because you can't drive the taller mini vans through the smaller space on the tri-level racks.
The mixing center in Fostoria,Ohio uses 2 ex NS HH GP38s for that work.
The departing trains is between 8000-10,000 feet.