sanding operation - diesel servicing

[SD40]

Hi,

I'm in france (I apologize for my terrific written english) and I started to model a US layout.

Currently, I'm working on diesel facilities (sanding pad, refuelling, ...). I'm always very interested by "how prototype works" before modeling.

I noticed sanding systems models with catwalk.

how the catwalk is used by operators ?
On several models, it seems to be to high to reached the roof of the locomotives.
I imagine that the maintenance operators don't "jump" on the roofs ... It seems to be to dangerous ...

Is it only a scale issue of the models I saw ? (or a simplified models ?)
Or is the calwalk used in an other manner ?

I have exacly the same question for this "walkway safety tread" :

How the "walkway safety tread" are used ? I noticed that they are at the same level than the locomotives platform. But locomotives have their own handrails ! Impossible to reach the locomotive plateform easily (climbing over the handrails ??). Except at the stairs locations. But because of the descending steps, is it really convenient to use these "path" from the walkway ?

You can answer "buy a sanding model and don't ask ..."
But it's so interesting to discover how prototype works ...

Thank you for your information.

Best.
Francis

[doctorwayne]

to the MR Forums, Francis.

It would seem to me that the catwalks would be useful for F-type units and RDCs, but not so good for switchers or many hood units.  They may have been useful for steam locomotives, too, depending on the height of the walkways on the locomotive's boiler.
Here's a switcher being sanded from the sand pocket of the former coaling tower:

Older hood units, like this GP7, had the sand-fill hatches atop the high hoods, and the person filling them would have used the grabiron-type ladder to gain access to them:

Newer units, like this one, have the front sandfill hatches atop the low hood:

...and I'm guessing that most have a low-mounted filler hatch like this one, located beneath the rear headlight:

For the latter two, unless the sanding platform had drop-down walkways that reached to the front- and rear porches on the locomotives, using the steps on the locomotive would be safer, I think.

Wayne

[SD40]

Hi Wayne,

Thank you for all the information you provided to me.

To keep on our talks about this topic and get your point of view, i would like to insert photos in the post. But i can't manage to do it.

I used the 'insert/edit imag" command, filled the "source" field with the path to the image, added a text for the image description, and filled the last field with the XY image dimension.

Something wrong ?

Best
Francis

[tstage]

Francis,

All you really need in order to post a photo is the URL.  All other fields can remain blank.

Make sure your pic ends in .jpg, .bmp, or some other common photo file extensions.  Sometimes I think I've copied the correct file but I've right-clicked on the wrong source file when choosing the picture.  Make sure you're clicking the "Copy Image Location" and not "Copy Link Locaton"

Hope that helps...

Tom

[BigDaddy]

Francis, welcome to the forum.  No need to apologize for your English, it is better than our French.

Tom nailed it on posting pics, there is also a sticky on how to post photos.

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/249194.aspx

[SD40]

Thanks a lot Tom and Henry !
Now, I can upload photos and images ... and keep on asking questions

Wayne gave me answers about my first questions about sand supplying. But i still have others. I'm very interested by prototypical operations.

Here is a model of sanding rack :

I can see 2 drop-down walkways on this side, attached to the catwalk.
But it seems that they are to high to reach the roof of the locomotive safely. According to the scale, approximatly nearly 2 meters too high.

Is the rack model out of scale ? Are modern locomotives lower than older ones ? Or does it work in another way ?

Best
Francis

 

[Kyle]

Newer locomotives are actually a lot larger than the older diesel electrics.  You really wouldn't notice it if you are looking at them seperately, but side by side it is clear that the frames of newer locomitives ride higher and the cabs and hoods are taller.  The new SD70ACeT4 has a taller hood section in the middle to fit all of the emissons crap.

*This is based off of photos of Geeps (GP38s, GP40s, etc) to new GEs and EMDs (wide safety cabs)