Hi,
About a month ago I counted the cars on a UP freight going thru Spring, Tx on a Sunday morning. It was unusual (to me) in that it only had two leading locos pulling 120 cars or so. I posted this on the other forum, as it was then the longest train (that I car counted), and it was moving fairly quickly, and had only two power units.
This morning found us back in Old Town Spring, caught by the crossbucks, and another train was coming from the northwest. I don't know for sure, but I suspect it was the same train due to the timing, etc.
So the train was headed by two UP locos, and my wife and I counted cars. We got up to 125, and there was a third (N&W) loco and it was followed by exactly 50 cars! So this 175 car freight was certainly the longest train I've confirmed in my 77 years, and I was pretty impressed. Most of the cars were tankers (primarily chemical), and covered hoppers. There were a few flats and old box cars and that was it.
Obviously (?) most of the tankers must have been MTs, for the train was moving at a fairly good speed as it headed south towards Houston.
Just wanted to share this, for I really was surprised for a train that size, at that speed, on these tracks.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
The UP ran an 18,000 ft train from DIT (Dallas Intermodal Terminal) to Los Angeles.
3 engines, 6000 ft of train, 3 engines, 6000 ft of train, 3 engines, 6000 ft of train, 3 engines.
They regularly run 14,000 ft trains.
The speed limit on the Navasota Sub is 60 mph and is restricted to 40 approaching Spring Jct, with a 30 mph restriction through the turnout of the junction switch.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
Wow! I figure 6000 ft would be 100-120 cars these days so that was one huge train for sure. Pretty amazing IMO!!!
dehusman The UP ran an 18,000 ft train from DIT (Dallas Intermodal Terminal) to Los Angeles. 3 engines, 6000 ft of train, 3 engines, 6000 ft of train, 3 engines, 6000 ft of train, 3 engines. They regularly run 14,000 ft trains. The speed limit on the Navasota Sub is 60 mph and is restricted to 40 approaching Spring Jct, with a 30 mph restriction through the turnout of the junction switch.
March 12 2022. MCBCH-12 Manifest, Council Bluffs to Chicago.
105 loads 165 empties 16886 tons. 18175 feet. Three engines, one in the front, one about the middle, one at the rear.
It's unusual to get a manifest that big. It's the biggest train, by length, that I've ever had. I've had trains with more cars, doubled up coal trains with 296 total cars, but were shorter by length.
12000 to 15000 manifests or intermodals aren't unusual now. We used to think of 9000 or 10000 feet as being big. Not anymore.
Jeff
When I started on the MP Southern District, max train length was 7200 feet and it was a big deal when they started lengthening sidings to 8000 feet.
In 1967, the PRR ran a 341 car, 34,805 ton ore train from Cleveland to Pittsburgh. It was a test, and they broke 13 knuckles enroute. They didn't repeat it.