KISS

[Mookie]

Got a couple - questions that is. Keep it short and simple!

UCEX Coal "bins"......Have "Porches" on both ends. These have a vertical and a horizontal cylinder. One is probably air, what is the other one?

BNSF - my yard - coal train leaving town - start out a good speed, then stops, then goes back up to good speed again to finish leaving yard. I understand signals are involved - but why would you put a whole train out there at a good rate, then make them stop completely before starting them back up again - sounds like someone didn't plan ahead (the 7 p's syndrome)

SD70/Dash 9 - since powder room used to be in nose on some old units - where is it on this one - Mookie really needs to know this being female and all.

Dwarf lights - about 4 of them right where we park. one engine comes out past the dwarf so he can see it . No one gets off engine. Then two engines come out and one person gets off and watches dwarf then gets back on the 2nd engine (engineer remains in 1st engine) I can see where the person on the 2nd engine is going to watch a couple when these engines get where they are going - but why get off and watch the dwarf? Can't the engineer see it from his perch? The distance isn't all that great - sun doesn't seem to be a problem - or are they just entertaining the watchers? [:)]

And similar to the one up above - KCLX-KCPL coal train coming in from south to west (MT) - comes in good speed, slows to practically a crawl for a very short time and then back up to a good speed - looks to be a run-thru going around the perimeter of the yard. Again is this the 7 p's or what would cause the slow down (besides the signal).

I will now take your questions.......

La La Mook

[Anonymous]

The Coal Train leaving the BNSF yard is probably conducting a brake test to ensure that the brake system is connected and working on the entire train.

The KCLX-KCPL train is probably slowing to change crews. If there is no other reason to stop, the train slows to a crawl, the new crew gets on, the old crew gets off and the train continues.

[rrnut282]

The start and stop sounds like a running brake test, but it could be some local quirk, too. Most signals use a lens to increase the strength (focus) of the light so it can be seen from a greater distance. The trade-off is that it can only be seen from a narrower angle. Since it is a dwarf signal, the closer a locomotive gets, the harder it is to see from the seat. Or they quite simply wanted some fresh air.

[rrnut282]

I thought boarding a moving train was verboten these days. I'm pretty sure NS and CSX frown on that activity.

[zardoz]

Mook--You know of the 7P's? I suppose I should not be surprised. My wife told about them a few years ago, and I have never seen any other reference to them since. But if anyone else would know of them, it would be you!

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by zardoz

Mook--You know of the 7P's? I suppose I should not be surprised. My wife told about them a few years ago, and I have never seen any other reference to them since. But if anyone else would know of them, it would be you!

My driver was in the Army for 11 years - he told me! [:)] And did she use the true terminology to explain them - not that it is so bad anymore!

Mook

[michaelstevens]

It's funny how these variations on the "Peter Principle" differ from state to state and country to country.
We always said that;

Prior Preparatory Planning Prevents Pxxx Poor Performance -- and/or;

Keep - It - Simple - Stupid !!

[Anonymous]

Powder room- down the steps, first door to the left and hope that the slack doesn't come in while you're doing your business. In resonse to another responder- I can assure you that many a NS employee has drawn his run-off pay because a trainmaster saw him/her getting up or down on moving equipment.

[CShaveRR]

Jen--do you know about scanner laws in Nebraska?

If they're legal, do you own one?

Some answers to your questions about the stop/slowdown might be gotten in that fashion.

The UCEX cars are hoppers, right? One cylinder is undoubtedly the brake reservoir (looks like it's divided into two parts at the middle, and is more barrel-shaped than perfectly cylindrical). The other (perhaps more cylindrical) is probably the air reservoir for opening and closing the hopper doors.

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR

Jen--do you know about scanner laws in Nebraska?

If they're legal, do you own one?

Some answers to your questions about the stop/slowdown might be gotten in that fashion.

The UCEX cars are hoppers, right? One cylinder is undoubtedly the brake reservoir (looks like it's divided into two parts at the middle, and is more barrel-shaped than perfectly cylindrical). The other (perhaps more cylindrical) is probably the air reservoir for opening and closing the hopper doors.

Actually - I have two of them. One in each bedroom of our teepee. It is the one expensive thing I wiggled out of the budget - twice. They aren't portable, however. And they follow the police/sheriff and fire dept. That is my other passion - or maybe my 3rd - must include driver.

When my Dad worked for railroad, Mom had one and could hear him leaving town - mostly by voice recognition - and he would slip in a quick Hi - which of course, was very much against the rules. But I never got a scanner to take watching with me - and don't listen to the rr at home - believe me, the police/sheriff are much more interesting! We are one wild town! [}:)]

Gotta go look at the coal cars again! See if they are hopper or rotary. Oh Darn - another trip to the rr yards! [8D]

Mook

[Anonymous]

It wouldn't be the first time somebody found hand throw switches lined wrong in front of them. Wouldn't be the first time that somebody had to be talked by a red signal either.