Looks squeaky clean inside:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EnDdqMnn_U
When the train pulls out one sees the outside of some "RIVER" cars that look like former Pullman Standard bilevel (galley) commuter cars. but with oversize upper level windows. Does any one have floor plans for these cars and their heritage? I did find photos of the cars and they are listed as being former SP cars.
Why oh why do the US railroads insist on keeping that AWFUL seat setup?
At least they have a fridge.
10000 feet and no dynamics? Today is going to be a good day ...
What is wrong with the crossing signals and gates ? Not even an island circuit ?
traisessive1 Why oh why do the US railroads insist on keeping that AWFUL seat setup? At least they have a fridge.
I like the BNSF set-up. Look at all the room. UP engines now are having the seat placed in front of the bi-fold doors. The newest seats are a fold up type that when folded can be pivoted to access the doors. When in use they just take up more space. It's getting hard to have room to put your grips without impeding the limited walking space. And if there isn't a clear path it's liable to get crews written up for it.
We now get a poorly designed ice-box. It seems everyone, company and labor, signed off on the design. I think everyone except those who actually use it. Since the space behind the conductor's seat is where they like to put PTC gear on some engines, those have the ice-box placed in the outer nose compartment. Where in the winter you really don't need extra ice to keep things cold.
Jeff
jeffhergertI like the BNSF set-up. Look at all the room. UP engines now are having the seat placed in front of the bi-fold doors. The newest seats are a fold up type that when folded can be pivoted to access the doors. When in use they just take up more space. It's getting hard to have room to put your grips without impeding the limited walking space. And if there isn't a clear path it's liable to get crews written up for it. We now get a poorly designed ice-box. It seems everyone, company and labor, signed off on the design. I think everyone except those who actually use it. Since the space behind the conductor's seat is where they like to put PTC gear on some engines, those have the ice-box placed in the outer nose compartment. Where in the winter you really don't need extra ice to keep things cold. Jeff
Have they got to the point where they have fixed the seat suspension in the Locomotives so it's more similar to OTR trucks now or is it still that you feel every single bump and jerk?
Also, realize the locomotive was brand new in this case but typically how often do they clean the inside of the locomotives? When you turn on the heater does a big cloud of dust rise up or are there filters they change on occassion to filter that crap out? Just curious.
jeffhergert traisessive1 Why oh why do the US railroads insist on keeping that AWFUL seat setup? At least they have a fridge. I like the BNSF set-up. Look at all the room. UP engines now are having the seat placed in front of the bi-fold doors. The newest seats are a fold up type that when folded can be pivoted to access the doors. When in use they just take up more space. It's getting hard to have room to put your grips without impeding the limited walking space. And if there isn't a clear path it's liable to get crews written up for it. We now get a poorly designed ice-box. It seems everyone, company and labor, signed off on the design. I think everyone except those who actually use it. Since the space behind the conductor's seat is where they like to put PTC gear on some engines, those have the ice-box placed in the outer nose compartment. Where in the winter you really don't need extra ice to keep things cold. Jeff
CN puts our microwave behind the Conductor's seat now, right where the Brakeman's seat is in this setup. I prefer the 3rd seat in the middle anyway, when folded up there's still plenty of room for 2 people and their bags (or you can leave it down and put a bag or 2 on it) and when there is a 3rd guy he/she isn't crammed in behind the Conductor.
But then again I'm a bit prejudiced, having spent waaay too much time as a Brakeman crammed into that 3rd seat on those junk ex-BNSF dash-8's CN bought, the only worse units we have are the ex-UP ones ! At least they all have the microwave down in the nose where it belongs (apparently the reason for moving it was that stuff was getting spilt on all the computer modules in the nose).
And I have yet to understand why in the 21st century it is still somehow ok to put an icebox on a locomotive instead of a fridge. CN & CP don't seem to have gone bankrupt from buying them. Do they at least give you guys a bag of ice for it every trip, or do you have to bring a bunch of cold packs from home?
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
I never liked those barber-chair middle seats. Unless you can fold them up (most of our engines you can't), you have to crawl around them. And I never liked sitting in them because if you did hit something (or came to a stop REALLY fast), you were going to get really personal with the nose door really fast.
And I was a brakeman for a bit, too, but we mostly shared the cab of a GP-38.
And I think those fridges and attached coolers are disgusting. At least with a portable cooler you can clean it out easier and let it air dry.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
zugmannAnd I think those fridges and attached coolers are disgusting. At least with a portable cooler you can clean it out easier and let it air dry.
Our two RS18u's have the mini-fridges and microwaves. A cold bottle of water sure tastes good on a hot summer day. We're not on them long enough to bother with food. I've never used the microwave...
Don't Canadian locomotives come with a hotplate, too?
The AAR stand is best for us (as compared to the desktop style) - half of every trip is in reverse. I wouldn't want to run a desktop in reverse, either...
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
tree68 zugmann And I think those fridges and attached coolers are disgusting. At least with a portable cooler you can clean it out easier and let it air dry. Our two RS18u's have the mini-fridges and microwaves. A cold bottle of water sure tastes good on a hot summer day. We're not on them long enough to bother with food. I've never used the microwave...
zugmann And I think those fridges and attached coolers are disgusting. At least with a portable cooler you can clean it out easier and let it air dry.
I've never had a problem with the cleanliness of our fridges, the most common issue is that they often decide to turn into freezers instead. Cold water is awesome to drink, large ice cubes not so much. And if they have a thermostat dial it is very well hidden.
And every unit since the early 1990s (Dash-9/SD75s) has come with a folding Brakeman's seat.
tree68 Don't Canadian locomotives come with a hotplate, too?
Yes but almost no one uses it anymore, I am one of the few that do. We are prohibited from using it while moving (someone probably got burned once) but people still do, if you tie the pot down with some wire and an air hose gasket it prevents it from flying away (kills the annoying vibration too). Every now and then someone puts something besides the coffee pot on it (like a crewpak) while it's still hot and you get a small fire, and then a few days later the obligitory safety flash bulletin comes out.
tree68 I wouldn't want to run a desktop in reverse, either...
I wouldn't want to run a desktop in reverse, either...
You really don't. I've seen it done and the Engineer really has to struggle. Doesn't help things that most of our desktops are also cowls, so you can't see backwards at all. No ditchlights or even a proper headlight on those either, just the one silly backup light that could have been stolen from a steam engine's tender.
I've run desktops backwards (mostly though large yards). If you have a mirror - it isn't awful.
I've been on soem western engines where the engine (and fridge) were shut down. Petri dish is the term that comes to mind - no thanks. I'll just have some warm water. I 'm good.
SD70M-2Dude And I have yet to understand why in the 21st century it is still somehow ok to put an icebox on a locomotive instead of a fridge. CN & CP don't seem to have gone bankrupt from buying them. Do they at least give you guys a bag of ice for it every trip, or do you have to bring a bunch of cold packs from home?
They don't like the refrigerators because they have to maintain (fix) them. Ice boxes wouldn't be bad if they just would've made them a little easier to access. Everything is fixed, no removable shelves so it's hard to put ice in them. The drain plugs like to plug up which means the water from the melting ice often flows onto the floor. Usually where someone needs to place one of their grips.
The best thing I think we had (outside of a working refrigerator) were 5-gallon buckets with styrofoam liners. Made by Life-Like Products, the same company that made model railroad products. Not much room once filled with ice and drinking water for personal items, but most of us carry some kind of cooler for that. Now they are considered a (tripping) hazard and aren't allowed.
I've seen on engines in run-thru service mid-sized coolers like you take camping from an Eastern railroad . I've also seen them in some motel crew lounges. No doubt since they would be a tripping hazard, some conscientious person removed them from those run-thru engines.
Oh, they also have to supply ice. Used to be bags, but now all the terminals I visit have large ice machines, a scoop and large plastic bags to serve yourself.
If you have to deadhead to a consist that has been parked for a week, what good is ice? There is no excuse for not having a fridge AND microwave on EVERY road unit in North America.
To answer the question about how often the cabs are cleaned ... on CN, NEVER. They will clean out the toilet compartment only when they have to.
traisessive1To answer the question about how often the cabs are cleaned ... on CN, NEVER. They will clean out the toilet compartment only when they have to.
OK, so that is pretty nasty. It's not only the toilet compartment though I would be concerned about the air quality in the cab because as the Locomotive ages it collects quite a bit of dust in the cab I would expect. Without an air filter in the HVAC system, it will just blow around ever increasing amounts of dust to inhale.
traisessive1If you have to deadhead to a consist that has been parked for a week, what good is ice? There is no excuse for not having a fridge AND microwave on EVERY road unit in North America.
TBH, if the engine has been parked a week you will be probably be marked off and at home before the fridge is cold enough to do anything but multiply bacteria.
CMStPnP traisessive1 OK, so that is pretty nasty. It's not only the toilet compartment though I would be concerned about the air quality in the cab because as the Locomotive ages it collects quite a bit of dust in the cab I would expect. Without an air filter in the HVAC system, it will just blow around ever increasing amounts of dust to inhale.
traisessive1
And coal fired steam engines had such a dust free HVAC system.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
The fridges get cold in a matter of a few minutes.
The CN shop staff may sweep the floor from time to time.
Our engines are filthy and the company has been on quite the spree denying all engineer's engine cleaning claims.
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