When I use the Northstar Commuter Trains in Minnie, I see that most BNSF trains use Distributed Power. The freight trains are smooth and are not herky jerky and have fast pickup. Pittsburgh- Cumberland MD could have gotten rid of there helper districts years ago if they went with distibuted power unless there was labor agreements that prevented this.
DPU consists are remote controlled by coded radio commands. Radio reception in many locations through Appalachia is spotty at best and totally lacking in others. To reliabily operate DPU powered trains the radio reception has to be 'dead nuts on' throughout the route. To do this locations for radio repeaters had to be determined and then have the hardware installed and made operational. Finding commercial power in many locations in Appalachia can also be challenging. Like PTC just having the equipment and making it operational are two entirely different things.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Extra power is needed for less than 30 miles of the 150 mile route from Cumberland to Pittsburgh. DPUs would be running a lot of wasted miles unless they were taken off at Sand Patch. Doing that would cause long delays or require extra crew members or probably both.
Running DPU is a good idea, if you are set up for it.You have to have the space to build the train. Many places in the east are not laid out well. There is too much time-consuming doubling into and out of places as it is. DPU just makes this problem worse. It takes time and labor to get a DPU train set up to run. While touring Bailey yard a few years ago, I was told it took them an extra hour to build a DPU train and get it out on the road. You have to make sure you can get the train over the road without losing the radio signal and making a mess. You can install radio repeaters on the ground in key locations to solve the problem, but this just adds to the cost and complexity.You have to be sure you won't decrease your line capacity in key locations. Really long trains make it hard to find spots to wait for meets and fit in sidings. If you are operating on predominantly double track, maybe this is not such an issue, but there are lots and lots of single train mainlines around.If trains had a "smart" trainline - perhaps as part of an advanced ECP setup, building and running DPU trains would be much, much simpler and faster. But, the industry is going to take their tax break windfall and pay dividends and buy back stock. That money could buy a quantum leap in velocity and asset productivity. Isn't there any industry leader with vision that can focus more than 5 years down the road?
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
oltmanndIsn't there any industry leader with vision that can focus more than 5 years down the road?
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...
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