hospital Train formation

[dh28473]

On page 15 Trains aug. What is hospital train formation?

[NP Eddie]

A hospital train is one that is moving wrecked railcars on their own wheels to a repair facility, usually a close car shop. There are very specific rules for a hospital train. The speed of the train may be reduced--BALT can supply more information. ALL damaged ladders and steps must be clearly labeled with a red or orange placard. If the railcar has no operable brakes, then the train is made up with one car with good brakes, next one with no brakes, and one with good brakes, etc. A very long air hose is affixed on the side of the "bad" car and connected to the "good" car (with operable brakes) on its front and the next "good" car to its rear. This is repeated until the rear car has operable brakes and a FRED on the coupler. I have not seen a hospital train in quite a while and am wondering if most damaged cars are scrapped on site or loaded onto long flat cars for a heavy repair shop. BaltACD can fill you in what the CSX did.

Ed Burns

Retired Clerk from Northtown

[dh28473]

thankyou for the great information

[mudchicken]

Randy Stahl might be a better comment person for this.

Don't forget the red-streaks. (Specially modified 89' flatcars with adjustable kingpins on the deck to move carbodies that are de-trucked for the move)

Hospital trains still happen on UP and BNSF.

[NP Eddie]

Mudchicken:

I saw one the "Red Devils" at Northtown in 2000. One BNSF Car Foreman called that name. Quite a good idea.

Ed Burns

Retired Clerk from Northtown.

[samfp1943]

dh28473

thank you for the great information

Yes, Thanks, as well.  Some time back had observed an apparent 'Hospital train' move over on UPRR in SE Kansas.[formener KATY Line]. At the time I had no idea what I was seeing. Several locomotives, followed by some that had obviously, been wrecked/laid over.  Several long hoses down the sides of the damaged power units, and damaged cars laid on their sides on some flat cars, and a consist of number of damaged cars, spliced by undamaged ones. 

[Semper Vaporo]

I was listening to my scanner one day at home when I heard the dispatcher say that a "hospital train" was leaving Marshalltown (IA), headed for Beverly Yard to pick up an engine to take to Clinton.  I hurried to my favourite train watching spot, expecting to see a bunch of white passenger cars with red crosses on them!

What I saw was about 25 engines in various states of disrepair, but most were running, though when it accelerated to leave the yard only a few of the engines seemed to be rev'd up to produce motion.

One engine in the middle that was not running looked very strange since it was missing the fuel tanks!  Another one was missing the center axle of a 3 axle truck.  Another was missing the center of the body shell... just exposed Diesel engine and generator (not sure if it was running or not).

Although I was dissappointed in not seeing white cars with red crosses, it was interesting to see such a long train of just engines.

[BaltACD]

Semper Vaporo

I was listening to my scanner one day at home when I heard the dispatcher say that a "hospital train" was leaving Marshalltown (IA), headed for Beverly Yard to pick up an engine to take to Clinton.  I hurried to my favourite train watching spot, expecting to see a bunch of white passenger cars with red crosses on them!

What I saw was about 25 engines in various states of disrepair, but most were running, though when it accelerated to leave the yard only a few of the engines seemed to be rev'd up to produce motion.

One engine in the middle that was not running looked very strange since it was missing the fuel tanks!  Another one was missing the center axle of a 3 axle truck.  Another was missing the center of the body shell... just exposed Diesel engine and generator (not sure if it was running or not).

Although I was dissappointed in not seeing white cars with red crosses, it was interesting to see such a long train of just engines.

On such a train I would be surprised if more than 2 or 3 engines were running and producing power.  Such a hospital train would only need power enogh power to be able climb the grades and enough braking to control things coming down grade.

[Soo 6604]

Here's a Wisconsin Central funeral train back in 1995 after a serious mishap in Green Bay. They ran the train from Green Bay to Fond du Lac Wi.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulvbox/13803369335/in/album-72157633410513761/

[Dmacleo]

dh28473

On page 15 Trains aug. What is hospital train formation?

 

iirc UP 4014 move from CA to shops was labeled hospital train. however cannot find any reference to prove/disprove this.

I easily may be wrong.

[samfp1943]

Dmacleo

dh28473

On page 15 Trains aug. What is hospital train formation?

iirc UP 4014 move from CA to shops was labeled hospital train. however cannot find any reference to prove/disprove this.

I easily may be wrong.

Recall that in August of 2013 UP #4018 was moved across the Dallas area to reposition it from the Texas State Fairgrounds to the Museum of American RR's  at Frisco,Tx.[see moves linked]

@ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJbD2eB5D_E

and 4014's Hospital train move to Cheyenne. @

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRxKpiD_ntY

Both could be classed as hospital trains by the definitions given here.

[geomodelrailroader]

one example of a hospital train is when they moved BIG BOY in 2014