I have noticed that there is often (usually?) a car, between the locos and the tanker string. If there is/are pusher(s), one is there, too. Obviously, this acts as a buffer, but why is this necessary?
Becuse Federal law says so.
Mac
The regs actually read five cars between the locomotives and hazmat, and you'll see that on a manifest. It's not practical on a unit train, so they get a bye and only one buffer car is required.
I'd say that most of the time you'll see a buffer car on both ends of a unit train. This allows the train to have the motive power on either end without having to shift the buffer car around.
Most of the buffer cars are older covered hoppers filled with sand/gravel.
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I haven't seen any HAZMAT unit trains with mid-train DPU nor have I been faced with the operation of same.
Wondering if buffer cars are required of the unoccupied locomotvie being used as the DPU. Part of the reasoning for the buffer cars on the head and rear ends is to keep a potential fire source (locomotive) physically separated from a potential HAZMAT spill, in addition to giving manpower a physical buffer space between themselves and the HAZMAT.
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BaltACDWondering if buffer cars are required of the unoccupied locomotvie being used as the DPU.
Hazmat rules (at least ours) don't differentiate between occupied or unoccupied locomotives.
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zugmann BaltACD Wondering if buffer cars are required of the unoccupied locomotvie being used as the DPU. Hazmat rules (at least ours) don't differentiate between occupied or unoccupied locomotives.
BaltACD Wondering if buffer cars are required of the unoccupied locomotvie being used as the DPU.
That has been my thinking - however, I did not have an active event while I was employed so that is why I am asking the question.
zugmann BaltACD Hazmat rules (at least ours) don't differentiate between occupied or unoccupied locomotives.
BaltACD
In this area [SC Kansas] the prmary carrier is BNSF, and secondarily, UPRR [former OKT north/south line].
BNSF crews at the Yard at Wellington,Ks. UPRR seems to mainly,crew on the north side of Wichita(?).
I have not seen any unit tank trains on UPRR, their unit trains are mostly grain and sand(?). BNSF unit tank trains, seem to utilize 'elderly'(?) hopper cars labeled 'buffer car service', and I understand are loaded with sand(?). Most of those unit trains operated with the hopper cars behind the locomotives and at the last car in the train; they are present as well, if a train has trailing units as DPU's.
Ihave not seen a unit tank train with mid-train DPU's. Sometimes, a NB unit tank train running back 'empty', will be combined with what would appear to be the number of cars equal to a consist that would represent two loaded train consists(?).
In Canada one buffer is required to separate locomotives from MOST placarded cars. There are placarded cars that have exceptions. (1993, 2448, 3057, 3077, 3082 to name a few.) If all cars are placarded then NO buffer is required.
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Ours also don't differentiate. I think that's universal. Nor do ours differentiate between running or shut down engines.
Jeff
BaltACD I haven't seen any HAZMAT unit trains with mid-train DPU nor have I been faced with the operation of same. Wondering if buffer cars are required of the unoccupied locomotvie being used as the DPU. Part of the reasoning for the buffer cars on the head and rear ends is to keep a potential fire source (locomotive) physically separated from a potential HAZMAT spill, in addition to giving manpower a physical buffer space between themselves and the HAZMAT.
I am a regular viewer of the Horseshoe Curve Railfan Curve (NS Pttsburgh Line) Ralfan cam. Over the past two weeks or so NS has operated 2 doubled up crude oil trains totalling about 200 cars with head end power, mid train DPU, and rear end manned helpers. In addition to the buffer cars fore and aft as used on nthe "single" oil cans there was a buffer car on each end of the 2 engine mid train DPU consist. As usual the manned helpers were used only on the mountain between the Johnstown area to Altoona. ( The second one I followed was a bit of a mini cluster you-know-what but that's a separate story better suited to NS's PSR inspired TOP21 phase-in discussion)
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