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California SP runaway
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[quote]QUOTE: <i>Originally posted by M.W. Hemphill</i> <br /><br />Vsmith: I think an experienced, smart, and attentive engineer would have sensed that something was wrong the moment the train didn't sit down as expected with a 10-12 lb. reduction, and dumped the air right then. It's been my fortune to ride with some very good engineers, and I think they would have figured out the train was way overweight long before that point from the way it pulled. <br />[/quote] <br /> <br />One of our first true tests as Engineer Trainees was taking a loaded coal train (100+ cars) down a certain secondary track with a five mile grade between 1.8% and 2.1%. Before that time you have run a local carrying rock salt with about 40 loads over the same hill. One oldtimer I worked with in my training liked to refer to it as "Breaking in your ***". It was very true. It really helps you to develop that "feel" in the engineer's most important sensory organ for train operation, his backside, in "The Seat". I can't really describe the difference in words between the two trains, but the best I can do is tell you that the coal train handles like a huge heavy boulder you are directing down an incline by walking in front of it. You know it is never really in your control you can merely keep it on track and steer it, you can stop it if you must, but it must be done very slowly and deliberately or it will run right over you. The salt can be very challenging too, but not nearly as hard as the coal. I can remember almost stalling with 42 salt loads and 4 SD50s pulling flat out in 8 with sand on the way back up that hill. I can only imagine what a train overloaded by almost 3,000 tons would be like... <br /> <br />LC
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