Running trains side by side

[Anonymous]

Living a few miles from Horseshoe Curve, I quite frequently see trains side-by-side. The former 4-track, now 3-track main provides a permanent east (track 1), west (track 3) and temporary east & west (track 2). SO you may see 2-east bounds side by side and that same day see 2 west-bounds. Timing is critical though, usually the trains are of different consist, and the middle track provides an opportunity to over take the slower by the faster. Another interesting place is west of Gallitzin, where the tracks break off into 4, 2 east and 2 west. Sometimes things get backed up before the tunnels where there is only 3 tracks, and they must utilize track 2 to get things going. This is a problem if something is headed west on 2, so there are sometimes trains at idle for quite some time here. NS, I am told and can obvisouly see with my own 2 eyes, is not as organized as Conrail was. I hear of the Quality schedules Conrail maintained to prevent any delay on this 3 track mountain railroad.

[Anonymous]

Living a few miles from Horseshoe Curve, I quite frequently see trains side-by-side. The former 4-track, now 3-track main provides a permanent east (track 1), west (track 3) and temporary east & west (track 2). SO you may see 2-east bounds side by side and that same day see 2 west-bounds. Timing is critical though, usually the trains are of different consist, and the middle track provides an opportunity to over take the slower by the faster. Another interesting place is west of Gallitzin, where the tracks break off into 4, 2 east and 2 west. Sometimes things get backed up before the tunnels where there is only 3 tracks, and they must utilize track 2 to get things going. This is a problem if something is headed west on 2, so there are sometimes trains at idle for quite some time here. NS, I am told and can obvisouly see with my own 2 eyes, is not as organized as Conrail was. I hear of the Quality schedules Conrail maintained to prevent any delay on this 3 track mountain railroad.

[Granny74]

I was taking a little Amtrak ride in the top of the passenger coach.As we were pulling out of town, it wasthree tracks wide, and Amtrak were in the center. As we were gaining speed, two double stack container trains came by, going the opposite direction at high speed. It gave me a funny feeling and my friend got sick.
"Nance's" Bob, the 82 year old teenage railfan

[Granny74]

I was taking a little Amtrak ride in the top of the passenger coach.As we were pulling out of town, it wasthree tracks wide, and Amtrak were in the center. As we were gaining speed, two double stack container trains came by, going the opposite direction at high speed. It gave me a funny feeling and my friend got sick.
"Nance's" Bob, the 82 year old teenage railfan

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by nance69

I was taking a little Amtrak ride in the top of the passenger coach.As we were pulling out of town, it wasthree tracks wide, and Amtrak were in the center. As we were gaining speed, two double stack container trains came by, going the opposite direction at high speed. It gave me a funny feeling and my friend got sick.
"Nance's" Bob, the 82 year old teenage railfan

Bob - I think Ed made reference to standing between two moving trains in a previous posting. Kind of like seasickness - you can't see a horizon, plus the movement on either side - gives your eyes and then your brain fits.

You keep staying a teenager - it keeps us young!

Mookie

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by nance69

I was taking a little Amtrak ride in the top of the passenger coach.As we were pulling out of town, it wasthree tracks wide, and Amtrak were in the center. As we were gaining speed, two double stack container trains came by, going the opposite direction at high speed. It gave me a funny feeling and my friend got sick.
"Nance's" Bob, the 82 year old teenage railfan

Bob - I think Ed made reference to standing between two moving trains in a previous posting. Kind of like seasickness - you can't see a horizon, plus the movement on either side - gives your eyes and then your brain fits.

You keep staying a teenager - it keeps us young!

Mookie

[zardoz]

However, the motion of two (or more) trains side-by-side can be disorientating. Many times, especially at night, while sitting in a locomotive in a yard, and the cars on the other track start moving, there is a brief period where you are not sure who is moving, until you look down at the ground for a reference point. So for a few seconds, there is a slight sense of panic where "you-think-you-are-moving-but-should-not-be-but-if-I-am-it- could-be-trouble-because-I-do-not-remember-causing-the-train-to-move" syndrome.

One time, about 3am, I was sitting on a siding waiting for a meet with an opposing train. We sat for so long that both the conductor and me fell asleep. We were stopped about 10 car-lengths from the end of the siding. We were awaken by the sound and motion of the train we were meeting going by us on the next track at about 40mph. Well, being as I was real tired, I had really zonked out. When the train rushed past us, I was very startled, and in the few seconds when you look up from a dead sleep and see the end of the siding 10 car lengths away and see relative motion of 40mph and what seems like an impending collision at the end of the siding, well, I panicked and threw the train into emergency. The conductor (who was already quite awake) looked at me like I was nuts (he may have been right). I felt like a real idiot and we both had a good laugh about it. The only non-funny part about the whole incident, was the crew on the passing train got real nervous when they heard our train's air dump as they were passing us. Usually when a moving train's brakes go into emergency, it's a bad sign.

[zardoz]

However, the motion of two (or more) trains side-by-side can be disorientating. Many times, especially at night, while sitting in a locomotive in a yard, and the cars on the other track start moving, there is a brief period where you are not sure who is moving, until you look down at the ground for a reference point. So for a few seconds, there is a slight sense of panic where "you-think-you-are-moving-but-should-not-be-but-if-I-am-it- could-be-trouble-because-I-do-not-remember-causing-the-train-to-move" syndrome.

One time, about 3am, I was sitting on a siding waiting for a meet with an opposing train. We sat for so long that both the conductor and me fell asleep. We were stopped about 10 car-lengths from the end of the siding. We were awaken by the sound and motion of the train we were meeting going by us on the next track at about 40mph. Well, being as I was real tired, I had really zonked out. When the train rushed past us, I was very startled, and in the few seconds when you look up from a dead sleep and see the end of the siding 10 car lengths away and see relative motion of 40mph and what seems like an impending collision at the end of the siding, well, I panicked and threw the train into emergency. The conductor (who was already quite awake) looked at me like I was nuts (he may have been right). I felt like a real idiot and we both had a good laugh about it. The only non-funny part about the whole incident, was the crew on the passing train got real nervous when they heard our train's air dump as they were passing us. Usually when a moving train's brakes go into emergency, it's a bad sign.

[Anonymous]

At Dolton Jct, it is common to see 3 trains going thru the crossing at the same time.

[Anonymous]

At Dolton Jct, it is common to see 3 trains going thru the crossing at the same time.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by zardoz



I panicked and threw the train into emergency. The conductor (who was already quite awake) looked at me like I was nuts (he may have been right). I felt like a real idiot and we both had a good laugh about it. The only non-funny part about the whole incident, was the crew on the passing train got real nervous when they heard our train's air dump as they were passing us. Usually when a moving train's brakes go into emergency, it's a bad sign.

Z, crazy things like that are retold over and over by people who weren't even alive when it happened. Congratulations! You are the proud subject of an authentic railroad story. Generations yet unborn will be telling that yarn around some glowing camp diodes while you are fertilizing mighty oak trees. You should be thrilled! [I think.]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by zardoz



I panicked and threw the train into emergency. The conductor (who was already quite awake) looked at me like I was nuts (he may have been right). I felt like a real idiot and we both had a good laugh about it. The only non-funny part about the whole incident, was the crew on the passing train got real nervous when they heard our train's air dump as they were passing us. Usually when a moving train's brakes go into emergency, it's a bad sign.

Z, crazy things like that are retold over and over by people who weren't even alive when it happened. Congratulations! You are the proud subject of an authentic railroad story. Generations yet unborn will be telling that yarn around some glowing camp diodes while you are fertilizing mighty oak trees. You should be thrilled! [I think.]

[ironhorseman]

I saw it again in Kansas City. Union Station on Saturday evening. My friends and I went there after spending the day at Kansas Speedway. We were looking for something to eat (good luck after 5PM). We were walking through the Link (that's the walkway over the streets) to go to the mall when we saw two container trains heading east side by side, the first time I had seen something like that at that location. (It probably happens more often, I 'm just not there when it does.)

Anyway, like I promised, I found the pictures I took last year of two BNSF trains heading over the river north of downtown KC to the yard by the airport. They weren't side by side, but the optical illusion was it looked like the train following the other one was on the same track. They weren't. It aslo looks like the leading train was going backwards, but were just pusher engines. I'll post these on my website now at http://kansaspacific.mysitespace.com/railfan.html scroll down to "Kansas City."

QUOTE: Originally posted by ironken

QUOTE: Originally posted by ironhorseman

i've seen it once. kansas city, june 2001, on the north side of town across the river on the way to the downtown airport. there's a railroad bridge there and one train was following the other, only they were each on seperate tracks. my dad was with me and he thought they were on the same track and were gonna crash, but they weren't, just an optical illusion. the tracks lead into a yard there in north kansas city. the two trains weren't technically side by side yet, but the one behind was going faster and eventually probably passed the other. i checked my website and don't have a photo of it - yet. if i can find that picture i'll put it up under 'freight trains' in the next couple days.

That was the Hannibal bridge going into Murray yard, they were on 80 and 81 track. No real speed involved, they were both going to stop at the Ustic signal entering the yard, or one or the other or both will get a restricting going into the yard. Been held at that signal many times.

[ironhorseman]

I saw it again in Kansas City. Union Station on Saturday evening. My friends and I went there after spending the day at Kansas Speedway. We were looking for something to eat (good luck after 5PM). We were walking through the Link (that's the walkway over the streets) to go to the mall when we saw two container trains heading east side by side, the first time I had seen something like that at that location. (It probably happens more often, I 'm just not there when it does.)

Anyway, like I promised, I found the pictures I took last year of two BNSF trains heading over the river north of downtown KC to the yard by the airport. They weren't side by side, but the optical illusion was it looked like the train following the other one was on the same track. They weren't. It aslo looks like the leading train was going backwards, but were just pusher engines. I'll post these on my website now at http://kansaspacific.mysitespace.com/railfan.html scroll down to "Kansas City."

QUOTE: Originally posted by ironken

QUOTE: Originally posted by ironhorseman

i've seen it once. kansas city, june 2001, on the north side of town across the river on the way to the downtown airport. there's a railroad bridge there and one train was following the other, only they were each on seperate tracks. my dad was with me and he thought they were on the same track and were gonna crash, but they weren't, just an optical illusion. the tracks lead into a yard there in north kansas city. the two trains weren't technically side by side yet, but the one behind was going faster and eventually probably passed the other. i checked my website and don't have a photo of it - yet. if i can find that picture i'll put it up under 'freight trains' in the next couple days.

That was the Hannibal bridge going into Murray yard, they were on 80 and 81 track. No real speed involved, they were both going to stop at the Ustic signal entering the yard, or one or the other or both will get a restricting going into the yard. Been held at that signal many times.

[JoeKoh]

nice pictures.
stay safe
Joe

[JoeKoh]

nice pictures.
stay safe
Joe