Dbl. Shoulder cutters can only do so much. Switch undercutter/ undercutter/ sled cost a lot more. What's shown here was going for $2400/Hr or more a few years ago.
(Dispatchers were doing a little better job of letting them out, but...) ... In the Oklahoma Panhandle you could get 2-3" of flying greasy dirt over the winter/spring on top of the ties.Revenge was a windrow of waste dirt pushed out toward the R/W line burying rows of encroaching (and not by a little bit) winter wheat.
mudchicken We used a jet engine blower when it was done with snow duty at Kansas City (Argentine) in the Oklahoma Panhandle to blow dirt (Loess/ blowdirt) out of the track. The ballast was so choked, it would not drain. Snow fences, windbreaks and everything else we tried didn't work either. Farmers would plow and plant in the spring and until stuff grew,the dirt flew.
We used a jet engine blower when it was done with snow duty at Kansas City (Argentine) in the Oklahoma Panhandle to blow dirt (Loess/ blowdirt) out of the track. The ballast was so choked, it would not drain. Snow fences, windbreaks and everything else we tried didn't work either. Farmers would plow and plant in the spring and until stuff grew,the dirt flew.
That is why they make "Ballast Cleaners":
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mudchicken Paul_D_North_Jr I especially like how - starting at about 0:20 - it appears to blow the ballast stones out of the track . . . - Paul North. Stoneblower Technology (Sorry - coudn't stifle myself) We used a jet engine blower when it was done with snow duty at Kansas City (Argentine) in the Oklahoma Panhandle to blow dirt (Loess/ blowdirt) out of the track. The ballast was so choked, it would not drain. Snow fences, windbreaks and everything else we tried didn't work either. Farmers would plow and plant in the spring and until stuff grew,the dirt flew.
Paul_D_North_Jr I especially like how - starting at about 0:20 - it appears to blow the ballast stones out of the track . . . - Paul North.
I especially like how - starting at about 0:20 - it appears to blow the ballast stones out of the track . . .
- Paul North.
Stoneblower Technology (Sorry - coudn't stifle myself)
Loess...wow. Haven't seen that word used since my freshman year of college 15 years ago. I'm at a Loess, excuse me - loss - for words!
Dan
Maybe it's time to go down to the gold coast railroad museum in Miami and borrow the the last official potus car, the Ferdinand Magellan. She was last used by ike. But still a beauty.
EnzoampsI have to wonder if the current President were to take a corridor train from DC to his New York digs, would the train number revert to RailRoad One?
Might be time for Trains to do an update on the article they published many years ago now on POTUS ('president of the United States) moves. I'd be interested in seeing how call signs, codenames, etc. might have changed.
Of course, Homeland Security being what it is, Trains might not get the best of the details 'for publication' ... might even be given a little disinformation in the more sensitive respects. Still be worth doing, imho!
edblysard Sorry about the title typo, I had a 5-year-old granddaughter asking totally irreverent questions about pizza while I was posting.
When it comes to pizza, there are no irreverent questions. Wish my granddaughter was 5 years old again, she turns 16 in May and has her learner's permit.
edblysardI had a 5-year-old granddaughter asking totally irreverent questions about pizza while I was posting.
Five-year-olds ask any other kind of question?
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...
Sorta related...
ANy aircraft the US president is on becomes Air Force One or MArine One or whatever for the duration of the trip. I have to wonder if the current President were to take a corridor train from DC to his New York digs, would the train number revert to RailRoad One?.
23 17 46 11
Paul_D_North_Jr Thanks for sharing, Ed. I suppose there might be an omitted letter in the subject line of this thread . . . Law of Conservation of Mass: All of the snow blown out of the switches (and track) has to go someplace - hopefully not back into the adjoining tracks ! I especially like how - starting at about 0:20 - it appears to blow the ballast stones out of the track . . . - Paul North.
Thanks for sharing, Ed.
I suppose there might be an omitted letter in the subject line of this thread . . .
Law of Conservation of Mass: All of the snow blown out of the switches (and track) has to go someplace - hopefully not back into the adjoining tracks !
Never saw one of these units in operation, but just the thought of using 32 K pounds of thrust, would seem to propel ballast rocks like shrapnel.
It would also seem that these units would be best used in clearing switches, and leaving the longer stretches of track to plow equipped diesels (?)
Now, I would have to wonder whether adding short pulses of heat, followed by relatively cold but relatively dehumidified air, could be used with this kind of equipment to solve some of the problems with frozen switches...
Not "Air Force One"... but "Air Forced One"... note the "d" on the end of "Forced"
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
https://www.facebook.com/unionpacific/videos/10154358226708506/
Some one asked about these and other types of track blowers...
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