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Definition of a "Drag Freight" train?

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Definition of a "Drag Freight" train?
Posted by CandOforprogress2 on Saturday, May 13, 2017 9:05 AM

100 cars or more of a general non intermodal freight train averaging 20 miles per hour?

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Posted by tree68 on Monday, May 15, 2017 9:26 AM

I would suggest that a drag freight is one that is large and underpowered.  A 40 MPH drag freight on a 70 MPH line will be just as big a problem for the dispatcher as anything.

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Posted by BaltACD on Monday, May 15, 2017 9:57 AM

Local nomenclature defines a 'drag' more than anything.  Baltimore Terminal had  interterminal transfer job known as 'The Drag'.  Coal train out of Grafton to Cumberland and beyond are locally referred to as a Drag.

The reality is that any train that is loaded to the maximum rated tonnage for the power that is hauling the train will in fact drag across the ruling grade at 11-12 MPH and won't make track speed elsewhere.

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Posted by Semper Vaporo on Monday, May 15, 2017 10:01 AM

The reality is that any train that has a Dismal... err... Diseaseal... err... Diesel on it is a "drag"... put a Steam Locomotive on it and then it becomes exciting!

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Monday, May 15, 2017 10:07 AM

Semper Vaporo

The reality is that any train that has a Dismal... err... Diseaseal... err... Diesel on it is a "drag"... put a Steam Locomotive on it and then it becomes exciting!

 
Actually, in my youth, an EL freight accelerating east from Hammond behind a pair of SD45's was quite exciting, hardly a drag.
 
A drag freight would be a trio of IHB SW7's pulling a trainload of steel coils across Hohman Avenue.  Drag freight only because of the low speed, the audio effects of three 567 engines were quite impressive.
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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Monday, May 15, 2017 10:37 AM

Within the last year or so there was an entire issue of Trains on this subject.  Will try to find the date later on.  

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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Monday, May 15, 2017 8:18 PM

Paul_D_North_Jr
Within the last year or so there was an entire issue of Trains on this subject.  Will try to find the date later on.

June 2016 issue: 

http://trn.trains.com/issues/2016/june-2016 

- PDN. 

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Posted by Norm48327 on Monday, May 15, 2017 8:33 PM

BaltACD

Local nomenclature defines a 'drag' more than anything.  Baltimore Terminal had  interterminal transfer job known as 'The Drag'.  Coal train out of Grafton to Cumberland and beyond are locally referred to as a Drag.

The reality is that any train that is loaded to the maximum rated tonnage for the power that is hauling the train will in fact drag across the ruling grade at 11-12 MPH and won't make track speed elsewhere.

And some "coal drags" in my area have been known to require a shove from following power just to make a 2% grade after rounding a curve out of Plymouth. . Stuff happens.

Hey Q 236, can you cut your power loose and give them a shove was commonly heard  when I was fanning CSX in Plymouth, , MI. I also see mid-train or pusher DPU's on BNSF trains into Durand, MI.

Norm


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Posted by ChuckCobleigh on Monday, May 15, 2017 11:49 PM

Could it be a train with Eddie Izzard at the controls?

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Posted by DSchmitt on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 3:10 AM

Semper Vaporo

The reality is that any train that has a Dismal... err... Diseaseal... err... Diesel on it is a "drag"... put a Steam Locomotive on it and then it becomes exciting!

 

With a steam locomotive, it's a fire breathing dragon freight.  

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Posted by Semper Vaporo on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 6:39 AM

DSchmitt
 
Semper Vaporo

The reality is that any train that has a Dismal... err... Diseaseal... err... Diesel on it is a "drag"... put a Steam Locomotive on it and then it becomes exciting!

 

 

 

With a steam locomotive, it's a fire breathing dragon freight.  

 

 

 

Big Smile

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

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Posted by RME on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 6:58 AM

ChuckCobleigh
Could it be a train with Eddie Izzard at the controls?

Could be a Z train with RuPaul at the controls.

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Posted by zugmann on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 11:27 AM

Once we get drag freight settled, can we work on junk freight and slop freight?

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

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Posted by Norm48327 on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 11:31 AM

zugmann
Once we get drag freight settled, can we work on junk freight and slop freight?

 

Would "slop freight" be another name for hog feed?

Norm


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Posted by ChuckCobleigh on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 1:19 PM

RME

 

 
ChuckCobleigh
Could it be a train with Eddie Izzard at the controls?

 

Could be a Z train with RuPaul at the controls.

 

Or maybe the ghost of Milton Berle?

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 1:36 PM

I think of both as "jack of all trades" trains - very likely doing local work as well as hauling anything in the yard going their way.

LarryWhistling
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...

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