1. Trains stopped on a main track must have at least the headlight on dim. Most locomotive headlight switches on newer engines will turn off the ditch lights when turning the switch to dim. (Some switches have a medium setting and/or a bright without ditch light setting.) Trains secured unattended on a main track in non-signalled territory will have the headlight on dim. Unattended on a signalled main track the headlight is turned off.
2. Once the DP train is reconnected, the DP will again pump air into the train line.
3. When splitting the DP train, you pull up to where the cut will be made. The conductor secures the portion of the train to be left. The DP is put into "setout" mode. In this mode the DP will not respond to throttle/dynamic brake commands from the lead engine. The brake valve on the DP will either cut out, or on ones with newer software, stay cut in. If it cuts out completely, the conductor leaves the anglecock open and allows it to dynamite, or go to emergency, when the forward part pulls away. If it has the newer software, the anglecock is closed, in effect bottling the air on the standing portion and maintaing air pressure. (In either case before cutting away, a 20psi brake pipe reduction is supposed to be made.) The new software is supposed to detect either a rise in brake pipe pressure or movement. If either happens while in setout mode it's supposed to throw the brakes into emergency. It is not necessary to go to the DP and physically tie hand brakes or isolate the engine(s).
When securing DP trains that are left intact, not cut for crossings, etc, the DP consists can be placed in an 'isolated' state from the lead engine.
It's not required to go and manually shut down DP consist engines. (You can shut them down from the lead cab, but you can't restart them.) Many engines are equipped with auto stop/start features. It used to be that feature was supposed to be disabled on DP engines, but lately it's usually active. The DP used to unlink when the engine shut down, hence not having auto stop/start active. Now the DP software allows for engine shutdown. (Some engines will disengage PTC if auto stop shuts them down.) It's not really more than an annoyance, except when you're ready to go and the engines won't self start like there supposed to. Then you need someone to get on the locomotive and manually restart it.
Jeff
cv_acrI've seen parked engines simply left idling overnight all the time.
That was the norm for many years, to the extent that I think sometimes they didn't keep batteries in the locomotives.
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...
Murphy Siding 3) Split- When the train is split, hte conductor is in charge of doing the disconnecting part on the ground. Is the DP unit then moved, parked and shut down remotely? Is it restarted remotely, or would both ends be left idling?
3) Split- When the train is split, hte conductor is in charge of doing the disconnecting part on the ground. Is the DP unit then moved, parked and shut down remotely? Is it restarted remotely, or would both ends be left idling?
If you're still talking about temporarily splitting a train at a crossing, they'd definitely just leave the power idling, not shut it down.
I've seen parked engines simply left idling overnight all the time.
Chris van der Heide
My Algoma Central Railway Modeling Blog
If a cut of previously air tested cars is OFF AIR for more than 4 hours. When air is restored to that cut of cars, they must get a Class 1 Air Test - walking both sides of the application and release to ensure the brakes are still working properly.
jeffhergert is the proper forum authority on what the procedures are for securing a train with DPU and how the DPU engines are secured.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Murphy Siding Over the weekend I got to see some trains in rural, western Minnesota. This was was on a busy grain hauling line that runs next to highway 23. A few questions based on observations:1) Lights- I know when I see the triple lights in the distance- headlight and ditchlights- that I'm seeing a train approaching. Some of the parked trains had only the headlights on. When a train operates with distributed power, does the DP unit only have the headlight operating?
Over the weekend I got to see some trains in rural, western Minnesota. This was was on a busy grain hauling line that runs next to highway 23. A few questions based on observations:1) Lights- I know when I see the triple lights in the distance- headlight and ditchlights- that I'm seeing a train approaching. Some of the parked trains had only the headlights on. When a train operates with distributed power, does the DP unit only have the headlight operating?
A trailing locomotive, with the headlight on low, is an acceptable "marker," per the rules.
The auxiliary (ditch) lights are required across crossings, although most railroads leave them on any time the train is in motion. A lead locomotive without auxiliary lights is limited to 20 MPH across crossings.
Flashing auxiliary lights are optional, but in frequent use.
Parked trains (including those in sidings) generally go with just a dimmed headlight. At Deshler, we often see trains in the "east" siding, south of Deshler, kill their headlights entirely if they are going to be there for a while.
2) Air- One of the parked trains was split at a crossing. When they go to move the train, can the air be pumped up from both the head end and the DP?
3) Split- When the train is split, the conductor is in charge of doing the disconnecting part on the ground. Is the DP unit then moved, parked and shut down remotely? Is it restarted remotely, or would both ends be left idling?
Over the weekend I got to see some trains in rural, western Minnesota. This was was on a busy grain hauling line that runs next to highway 23. A few questions based on observations:1) Lights- I know when I see the triple lights in the distance- headlight and ditchlights- that I'm seeing a train approaching. Some of the parked trains had only the headlights on. When a train operates with distributed power, does the DP unit only have the headlight operating?2) Air- One of the parked trains was split at a crossing. When they go to move the train, can the air be pumped up from both the head end and the DP?3) Split- When the train is split, hte conductor is in charge of doing the disconnecting part on the ground. Is the DP unit then moved, parked and shut down remotely? Is it restarted remotely, or would both ends be left idling?
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
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