Murphy Siding SD60MAC9500 Not only was Flathead Tunnel built with sufficient clearance to accommodate 20'2" Plate H (Greenbrier now makes a Plate K autorack at 20'3") without modification. You could place a low profile rigid catenary system on the roof of the tunnel. Was Flathead Tunnel built with the possibility of future electrification in mind? Why aren't these trains pushing a big cloud of black smoke out the tunnel ahead of them like a lot of videos show whena train comes out of a tunnel?
SD60MAC9500 Not only was Flathead Tunnel built with sufficient clearance to accommodate 20'2" Plate H (Greenbrier now makes a Plate K autorack at 20'3") without modification. You could place a low profile rigid catenary system on the roof of the tunnel. Was Flathead Tunnel built with the possibility of future electrification in mind?
Not only was Flathead Tunnel built with sufficient clearance to accommodate 20'2" Plate H (Greenbrier now makes a Plate K autorack at 20'3") without modification. You could place a low profile rigid catenary system on the roof of the tunnel. Was Flathead Tunnel built with the possibility of future electrification in mind?
Why aren't these trains pushing a big cloud of black smoke out the tunnel ahead of them like a lot of videos show whena train comes out of a tunnel?
As Bruce stated the train is Westbound heading downgrade. Flathead Tunnel is orientated in a North South axis. Trains heading North would be Eastbound. Heading South, Westbound. The grade Eastbound (North) is just under 0.5%. Due to such a low grade this also allows a speed of 50 MPH through Flathead.
The trains exiting Flathead Tunnel in that video are westbound, on a descending grade.
More effective ventilation systems, cleaner operating locomotives, and not knowing if the picture was taken at the high or low end of the tunnel.
B&O's Howard Street Tunnel only required Electric Motor helpers to assist trains moving Eastbound uphill to the Baltimore Belt Line. Westbound train with their steam engines were permitted to operate through the tunnel without assistance as they were drifting and not working steam going downhill.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
Erik_MagWhen the Southern opened up the Rathole division inthe 1960's the tunnels were explicitly designed to accomodate electrification. On that basis, it's possible that the Flathead was also built to accomodata electrification. OTOH, the Flathead tunnel was also built after the introduction of tri-level auto racks and the tunnel height may have been set up to accomodate airflow above these cars. GN had 10 years of experience running diesels through the Cascade tunnel and that may have steered them to be generous with clearances.
OTOH, the Flathead tunnel was also built after the introduction of tri-level auto racks and the tunnel height may have been set up to accomodate airflow above these cars. GN had 10 years of experience running diesels through the Cascade tunnel and that may have steered them to be generous with clearances.
Considering how the size of rail cars has grown over the past century - anyone building a capital project such as a tunnel or bridge if they are not generous with the clearances there will be a higher price to be paid sometime in the future.
When the Southern opened up the Rathole division inthe 1960's the tunnels were explicitly designed to accomodate electrification. On that basis, it's possible that the Flathead was also built to accomodata electrification.
Doublestacks do pass through Flathead Tunnel.
No double-stacks; via Montana Rail-link instead?
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.