Not that I post very often over here (I'm more of a modeler) but I found an unusual car for my neck of the woods yesterday and it has me a bit stumped. http://photos.app.goo.gl/Fij5DrtNmL1fqkGL8
It was located on the end of a string of BNSF ballast cars on a dead end siding. It almost reminds me of a coil car, but I have no idea why a NS coil car would be in a string of BNSF ballast cars.
Any ideas what this is and why it would be where it is would be most helpful.
It's a coil car, probably for a local customer.
FRRYKidNot that I post very often over here (I'm more of a modeler) but I found an unusual car for my neck of the woods yesterday and it has me a bit stumped. http://photos.app.goo.gl/Fij5DrtNmL1fqkGL8 It was located on the end of a string of BNSF ballast cars on a dead end siding. It almost reminds me of a coil car, but I have no idea why a NS coil car would be in a string of BNSF ballast cars. Any ideas what this is and why it would be where it is would be most helpful.
Its business purpose would not have it be a part of the ballast train. Most likely the car was set our of a through train because of some mechanical defect and is likely awaiting repair by mobile Car Department employees and their specially outfitted truck - or it has been repaired and is awaiting pick up by another train.
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I would second the suggestion that this was a bad order set out into that track.
10000 feet and no dynamics? Today is going to be a good day ...
The train list/work order said to set it out. So they set it out.
Most likely a bad order set out, but don't underestimate the number of cars misrouted. Sometimes on purpose it would seem.
I was reading a train list from cars previously set out of my train at an intermediate point a few weeks back. My train was a loaded coal train. The block set out was about 30 cars of manifest freight. None of the cars were going to the intermediate point or even near it via a local. Half the cars should've gone the other direction, the rest were destined to the Twin Cities and beyond.
I'm guessing they needed to get the cars out of the major yard where dwell time is measured more closely than intermediate yards. It's a PSR metric, get the cars out of the yard and moving. Even if it's in the wrong direction.
The goal used to be to handle cars (switch them) as little as possible. Not anymore with PSR.
Jeff
Or the conductor misread his train list and set it out by mistake. It happens.
jeffhergertI'm guessing they needed to get the cars out of the major yard where dwell time is measured more closely than intermediate yards. It's a PSR metric, get the cars out of the yard and moving. Even if it's in the wrong direction.
That's been going on for years, if previous readings are any indication... Just send them down to the next yard, and they'll send them back.
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...
jeffhergertThe train list/work order said to set it out. So they set it out. Most likely a bad order set out, but don't underestimate the number of cars misrouted. Sometimes on purpose it would seem. I was reading a train list from cars previously set out of my train at an intermediate point a few weeks back. My train was a loaded coal train. The block set out was about 30 cars of manifest freight. None of the cars were going to the intermediate point or even near it via a local. Half the cars should've gone the other direction, the rest were destined to the Twin Cities and beyond. I'm guessing they needed to get the cars out of the major yard where dwell time is measured more closely than intermediate yards. It's a PSR metric, get the cars out of the yard and moving. Even if it's in the wrong direction. The goal used to be to handle cars (switch them) as little as possible. Not anymore with PSR. Jeff Or the conductor misread his train list and set it out by mistake. It happens.
No matter how the metrics are designed to measure the operation - those who depend upon those measurments for their pay and bonuses - learn all the techniques to drive the metric in the desired direction - the company be damned.
The one thing that has me confused as to it being a bad order car is that was on the end of the ballast car string closest to the dead end of the siding. If it was really a bad order, putting it on the other end would have made more sense to get it fixed/moved quicker and we have a private car repair shop in town that could get the car that has trackage on the other end.
The misroute theroy to me makes more sense but I could always be wrong.
FRRYKidThe one thing that has me confused as to it being a bad order car is that was on the end of the ballast car string closest to the dead end of the siding. If it was really a bad order, putting it on the other end would have made more sense to get it fixed/moved quicker and we have a private car repair shop in town that could get the car that has trackage on the other end. The misroute theroy to me makes more sense but I could always be wrong.
With the car being a coil gon, we have no visual indication if it is loaded or empty. Car Departments have less urgency in repairing empties than they do loads and it is possible that they are waiting on getting parts from the supply chain or from the owner. It is not beyond the realm of possibility that the car had been set out and later the ballast train was set in the track on top of the bad order.
Misroutes are normally switched out in terminals, not on line of road.
Could you use the compression of the springs to determine if it was empty or loaded?
Perry Babin Could you use the compression of the springs to determine if it was empty or loaded?
You can make an educated guess by looking at the springs. With the cars in the photo, both would normally be loaded with loads that will reach the maximum load limit.
It looks empty to me. The ballast hopper looks like it's loaded.
The ballast hoppers were loaded.
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