Hi Everyone
I would like to find out what type of coupler (E, F or another type maybe) was used for the jointly operated coal trains from the mines in the Tumbler Ridge are to Prince Rupert (with the CN Transcona 4000 cuft gondolas). I tried to search the web for the information, but pictures and information on this topic are rare.
With kind regards,
Marc
My first guess would be, the type of unloading process at the final delivery point, Prnce Rupert. Particulary, if rotary dumpers were involved(?)
A regularm train, that transits our area in S. Central Kansas, are the animal feed supplement trains enroute to their destinations in Tx., (?) These trains are canvas sheet covered hopper cars [some still bear the marking of their rotary coupler ends] Their types seem to include both hopper bottom, and the bath-tube style car bodies(?) . I am unsure oif the unloiading processes used at their destinations(?)
It has been mentioned on this Forum before that they/some of them originated in Illinois (?) at ADM Corporation. ..
I seen them being returned empty, as two strings of empties, on a new move; they apparently, go back via the northern route from here , via Newton, Ks. (?) [to points north and east (?)] .
The rotary-dump coal and sulphur cars in western Canada all have vertical interlock F couplers.
Except for the few special 'double-rotaries', these cars have both air hoses on the right side of the car and a rotary coupler at the A-end. The rotary coupler end is indicated by a coloured patch, or 'stripe'. Unit coal trains are supposed to be marshalled with all the cars facing the same way and a double-rotary car on the opposite end (I've never seen a double-rotary sulphur car). This means that every coupling will be made of one solid drawbar and one rotary, and there won't be any air hoses crossed under the couplers.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
SD70DudeThe rotary-dump coal and sulphur cars in western Canada all have vertical interlock F couplers. Except for the few special 'double-rotaries', these cars have both air hoses on the right side of the car and a rotary coupler at the A-end. The rotary coupler end is indicated by a coloured patch, or 'stripe'. Unit coal trains are supposed to be marshalled with all the cars facing the same way and a double-rotary car on the opposite end (I've never seen a double-rotary sulphur car). This means that every coupling will be made of one solid drawbar and one rotary, and there won't be any air hoses crossed under the couplers.
Back when I was still working, we had a inter-divisional feud with an adjoining division. A rotary dump coal train was loaded on our division and went to a dumpling location on the adjoining division. Adjoining division decided they would not accept the train if all the banded ends were not aligned.
We would deliver the train with the banded ends correct and get the empties back with a hodge poge of end directions and load them in the directions that they were received. The 'war' was raging when I retired, so I don't know what the ultimate outcome was.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Thank you very much, that helps a lot. I will buy Type F Rotary Couplers for my Tumbler Ridge HO trains in that case.
As always, stuff which is not common around you is the most interesting: the only ore and coal trains we have in central Europe are with gravity unloading from the side with an axle loading of 25t (metric).
Still enjoy spotting the double-stripe car when the bands change direction towards the trailing end.
All rotary cars I've ever seen use the F draft gear. It's more robust than the E draft gear from what I've read.
A couple years ago a double coal train ended up in 3 or 4 pieces. I was waiting in the yard for our turn to put our train together when a manager was wandering around the engine service area looking for something. My conductor and I asked ilwhat he was looking for. He said he was tasked to find a bunch of E knuckles for this train. I asked if it was for that coal train. He said yes, and I said he would need F knuckles, not E ones. He said he'd take both of kinds
Jeff
jeffhergertAll rotary cars I've ever seen use the F draft gear. It's more robust than the E draft gear from what I've read. A couple years ago a double coal train ended up in 3 or 4 pieces. I was waiting in the yard for our turn to put our train together when a manager was wandering around the engine service area looking for something. My conductor and I asked ilwhat he was looking for. He said he was tasked to find a bunch of E knuckles for this train. I asked if it was for that coal train. He said yes, and I said he would need F knuckles, not E ones. He said he'd take both of kinds Jeff
Whomever designed the E and F couplers to have similar but different knuckles ought to be pilloried. At O'dark thirty it is difficult to discern the differences until you have it in position to install - and it won't fit properly.
BaltACD jeffhergert All rotary cars I've ever seen use the F draft gear. It's more robust than the E draft gear from what I've read. A couple years ago a double coal train ended up in 3 or 4 pieces. I was waiting in the yard for our turn to put our train together when a manager was wandering around the engine service area looking for something. My conductor and I asked ilwhat he was looking for. He said he was tasked to find a bunch of E knuckles for this train. I asked if it was for that coal train. He said yes, and I said he would need F knuckles, not E ones. He said he'd take both of kinds Jeff Whomever designed the E and F couplers to have similar but different knuckles ought to be pilloried. At O'dark thirty it is difficult to discern the differences until you have it in position to install - and it won't fit properly.
jeffhergert All rotary cars I've ever seen use the F draft gear. It's more robust than the E draft gear from what I've read. A couple years ago a double coal train ended up in 3 or 4 pieces. I was waiting in the yard for our turn to put our train together when a manager was wandering around the engine service area looking for something. My conductor and I asked ilwhat he was looking for. He said he was tasked to find a bunch of E knuckles for this train. I asked if it was for that coal train. He said yes, and I said he would need F knuckles, not E ones. He said he'd take both of kinds Jeff
The knuckle holders on the locomotive are marked E and F. You NEVER go by the E or F label when dropping off a knuckle. You look at the knuckle itself to determine it's type.
It's not unusual to see a perfectly good knuckle next to the remnants of a broken knuckle. Either someone grabbed the wrong one off the engine (just looked at the E or F mark) or someone called for the wrong type.
jeffhergert BaltACD jeffhergert All rotary cars I've ever seen use the F draft gear. It's more robust than the E draft gear from what I've read. A couple years ago a double coal train ended up in 3 or 4 pieces. I was waiting in the yard for our turn to put our train together when a manager was wandering around the engine service area looking for something. My conductor and I asked ilwhat he was looking for. He said he was tasked to find a bunch of E knuckles for this train. I asked if it was for that coal train. He said yes, and I said he would need F knuckles, not E ones. He said he'd take both of kinds Jeff Whomever designed the E and F couplers to have similar but different knuckles ought to be pilloried. At O'dark thirty it is difficult to discern the differences until you have it in position to install - and it won't fit properly. The knuckle holders on the locomotive are marked E and F. You NEVER go by the E or F label when dropping off a knuckle. You look at the knuckle itself to determine it's type. It's not unusual to see a perfectly good knuckle next to the remnants of a broken knuckle. Either someone grabbed the wrong one off the engine (just looked at the E or F mark) or someone called for the wrong type. Jeff
Much too easy to get the WRONG one - especially in today's world of railroading where Conductor is a entry level job - not one that is learned from experience any longer. Conductor inspects train, finds broken knuckle and 'guesses'; after all its a 50/50 guess.
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