USAF TSgt C-17 Aircraft Maintenance Flying Crew Chief & Flightline Avionics Craftsman
Originally posted by gabe Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply Hugh Jampton Member sinceSeptember 2003 From: Southern Region now, UK 820 posts Posted by Hugh Jampton on Monday, April 11, 2005 12:11 PM Better safe than sorry,, but having said that-- did you notice if there was a Hazmat placard on the car?? If not then no worries. Generally a lurker by natureBe AlertThe world needs more lerts.It's the 3rd rail that makes the difference. Reply zardoz Member sinceJanuary 2003 From: Kenosha, WI 6,567 posts Posted by zardoz on Monday, April 11, 2005 12:11 PM CCOR rule 108: In the case of doubt or uncertainty, the safe course must be taken. Reply TheS.P.caboose Member sinceMarch 2005 From: Canoga Park (Los Angeles) 494 posts Posted by TheS.P.caboose on Monday, April 11, 2005 12:20 PM I would have called. It's not normal for leak anything. I've called in before. The last car on a westbound train had very flat wheels. I was able to get thru to the dispatcher who called the train for an inspection of the car. Bottom line being, you never know what kind, if any, hazardous material is being carried in this car. Regards Gary Reply JoeKoh Member sinceApril 2003 From: Defiance Ohio 13,289 posts Posted by JoeKoh on Monday, April 11, 2005 12:23 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by adrianspeeder When in doubt, call it out. Someone answering "no it's normal" only costs them the 30 seconds of the conversation. Have the NS emergency hotline in my cell, thats what it's for. Come to think of it, I don't have CSX in there, and I live 100 feet from the tracks. Anyone got it? Adrianspeeder 800-232-0144 is the police and commuinication center for csx. stay safe Joe Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener"). Reply eolafan Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Aurora, IL 4,515 posts Posted by eolafan on Monday, April 11, 2005 12:47 PM Back in the dark ages, about 1976, well before cell phones were common I was driving along WI Hwy. 10 and along the old SOO Line main between Stevens Point and Marshfield and was pacing a frieight at about 50 per. I quickly noticed a journal box was smoking and suddenly I saw flames. I raced ahead and tried to flag the locomtive crew with no results, and the same when I pulled back and tried to alert the conductor in the caboose (remember them?). I ended up racing far ahead to the division point offices in Stevens Point and into the office where I alterted an office employee who seemed not to care. He thanked me and I went on my way knowing I had done all I could to help avert a disaster. P.S.: Later that afternoon I saw the units at the fuel racks and so guessed all had turned out OK. But we should all try our best to be good citizens whenever possible. Eolafan (a.k.a. Jim) Reply gabe Member sinceMarch 2004 From: Indianapolis, Indiana 2,434 posts Posted by gabe on Monday, April 11, 2005 12:48 PM I did not see any hazmat signs, which contributed to my decision. But, I wonder if all cars are marked with hazmat signs now days? I am surprised everyone is leaning so strongly toward calling. I would think most railroads would have to think if every rail fan called when they thought something was wrong, it would be a real pain. I even thought that some on here would criticize me for even thinking of calling it in. I guess in the future I will call. Gabe Reply locomutt Member sinceSeptember 2003 From: Louisville,Ky. 5,077 posts Posted by locomutt on Monday, April 11, 2005 12:49 PM [#ditto] to all above. If there is a next time,don't hesitate to call. Being Crazy,keeps you from going "INSANE" !! "The light at the end of the tunnel,has been turned off due to budget cuts" NOT AFRAID A Vet., and PROUD OF IT!! Reply gabe Member sinceMarch 2004 From: Indianapolis, Indiana 2,434 posts Posted by gabe on Monday, April 11, 2005 12:50 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by eolafan Back in the dark ages, about 1976, well before cell phones were common I was driving along WI Hwy. 10 and along the old SOO Line main between Stevens Point and Marshfield and was pacing a frieight at about 50 per. I quickly noticed a journal box was smoking and suddenly I saw flames. I raced ahead and tried to flag the locomtive crew with no results, and the same when I pulled back and tried to alert the conductor in the caboose (remember them?). I ended up racing far ahead to the division point offices in Stevens Point and into the office where I alterted an office employee who seemed not to care. He thanked me and I went on my way knowing I had done all I could to help avert a disaster. P.S.: Later that afternoon I saw the units at the fuel racks and so guessed all had turned out OK. But we should all try our best to be good citizens whenever possible. Actually a story very very very similar to yours is what led me not to call. I remember reading in Trains that there was a rail fan looking at the SOO ling and noticed a hot box or something like that. He unsuccessfully tried to flag the train down, but the train wouldn't stop. So he lit a flare on the tracks, and the train dutifully came to a stop. As it turns out the rail fan was wrong, and people were none too happy. Gabe Reply chad thomas Member sinceJanuary 2005 From: Ely, Nv. 6,312 posts Posted by chad thomas on Monday, April 11, 2005 1:07 PM Just a few weeks back I was fanning the BNSF and saw a hotbox smoking like crazy. I jumped in the truck to race ahead and possibly tell the crew (though I don't know what I would have done. Then the detector caught it. At this point I thought I might be able to help out and give the conductor a ride back (it was one of the last cars of a long intermodial). But instead of stopping it just slowed to a crawl and kept going. So I turned around and went back to my spot. Reply MP57313 Member sinceJune 2001 From: L A County, CA, US 1,009 posts Posted by MP57313 on Monday, April 11, 2005 2:46 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by TheS.P.caboose [I've called in before. The last car on a westbound train had very flat wheels. I was able to get thru to the dispatcher who called the train for an inspection of the car. I've never called in regarding a moving train. Not sure how to identify "very flat wheels". I've heard the steady pounding of flat spots on wheels from time to time, but never considered it to be an immediate hazard (except to your ears!) Reply edblysard Member sinceMarch 2002 9,265 posts Posted by edblysard on Monday, April 11, 2005 4:29 PM Gabe... There are several cars that "leak" on purpose... Argon cars have a vent valve that vents to the atmosphere...when you shake the tank up and it has been filled to the capacity, it will vent the over pressure... and they can vent at the weirdest time! Or you might have seen the steam line from a food or tallow service car, maybe a sulfur car...they use steam to heat the product...these pipes extend down from the center of the tank, and have no caps on them....sometimes the steam condenses inside the pipes, and when you move the car, the water sprays out like a fog! By the same token, a lot of cars have lading drains on the bottom also....most (not all) of the hazmat cars dont, they have all the plumbing on top, under a manway or inspection dome, to prevent damage in case of a derailment. But, to follow up on Zardoz's suggestion,,,when in doubt, take the safest route... Next time, get the car number and call. The worst than can happen is they ignore you. The best is that you save a crew and a shipper a lot of grief! Ed[:D] 23 17 46 11 Reply miniwyo Member sinceJanuary 2003 From: Rock Springs Wy. 1,967 posts Posted by miniwyo on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 12:44 AM What is the number i would call if i see one on the UP Mainline? RJ "Something hidden, Go and find it. Go and look behind the ranges, Something lost behind the ranges. Lost and waiting for you. Go." The Explorers - Rudyard Kipling http://sweetwater-photography.com/ Reply ChuckCobleigh Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Sunny (mostly) San Diego 1,914 posts Posted by ChuckCobleigh on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 11:44 AM QUOTE: Originally posted by miniwyo What is the number i would call if i see one on the UP Mainline? From http://www.up.com/ Report UP Railroad Emergencies: 1-888-877-7267 Reply mudchicken Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Denver / La Junta 10,790 posts Posted by mudchicken on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 11:41 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by MP57313 QUOTE: Originally posted by TheS.P.caboose [I've called in before. The last car on a westbound train had very flat wheels. I was able to get thru to the dispatcher who called the train for an inspection of the car. I've never called in regarding a moving train. Not sure how to identify "very flat wheels". I've heard the steady pounding of flat spots on wheels from time to time, but never considered it to be an immediate hazard (except to your ears!) Roadmasters consider it an imediate hazzard, especially if the car is a load and it is nicking the rail....every track inspector in the company will be tracing the route of that car looking for damaged rail. With those, it does not take much to start a series of broken rails, Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west Reply mudchicken Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Denver / La Junta 10,790 posts Posted by mudchicken on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 11:49 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas Just a few weeks back I was fanning the BNSF and saw a hotbox smoking like crazy. I jumped in the truck to race ahead and possibly tell the crew (though I don't know what I would have done. Then the detector caught it. At this point I thought I might be able to help out and give the conductor a ride back (it was one of the last cars of a long intermodial). But instead of stopping it just slowed to a crawl and kept going. So I turned around and went back to my spot. Chad, the old universal signal for a hot box is (1) white flag, (2) one hand holding nose and the other pointing at the defect. The old heads will stop and look, the young pups will either laugh at you or get confused about the odd hand signal. All they know now is that those HBD's every 20 miles can sure make life miserable. Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west Reply TheS.P.caboose Member sinceMarch 2005 From: Canoga Park (Los Angeles) 494 posts Posted by TheS.P.caboose on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 12:40 AM QUOTE: Originally posted by gabe I did not see any hazmat signs, which contributed to my decision. But, I wonder if all cars are marked with hazmat signs now days? I am surprised everyone is leaning so strongly toward calling. I would think most railroads would have to think if every rail fan called when they thought something was wrong, it would be a real pain. I even thought that some on here would criticize me for even thinking of calling it in. I guess in the future I will call. Gabe Hi Gabe; One of the trains on Union Pacific's coastline does not have any hazardous signs on it. It's the loaded oil cans that travels from Wunpost, north of San Luis Obispo, to the Shell oil refinery at Sepluveda and Alameda in Los Angeles. Regards Gary Reply ericsp Member sinceMay 2015 5,134 posts Posted by ericsp on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 1:02 AM QUOTE: Originally posted by TheS.P.caboose QUOTE: Originally posted by gabe I did not see any hazmat signs, which contributed to my decision. But, I wonder if all cars are marked with hazmat signs now days? I am surprised everyone is leaning so strongly toward calling. I would think most railroads would have to think if every rail fan called when they thought something was wrong, it would be a real pain. I even thought that some on here would criticize me for even thinking of calling it in. I guess in the future I will call. Gabe Hi Gabe; One of the trains on Union Pacific's coastline does not have any hazardous signs on it. It's the loaded oil cans that travels from Wunpost, north of San Luis Obispo, to the Shell oil refinery at Sepluveda and Alameda in Los Angeles. Last time I saw it (January) each car was placarded. The same was true when I saw it in 2000. The refinery is Tosco (ConocoPhillips) now. The Shell refinery is now what used to be the Texaco refinery. "No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld) Reply Join our Community! Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account. Login » Register » Search the Community Newsletter Sign-Up By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy More great sites from Kalmbach Media Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy
Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub
QUOTE: Originally posted by adrianspeeder When in doubt, call it out. Someone answering "no it's normal" only costs them the 30 seconds of the conversation. Have the NS emergency hotline in my cell, thats what it's for. Come to think of it, I don't have CSX in there, and I live 100 feet from the tracks. Anyone got it? Adrianspeeder
Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").
Being Crazy,keeps you from going "INSANE" !! "The light at the end of the tunnel,has been turned off due to budget cuts" NOT AFRAID A Vet., and PROUD OF IT!!
QUOTE: Originally posted by eolafan Back in the dark ages, about 1976, well before cell phones were common I was driving along WI Hwy. 10 and along the old SOO Line main between Stevens Point and Marshfield and was pacing a frieight at about 50 per. I quickly noticed a journal box was smoking and suddenly I saw flames. I raced ahead and tried to flag the locomtive crew with no results, and the same when I pulled back and tried to alert the conductor in the caboose (remember them?). I ended up racing far ahead to the division point offices in Stevens Point and into the office where I alterted an office employee who seemed not to care. He thanked me and I went on my way knowing I had done all I could to help avert a disaster. P.S.: Later that afternoon I saw the units at the fuel racks and so guessed all had turned out OK. But we should all try our best to be good citizens whenever possible.
QUOTE: Originally posted by TheS.P.caboose [I've called in before. The last car on a westbound train had very flat wheels. I was able to get thru to the dispatcher who called the train for an inspection of the car.
23 17 46 11
RJ
"Something hidden, Go and find it. Go and look behind the ranges, Something lost behind the ranges. Lost and waiting for you. Go." The Explorers - Rudyard Kipling
http://sweetwater-photography.com/
QUOTE: Originally posted by miniwyo What is the number i would call if i see one on the UP Mainline?
QUOTE: Originally posted by MP57313 QUOTE: Originally posted by TheS.P.caboose [I've called in before. The last car on a westbound train had very flat wheels. I was able to get thru to the dispatcher who called the train for an inspection of the car. I've never called in regarding a moving train. Not sure how to identify "very flat wheels". I've heard the steady pounding of flat spots on wheels from time to time, but never considered it to be an immediate hazard (except to your ears!)
QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas Just a few weeks back I was fanning the BNSF and saw a hotbox smoking like crazy. I jumped in the truck to race ahead and possibly tell the crew (though I don't know what I would have done. Then the detector caught it. At this point I thought I might be able to help out and give the conductor a ride back (it was one of the last cars of a long intermodial). But instead of stopping it just slowed to a crawl and kept going. So I turned around and went back to my spot.
QUOTE: Originally posted by gabe I did not see any hazmat signs, which contributed to my decision. But, I wonder if all cars are marked with hazmat signs now days? I am surprised everyone is leaning so strongly toward calling. I would think most railroads would have to think if every rail fan called when they thought something was wrong, it would be a real pain. I even thought that some on here would criticize me for even thinking of calling it in. I guess in the future I will call. Gabe
QUOTE: Originally posted by TheS.P.caboose QUOTE: Originally posted by gabe I did not see any hazmat signs, which contributed to my decision. But, I wonder if all cars are marked with hazmat signs now days? I am surprised everyone is leaning so strongly toward calling. I would think most railroads would have to think if every rail fan called when they thought something was wrong, it would be a real pain. I even thought that some on here would criticize me for even thinking of calling it in. I guess in the future I will call. Gabe Hi Gabe; One of the trains on Union Pacific's coastline does not have any hazardous signs on it. It's the loaded oil cans that travels from Wunpost, north of San Luis Obispo, to the Shell oil refinery at Sepluveda and Alameda in Los Angeles.
"No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld)
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.