CShaveRR wrote: I saw a picture of these somewhere--they're to provide power for radio-controlled dumping mechanisms on these ballast cars. I'm not sure whether the dumping would handled by an employee controlling it from a safe distance away, or by a GPS-based computer-controlled dump-in-motion system like Herzog's, but either way, those panels are where the power comes from.I suspect, though, that big panels on the car side like that will be prone to theft or vandalism.
I saw a picture of these somewhere--they're to provide power for radio-controlled dumping mechanisms on these ballast cars. I'm not sure whether the dumping would handled by an employee controlling it from a safe distance away, or by a GPS-based computer-controlled dump-in-motion system like Herzog's, but either way, those panels are where the power comes from.
I suspect, though, that big panels on the car side like that will be prone to theft or vandalism.
You probably saw the photo on Train Orders, as I posted a photo of them on there a week or so ago, on both the Eastern and Western Boards. They were going thru Pittsburgh, Pa at the time, on a CSX freight on their way to BNSF. They are Ballast Cars.
Carl:
The ballast cars are automated, can dump the cars by radio control or by GPS (Hint: There is a small CPU buried in that semi-permanently coupled consist)...The remote control GPS works great, EXCEPT when the operating people forget or go too fast through a work zone. Someone, somewhere could write a great story about the ups and downs of what evolved in the ballast train programs in the last ten years of development.
Jim:Why do you think the quarries pay a guy to clean the panels by hand at the beginning of every 5th run out of the ballast trains assigned loading quarry?
I also can't help but think these solar panels will get so very dirty in coal service they will be much less effective in providing power over time.
Thanks for your reply.
Makes perfect sense to me. As for the vandalism point, they might as well as put a BULLSEYE on the cars. The panels (two) are about 6' x 6' x 6' (an estimate - probably bigger) and could easily be messed with.
Thanks for the reply.
No, these had no markings on them other than the car initial and number. BNSF pure all the way.
"I Often Dream of Trains"-From the Album of the Same Name by Robyn Hitchcock
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
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