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The future of small scale switching duties

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Posted by fuzzybroken on Friday, April 13, 2007 1:58 AM
 CSSHEGEWISCH wrote:

I have observed that BP/Amoco purchased (not leased) one of the Green Goats that briefly went to CP for service at the former Arco refinery at Cherry Point, WA.  Hybrids would seem to be ideal for in-plant service at small-to-medium-size operations.


Anybody find any pictures of this one?
-Fuzzy Fuzzy World 3
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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Thursday, April 12, 2007 6:35 AM

I have observed that BP/Amoco purchased (not leased) one of the Green Goats that briefly went to CP for service at the former Arco refinery at Cherry Point, WA.  Hybrids would seem to be ideal for in-plant service at small-to-medium-size operations.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by greyhounds on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 10:32 PM

http://roadrail.brandt.ca/pdfs/brandt_power_unit_main_brochure.pdf

Move the cars around.  Serve several industries.   Move between industries on the road ILO the rail, keeping the rail line less congested.

"By many measures, the U.S. freight rail system is the safest, most efficient and cost effective in the world." - Federal Railroad Administration, October, 2009. I'm just your average, everyday, uncivilized howling "anti-government" critic of mass government expenditures for "High Speed Rail" in the US. And I'm gosh darn proud of that.
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Posted by Limitedclear on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 9:42 PM

 Murphy Siding wrote:
      A clarification of the question, I guess: will they still be using what are now 40-50 year old geeps and SW's for power?

They will use whatever makes economic sense. Switchers, GPs, trackmobiles...

LC

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 9:41 PM

Sure, just as a few years ago many elevators were using 60-year-old Alcos and SW1s (and some still are).  But since the country elevator continues to disappear in the face of shuttle elevators the problem becomes moot.

There's nothing wrong with using an SD40-2 to switch an elevator except the operating cost can be high if the useage rate is more than infrequent.  One of the big problems is power contactors which are not built for rapid duty cycles on a road locomotive.  As for clearances and curves, if it will fit a 5161-cube covered hopper it will usually fit an SD40-2 or an SD70MAC (and if it won't it probably won't fit any big switch engine), and as for curves, 17 deg. is OK as long as the track has good ties.  (The Class I may not let you take its locomotive over it of course.)  It isn't desirable, but it will work.  And most grain elevators with that kind of curvature aren't long for this world.

S. Hadid 

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 9:38 PM
      A clarification of the question, I guess: will they still be using what are now 40-50 year old geeps and SW's for power?

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by coborn35 on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 9:36 PM
Yea, an SD70 would take all those curves and small clearances greeeeat......

Mechanical Department  "No no that's fine shove that 20 pound set all around the yard... those shoes aren't hell and a half to change..."

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Posted by Limitedclear on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 9:36 PM
 Murphy Siding wrote:

      A fair question, from another thread:

     Snaggletooth mentioned this on another thread, and I found it interesting:

    

 snagletooth wrote:
 I really need to start another thread, but don't know how. It seem's to me the 40 series and even the 50 series are worn out and probbly not up to their full horsepower (just an opinion, and I know what an opinion is worth), but an SD70 on an grain elevater in 2030 is just  unrealistic. I'm not talking about now, I'm asking about 20-30-40 years from now. if i should start another thread, please let me know how , I think this is worth a nother disscusion

They will continue to exist as long as the Class 1 railroads or short lines involved don't want to perform this function.

LC 

 

      Around these parts,every small town elevator has an old Geep or SW switcher parked around back.  What is the future of small scale switching duties?

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The future of small scale switching duties
Posted by Murphy Siding on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 9:29 PM

      A fair question, from another thread:

     Snaggletooth mentioned this on another thread, and I found it interesting:

    

 snagletooth wrote:
 I really need to start another thread, but don't know how. It seem's to me the 40 series and even the 50 series are worn out and probbly not up to their full horsepower (just an opinion, and I know what an opinion is worth), but an SD70 on an grain elevater in 2030 is just  unrealistic. I'm not talking about now, I'm asking about 20-30-40 years from now. if i should start another thread, please let me know how , I think this is worth a nother disscusion

      Around these parts,every small town elevator has an old Geep or SW switcher parked around back.  What is the future of small scale switching duties?

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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