What kind of bearings to the Strasburg Rail Road passenger cars use? Are they journal (friction) or roller? We've visited a few times and weren't sure. The trucks look like the trucks on old cabooses left around Virginia in public spaces that appear to be friction bearings.
My second question concerns the Exempt crossing past the spring switch and tower. The locomotive does enter the roadway to clear the switch and reverse to run around the train. What specifically in the law allows the crossing to be an Exempt crossing if the road is still public and railroad traffic (just the locomotive) can still come in contact with vehicles "fouling" the track at the crossing? I don't remember if there were people flagging the intersection but it's possible they were.
aegrotatio What kind of bearings to the Strasburg Rail Road passenger cars use? Are they journal (friction) or roller? We've visited a few times and weren't sure. The trucks look like the trucks on old cabooses left around Virginia in public spaces that appear to be friction bearings. My second question concerns the Exempt crossing past the spring switch and tower. The locomotive does enter the roadway to clear the switch and reverse to run around the train. What specifically in the law allows the crossing to be an Exempt crossing if the road is still public and railroad traffic (just the locomotive) can still come in contact with vehicles "fouling" the track at the crossing? I don't remember if there were people flagging the intersection but it's possible they were. Not haven been to Strasburg in quite a while.. I would suggest that you use a photo reference to chneck out your first question: Photos listed as SRC are from the Strasburg RR Passenger cars.@http://passcarphotos.info/Indices/Strasburg.htm Judging from the photos, most of these carsare still equipped with friction bearings..It used to be a 'practice' when the mandates for roller bearings came down. The bearings were placed on a car, and the spring cover for the friction bearing was removed. The axle end was then open for a visible inspection. As to your question about "EXEMPT" as it might apply to the movement of railroad equipment. MY Guess is that you are referring to the segregation of no- currently compliant railroad equipment (as in Museum Rolling Stock (?) and a regulatory compliant railroad(?)... I know that at one time the Strasburg RR had a spur/sidetrack maintained for the traffic interchange of rail cars with a Class 1. I think they did/do have an interchange customer on their line(?) So an interchange connection was necessary. [Possibly, they have an 'exemption' to operate some of their power on this specific location, and function? ] Linked here is a video showing SRR handling some freight cars with both steam and diesels. @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KauITgZP5VM
Not haven been to Strasburg in quite a while.. I would suggest that you use a photo reference to chneck out your first question: Photos listed as SRC are from the Strasburg RR Passenger cars.@http://passcarphotos.info/Indices/Strasburg.htm
Judging from the photos, most of these carsare still equipped with friction bearings..It used to be a 'practice' when the mandates for roller bearings came down. The bearings were placed on a car, and the spring cover for the friction bearing was removed. The axle end was then open for a visible inspection.
As to your question about "EXEMPT" as it might apply to the movement of railroad equipment.
MY Guess is that you are referring to the segregation of no- currently compliant railroad equipment (as in Museum Rolling Stock (?) and a regulatory compliant railroad(?)... I know that at one time the Strasburg RR had a spur/sidetrack maintained for the traffic interchange of rail cars with a Class 1. I think they did/do have an interchange customer on their line(?) So an interchange connection was necessary. [Possibly, they have an 'exemption' to operate some of their power on this specific location, and function? ]
Linked here is a video showing SRR handling some freight cars with both steam and diesels. @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KauITgZP5VM
aegrotatioMy second question concerns the Exempt crossing past the spring switch and tower. The locomotive does enter the roadway to clear the switch and reverse to run around the train. What specifically in the law allows the crossing to be an Exempt crossing if the road is still public and railroad traffic (just the locomotive) can still come in contact with vehicles "fouling" the track at the crossing? I don't remember if there were people flagging the intersection but it's possible they were.
I've never seen them have to take the crossing to clear the switch. They get close, but not enough to occupy.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
It has an interchange at the little village of Paradise via the NS trackage rights over the Amtrak Harrisburg-Philly line.
My understanding of the 'Exempt' regulations where they exist, apply to the vehicles that are normally REQUIRED to STOP at railroad crossings, observe the rail traffic if any and then proceed across the crossing when the way is seen to be clear. Those requiement normally apply to Busses and HAZMAT carrying trucks. The Exempt sign permits those vehicles to cross the tracks withoug stopping.
IF the railroad must occupy the crossing, the crossing must be FLAGGED - (lots of luck in getting the attention of traffic that doesn't realize that trains even operate over the crossing).
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACD is correct. An EXEMPT crossing has nothing to do with rail operations, only vehicular operation relating to road traffic crossing the railroad at that point.
Federal law requires certain vehicles like school buses and vehicles carrying Hazmat to stop at RR crossings. It doesn't matter if there are huge trees growing in gauge, or the rails are paved over, the driver is legally required to come to a full stop, open a door or window and make sure a train is not approaching. They must stop unless the crossing has an exempt sign. If the exempt sign is present, the the driver may proceed without stopping.
Because grade crossings are maintained by the RR, I assume that it is up to the RR to put up the sign since it affects operations. In addition, abandoned crossings won't be exempted, while functional crossings will.
I would be interested in learning more about the specifics of exempting crossings if anyone has more information.
KyleI would be interested in learning more about the specifics of exempting crossings if anyone has more information.
With respect to the specific issue under consideration, here is the page from the Pennsylvania PUC that covers crossing issues.
Contact information for more detailed questions, including the specifics of 'exempt' notices in Pennsylvania:
Rodney D. Bender, PE, Manager Transportation Division Pa. Public Utility Commission P.O. Box 3265 Harrisburg, PA 17105-3265
Can someone answer the bearing question? I have not been there a long time, but 22 yeaars ago, all were friction bearings with oil and waste as in the classic years.
They looked like the same friction bearings on the abandoned cabooses around my area.
As for the crossing, this is the crossing that goes over Gap Rd. There is a spring switch that the locomotive must fully clear for it to switch back over and the time we watched it crossed the white line on the road. We were just wondering about if it required flagging or not.
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