With all the locomotives in put into storage over the last couple of years a question came into my mind. Are the locomotives serviced, drained of water, oil, disconnect batteries etc? Or are they simply parked and locked up?
Thanks in advance
John
No one-size-fits-all policy, and it depends how long it is thought the locomotive will be in storage, and how likely it is that it will ever emerge from storage and be returned to service.
In almost all cases, the coolant is drained. Oil, usually not. Batteries removed, sometimes. Cab doors locked, maybe. Stacks covered, maybe. Radios removed, usually.
I used to purchase locomotives out of dead lines and got them from everything from fuel in the tank, batteries charged, just add water and hit the start button after months in storage; to parts missing that had been cannibalized surreptiously by the forces of the adjoining shop.
I don't know what "servicing" anyone does other than shove the locomotive into a track. Generally if the locomotive has a defect or is not working, that is a very good reason to put it into storage and not fix the problem.
RWM
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
Is it possible that because of the very cold weather the RRs are bringing some units back in service to prevent any stoppage in case a unit fails in this cold weather or that the trailing tons allowed are less below certain temps?
Are the long "dead" lines of locomotives that we saw a year ago still around? The one that existed at Brooklyn yard in Portland, OR, is gone. -- Tom H.
Depends on how long the unit is going to be parked for, if its for a few days, nothing will be done, a few months, just drain the water, six months or more, drain water, cap stack and cut the batts. most all of the C45 turbo change units have been brought back to life. ( can't win them all i guess... lol)
I thought I read awhile back, some of the newest prime movers, had an automotive type cooling system that used permanent antifreeze. If this is the case, would this negate draining the block? R. Staller
The ONLY RR engine Designed to use any Antifreeze is the H-series by EMD. The GEvo and FDL and 710 use plain Treated water in the Radiator. The cost alone would prevent Antifreeze usage. Most Cooling systems are in the area of 300-400 gallons in the Locomotives. Can you imagine 200 gallons of coolant leaking out and getting into a water supply. That stuff is a Haz-mat and is Poison to animals. Now imagine you have 4000 locomotives you need 150 gallons of Anti-freeze for EACH at 10 bucks a gallon. You want to explain to your shareholdes why your cutting the Dividind by 20 cents a share.
edbentonThe ONLY RR engine Designed to use any Antifreeze is the H-series by EMD. The GEvo and FDL and 710 use plain Treated water in the Radiator. The cost alone would prevent Antifreeze usage. Most Cooling systems are in the area of 300-400 gallons in the Locomotives. Can you imagine 200 gallons of coolant leaking out and getting into a water supply. That stuff is a Haz-mat and is Poison to animals. Now imagine you have 4000 locomotives you need 150 gallons of Anti-freeze for EACH at 10 bucks a gallon. You want to explain to your shareholdes why your cutting the Dividind by 20 cents a share.
Cost isn't the only issue. Ethylene glycol does not mix very well with lube oil if it leaks into the crankcase (bearing failures).
Same thing with anything you use for Antifreeze. I had a C-15 with Dexcool aka propylene glycol get an INTERNAL oil cooler leak. Ever seen 11 gallons of Mayo made in 1 minute at 65 MPH. Let alone the bang it made when the Connecting Rod from #2 came thru the side of the block.
CSSHEGEWISCHCost isn't the only issue. Ethylene glycol does not mix very well with lube oil if it leaks into the crankcase (bearing failures).
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