Watching Videos. I got to thinking. Why Main line railroads do not have more "B" units?
With out all that was needed for a person in a control cab. A "B" unit would be cheeper to purchase and maintain.
Adding much more weight inplace of a person had to add greater tractive effert.
Ed
I do not know the complete Santa Fe story.
They could have cut off the traction motor in the defective unit and used it as a control cab unit.
If for some reason they could not move the defective unit. Then the train was stalled even if it had multi "A" units.
If they could have cut off the "A" unit and clear the track. Then they could have used the second "A" unit and long end forward until they could come upon a replace ment up the line.
What happenes when they have multi units hooked up long end to long end and they loose they lead unit? The second unit is long end forward.
I seen on RFD TV's trains. New Haven pulled two long freights with a single "F" unit backward and track speed.
"B" units have control boxes at both ends of unit movements.
If needed a person could stand at the front of the units with a signal hose. This is done with passenger trains with out a control unit at the other end for yard movements, also radio commucation from front end to control cab.
B units died because they lack the flexiblity of A units. A B unit will always need an A unit to lead. If your basic consist is two units, like ours is, what's the point of B units. I have a hard enough time putting together working consists, without worrying about A vs B units.
Also note that under most union contracts, a B unit is not a locomotive - there are no seats, toliet, cooler, or sink. Being forced to run from a B unit is a time claim, 8 hours in our case.
Nick
Take a Ride on the Reading with the: Reading Company Technical & Historical Society http://www.readingrailroad.org/
I have also read that ATSF wanted a quote for a cabless Dash 8-40B from GE and were told that they would cost more than a wide cab unit!(and yes, this was after the B30-7ab's were bulit for BN) I believe the RR also inquired about 6 axle B units (SD70/C40-8) from both EMD and GE and got the same response. So while they could save money on maintaining the cab the higher purchase costs were uneconomic....
In real world use B unit roadswitchers, while adding interest for railfans, can cause some major operational headaches for crews, although there have been a fair number of cases of RR's removing the control stands from older units to make them into boosters (UP with SD40's for instance)..
"I Often Dream of Trains"-From the Album of the Same Name by Robyn Hitchcock
The CPR had some SD40-2B units that were converted from A-units. These units had the toilet, A/C, seats and other things essential for the crew removed and had the windows blanked over with wood or steel. Many of these units were converted back to A-units but there may be some that still have the blanked windows. There were some high-hood SD40-2's purchased from a leaser (GATX?) that were used as B-units. A number of these units eventually went to NRE.
nbrobar
Would you please explain what you meant with these statements.
Also note that under most union contracts, a B unit is not a locomotive
A locomotive has a power plant and driving force. I never had the understanding that it need a human present to be called a locomotive.
- there are no seats, toliet, cooler, or sink. Being forced to run from a B unit is a time claim, 8 hours in our case.
Thank You
spikejones52002 wrote: nbrobar Would you please explain what you meant with these statements.Also note that under most union contracts, a B unit is not a locomotive A locomotive has a power plant and driving force. I never had the understanding that it need a human present to be called a locomotive.- there are no seats, toliet, cooler, or sink. Being forced to run from a B unit is a time claim, 8 hours in our case.Thank You
Dictionary definitions, union contract definitions, railroad definitions and common sense do not necessarily always coincide.
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
Definitions of the "same thing" according to Webster's, The Rule Book, and The Union Contract can be very different.
Most union contracts specify minimum equipment requirements for a locomotive to qualify as a lead capable locomotive. Usually, they state there must be seats, a toilet, sink, cooler, and space to put your grip. Under these rules, a B unit does not qualify as a usable locomotive. You can use it for power, but you can't run from it for any length of time.
If you are forced to run from a non-equipped locomotives, there is a penalty claim you have against the company. We're suppose to get an extra 8 hours pay for using a non-equipped locomotive.
nbrodar wrote: B units died because they lack the flexiblity of A units. A B unit will always need an A unit to lead. If your basic consist is two units, like ours is, what's the point of B units. I have a hard enough time putting together working consists, without worrying about A vs B units.Also note that under most union contracts, a B unit is not a locomotive - there are no seats, toliet, cooler, or sink. Being forced to run from a B unit is a time claim, 8 hours in our case.Nick
They may come back but be known as robots without humans driving the train.
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