Trains.com

Dirty Locomotive

11178 views
23 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2006
  • 1,879 posts
Posted by YoHo1975 on Monday, May 5, 2008 2:02 AM

So they did. A clean SP engine is probably broken, or stuffed and mounted.

 

 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 462 posts
Posted by 4merroad4man on Sunday, May 4, 2008 2:27 PM
 YoHo1975 wrote:

When the Union Pacific absorbed Southern Pacific, they adopted their wash rack policies too.

 

Southern Pacific was famous for their dirty dirty engines.

 

Yeah, but at least ours ran.......

Serving Los Gatos and The Santa Cruz Mountains with the Legendary Colors of the Espee. "Your train, your train....It's MY train!" Papa Boule to Labische in "The Train"
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: weatherford,Tx
  • 367 posts
Posted by zapp on Tuesday, April 29, 2008 8:14 PM
Most of our major yards that have run through facilities have a wash rack like Ft. Worth, Little Rock, Kansas City, etc...
  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: South Dakota
  • 1,592 posts
Posted by Dakguy201 on Sunday, April 27, 2008 10:08 AM

 Philcal wrote:
Hard to believe from the photo, but UP, in common with virtually all railroads washes locomotives on a regular basis.

Do you happen to know where the UP does its washing?  It seems to me that units coming out of North Platte or the Chicago area are significantly cleaner than those on the west coast.  As someone else observed, it would also seem as if the former SP yards have their own wash policy.  Sure, most of the tunnels are out west, but the line down from Donkey Creek to the mainline has to be a very dirty proposition due to all of the coal dust. 

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • From: montgomery,Alabama
  • 183 posts
Posted by Philcal on Saturday, April 26, 2008 6:34 PM
Hard to believe from the photo, but UP, in common with virtually all railroads washes locomotives on a regular basis.
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: weatherford,Tx
  • 367 posts
Posted by zapp on Saturday, April 26, 2008 12:43 AM

On the UP the toilets are supposed to serviced when the unit enters a terminal and before it is released to go on another run.

For an example a manifest from North Platte to Ft Worth-MNPFW the units would be srviced at N. Platte and again at Ft Worth, but not Kansas City, Parsons, McAlester which are all crew change out points.

If a lead unit is too bad, I won't take it out of the yard till it's dumped. I don't worry so much about trailing units though. 

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 851 posts
Posted by Awesome! on Friday, April 25, 2008 9:58 PM
 J. Edgar wrote:
 Rail-Roadwarrior wrote:
 zapp wrote:

 Rail-Roadwarrior wrote:
The only thing that bothers me is dirty windows. I hate being in the cab and looking through dirty glass all day. I usually clean em up the first chance I get.

Me too, and wipe everything down with Lysol wipes!!! 

Amen to that. Locomotive cabs are a germ haven.

dont think the lefthand seat is any cleaner.....they didnt have Lysol wipes when i was conductorin so i carried a lil bottle of pinesol and paper towel in my grip....and heaven forbid there was a box of crewpacks somewhere in the yard office

What about the toilets?Confused [%-)] You really need a gas mask to enter those port holes.... Do they RR clean them before each trip?

http://www.youtube.com/user/chefjavier
  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: heart of the Pere Marquette
  • 847 posts
Posted by J. Edgar on Friday, April 25, 2008 6:09 PM
 Rail-Roadwarrior wrote:
 zapp wrote:

 Rail-Roadwarrior wrote:
The only thing that bothers me is dirty windows. I hate being in the cab and looking through dirty glass all day. I usually clean em up the first chance I get.

Me too, and wipe everything down with Lysol wipes!!! 

Amen to that. Locomotive cabs are a germ haven.

dont think the lefthand seat is any cleaner.....they didnt have Lysol wipes when i was conductorin so i carried a lil bottle of pinesol and paper towel in my grip....and heaven forbid there was a box of crewpacks somewhere in the yard office

i love the smell of coal smoke in the morning Photobucket
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 24, 2008 9:07 PM
 zapp wrote:

 Rail-Roadwarrior wrote:
The only thing that bothers me is dirty windows. I hate being in the cab and looking through dirty glass all day. I usually clean em up the first chance I get.

Me too, and wipe everything down with Lysol wipes!!! 

Amen to that. Locomotive cabs are a germ haven.

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Elmwood Park, NJ
  • 2,385 posts
Posted by trainfan1221 on Thursday, April 24, 2008 5:30 PM
 J. Edgar wrote:

 trainfan1221 wrote:
Its no good when a locomotive gets that dirty, creates drag and ruins the fuel economy.  Actually, I doubt it, but I have seen my share of unwashed engines.  I guess as long as it runs..

 Sign - Dots [#dots].........i was gonna say that old adage...if its cleaner in runs faster....but refrained

Sorry J.Edgar.  I guess I needed something to say for a reply at the time!  Big Smile [:D]
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: weatherford,Tx
  • 367 posts
Posted by zapp on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 1:45 AM

 Rail-Roadwarrior wrote:
The only thing that bothers me is dirty windows. I hate being in the cab and looking through dirty glass all day. I usually clean em up the first chance I get.

Me too, and wipe everything down with Lysol wipes!!! 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 7:05 PM
The only thing that bothers me is dirty windows. I hate being in the cab and looking through dirty glass all day. I usually clean em up the first chance I get.
  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 851 posts
Posted by Awesome! on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 5:54 PM

 BaltACD wrote:
The Class I's ideal engine utilization has the engine pulling freight 24/7 for the 92 days allowed between inspections.  Engines getting washed are not making money.

That's true!  but look at the UPS, FEDEX, and etc.. The perception to the consumer. Clean means Organization.Sign - Dots [#dots]

http://www.youtube.com/user/chefjavier
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 2:51 PM
The Class I's ideal engine utilization has the engine pulling freight 24/7 for the 92 days allowed between inspections.  Engines getting washed are not making money.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: weatherford,Tx
  • 367 posts
Posted by zapp on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 9:20 AM
I'm gonna say that unit has been a DP unit for awhile, and that is actually coal dust covering it. You should see what they look like on the insisde when someone leaves a door or window open!!!
  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 851 posts
Posted by Awesome! on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 8:05 AM
 Boomer Red wrote:

  This is what happens to the trailing unit when a turbocharger goes bad! Glad I didn't have to clean it up!Laugh [(-D]

http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=134451

  

alot of Elbow Grease!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Alien [alien]

http://www.youtube.com/user/chefjavier
  • Member since
    December 2006
  • 1,879 posts
Posted by YoHo1975 on Monday, April 21, 2008 9:51 PM

When the Union Pacific absorbed Southern Pacific, they adopted their wash rack policies too.

 

Southern Pacific was famous for their dirty dirty engines.

 

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: west central Illinois
  • 417 posts
Posted by Rodney Beck on Monday, April 21, 2008 4:50 PM

I would rather run a dirty locomotive because it has been running up and down the rail making money.

 

Rodney

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: heart of the Pere Marquette
  • 847 posts
Posted by J. Edgar on Monday, April 21, 2008 4:17 PM

 trainfan1221 wrote:
Its no good when a locomotive gets that dirty, creates drag and ruins the fuel economy.  Actually, I doubt it, but I have seen my share of unwashed engines.  I guess as long as it runs..

 Sign - Dots [#dots].........i was gonna say that old adage...if its cleaner in runs faster....but refrained

i love the smell of coal smoke in the morning Photobucket
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Elmwood Park, NJ
  • 2,385 posts
Posted by trainfan1221 on Monday, April 21, 2008 3:32 PM
Its no good when a locomotive gets that dirty, creates drag and ruins the fuel economy.  Actually, I doubt it, but I have seen my share of unwashed engines.  I guess as long as it runs..
  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: heart of the Pere Marquette
  • 847 posts
Posted by J. Edgar on Sunday, April 20, 2008 11:42 PM
Big Smile [:D] amazing what 2-3 hundered gallons of used lube oil will do
i love the smell of coal smoke in the morning Photobucket
  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Petitcodiac NB Canada
  • 216 posts
Posted by Boomer Red on Sunday, April 20, 2008 11:13 PM

  This is what happens to the trailing unit when a turbocharger goes bad! Glad I didn't have to clean it up!Laugh [(-D]

http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=134451

  

Home of the Central Atlantic Railway
  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: heart of the Pere Marquette
  • 847 posts
Posted by J. Edgar on Sunday, April 20, 2008 11:10 PM

i know RR's have engine washes...my guess on the engine in your pic is prolly just 2 or 3 trips thru tunnels and sheds in trailing postion between washes....

these ALCOs(MLWs) went thru the Detroit River Tunnel but its short compared to whats outwest...ones kinda shiny but the rest arent filthy....have to admit i donthave many photos of "realy dirty" ones...got plenty of old and rusty tho Wink [;)]

 

i love the smell of coal smoke in the morning Photobucket
  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 851 posts
Dirty Locomotive
Posted by Awesome! on Sunday, April 20, 2008 9:30 PM

http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=85934

Do RR have a cleaning program? Does anyone have a dirty locomotive picture that would look  better than this one? Dinner [dinner]

http://www.youtube.com/user/chefjavier

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy