Hello,
I was looking at You tube videos in German that were about the 5000 hp Voith Maxima diesel hydraulic locomotive. Apparently they put this locomotive through a extreme test of running it 867kms in one run before going for servicing.
For those that speak german http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-DoOQoMJFs&feature=related
How long are the runs for the main line locomotives here in North America before they go for servicing-aside from refueling.
Frank
"If you need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm."
they go by Calendar day inspections or 1000 miles whatever is first.
A Calender day is in priciple upto 48 hors long from 0001 on first day till 2359 on second day.
Thank you
The calendar day inspections are to find out if any repairs/servicing needs to be done between scheduled servicing. Scheduled servicing is typically on 92 day cycle coinciding with government mandated safety inspections. It's not uncommon for a locomotive to go between these inspections needing little more than fuel, topping off lube oil, drain and refill toilets and change the brake shoes.
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
Need your definition of servicing. Fueling, brake checks, included or not?. Amtrak's western long distance just have those two items for:
Empire Builder to PDX 2250 miles
Cal Z 2400 miles
SW Chief 2260 miles
Texas Eagle 2700 miles
Sunset 2000 miles
Some of the intermodals to/from west coast do not even refuel.
Note: all these trains most often stay connected to their trains!
Don’t locomotives in the USA get “Million Mile Overhauls?
-Justin
The road to to success is always under construction. _____________________________________________________________________________ When the going gets tough, the tough use duct tape.
For locomotive trucks, a half million miles is not a bad figure. On Conrail, the locomotives typically racked up 120,000 to 180,000 miles a year and needed their trucks rebuilt every 4 or 5 years. Diesel engines needed new power assemblies (piston, head, cylinder liner) every 5-7 years and a complete engine overhaul at every other time.
Traction motors (the DC kind) often didn't make it to the point the wheels were worn out, so there was not overhaul cycle. Most of the time, the TM's would get a light going over and a new wheelset would be slapped in place. Complete rewinding only occurred on failure.
Amtrak locomotives tend to rack up the miles at double the rate of freight locomotives, so needed truck work twice as often. Everything else is pretty close to the same a freight - maybe a bit more frequent.
Are there any figures as to an expectation of miles in a locomotives service life?
I would assume the 'Road' Locomotives would last to may more miles than a locomotive in exclusively 'Switching'(or Yard) services?
Thanks!
oltmannd For locomotive trucks, a half million miles is not a bad figure. On Conrail, the locomotives typically racked up 120,000 to 180,000 miles a year and needed their trucks rebuilt every 4 or 5 years. Diesel engines needed new power assemblies (piston, head, cylinder liner) every 5-7 years and a complete engine overhaul at every other time. Traction motors (the DC kind) often didn't make it to the point the wheels were worn out, so there was not overhaul cycle. Most of the time, the TM's would get a light going over and a new wheelset would be slapped in place. Complete rewinding only occurred on failure. Amtrak locomotives tend to rack up the miles at double the rate of freight locomotives, so needed truck work twice as often. Everything else is pretty close to the same a freight - maybe a bit more frequent.
at least with the uncle's fleet, a set of trucks is expected to last at least 1,000,000 miles, or more. The Diesel engene isn't, "inframed" per se. It is simply changed out. to be overhauled out of frame. anything needing more than 5 or 6 assemblies at one time is very rare. More often it is just one or two every few years as things go bad.
Modern electronics have eliminated most of the TM failures exept for thin wheels. It isn't uncommon to find open fields; but that is a failure that can happen with an AC motor as well. Not sure about Amtraks units though. and individual railroads maintain things very differently.
as far as servicing other than fuel, it should make at least 10 days between servicing stops. or 5-6000 miles; before a trip through a mechanical facility for a more through inspection.
Tugboat Tony The Diesel engene isn't, "inframed" per se. It is simply changed out. to be overhauled out of frame. anything needing more than 5 or 6 assemblies at one time is very rare. More often it is just one or two every few years as things go bad.
The Diesel engene isn't, "inframed" per se. It is simply changed out. to be overhauled out of frame. anything needing more than 5 or 6 assemblies at one time is very rare. More often it is just one or two every few years as things go bad.
The typical EMD road locomotive on Conrail got a "PACO" (Power Assembly Change-Out) every 4-5 years and a complete engine every other trip to the backshop. A "PACO" was done with the engine and generator still mounted on the locomotive frame. Pop the long hood off, slide out the power assemblies and pop in the new ones.
The aim of the US Class I carriers is to keep the locomotives out of the shop except for their required 92 day inspections. If a locomotive comes to the shop prior to it's 92 day date to have something fixed that is a failure and actions will be taken to see why that failure occurred and how it could have been prevented. Locomotives in the shop are not earning their keep.
da_kraut Hello, I was looking at You tube videos in German that were about the 5000 hp Voith Maxima diesel hydraulic locomotive. Apparently they put this locomotive through a extreme test of running it 867kms in one run before going for servicing. For those that speak german http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-DoOQoMJFs&feature=related How long are the runs for the main line locomotives here in North America before they go for servicing-aside from refueling. Frank
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
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