Hello all,
Please forgive the stupid question, but I recall reading somewhere that most railroads will assign locomotives which are barely reliable to ballast trains (well, gravel trains) which the maintenance crews then use to stabilize the rails/ties. Is this correct?
Given my location (close to a UP main line in the midwest) I see and hear coal trains regularly pass by. Are the locos typically assigned to coal runs new locos due to their unlikely need for maintenance or would these also be the barely servicable?
Typically - the highest priority -'feature trains' get the newest, highest HP, BEST power available. Then, as the priority ladder is descended, older, more worn power is assigned until you get to the runs that have the least priority which are generally Maintenance of (in the) Way trains of all varieties. While what I have described is the way it is 'supposed to work'; the actual priorities on a specific day at a specific location may dictate other assignment priorities.
Welcome to the forum!
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Having watched UP Roseville yard ops and what the trains look like coming in the valley sub now for a year and a half. I'm not sure its strictly age so much as HP, AC/DC and configuration.
For example, UP will put anything 4K HP and above and AC on a mainline train. Stack, Manifest, Grain, Potash, etc etc. In addition they will put SD70Ms on any of those trains.
Age doesn't enter into it and as far as I can tell, a loco is either considered serviceable or its in the shop.
Anything under that HP rating is going to get local, transfer or similar service.So, the SD40Ns, the SD59MX and the occasional GP40-2 and GP60s hold down those jobs.
In my experience, they assign whatever is available at the time. We run newer units as well as older SD's(and occasionally)GP's on mainline trains. Our locals almost always get older SD's and GP's, as do work trains. But again it's all about what is available, hell I've worked yard jobs and kicked cars with older Dash 8's as well as Dash 9's.
BaltACD Welcome to the forum!
Thank you, I have been an unregistered visitor for a while now, and finally got the courage to look foolish asking something which probably should have been a no brainer :)
Don't worry about it, the only dumb questions are the ones that aren't asked. Your question may have been rather basic, but we're always happy to share what we know with those who want to find out. My adult son is just easing his way into the hobby at this time and I've been more than happy to answer even the most basic questions.
Georgia Railroader In my experience, they assign whatever is available at the time. We run newer units as well as older SD's(and occasionally)GP's on mainline trains. Our locals almost always get older SD's and GP's, as do work trains. But again it's all about what is available, hell I've worked yard jobs and kicked cars with older Dash 8's as well as Dash 9's.
Yes. There is a "nice to have" point of view where the AC units go on coal and other unit trains, the locos with radial trucks go on the curvy coal branches, the newer Dash 9s go on the intermodal and important merchandise freights, etc. But the real world "must have" is a train must have locomotives enough to get where it's going - any kind will do.
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
Yeah like about 20 Years ago here in IL the ATSF had a Pig train that HAD to go and the only thing ON the ready track was 3 GP 20's and 2 GP 9's and one GP 30-35 Pair. 14K hp on a train that would Normally draw at the time 4 GP-60 or B-40-8's series. Well lets just say alot of Railfans where SUPRISED to see that one come thru.
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