'25 MPH?
Without comment read the following VRE bulletin.
Suspect - after East Palestine NS doesn't want to stick their neck out any further than absolutly necessary.
Saw in some publication that East Palestine is into the NS chckbook to the tune of $1B already.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Reason has left the building. Glad I'm the age I am.
GrampReason has left the building. Glad I'm the age I am.
Temps were cooler when you were younger, check it out on the Internet on a historical weather site. I think we are in uncharted territory as far as the weather is concerned now. I am a volunteer on a large subdivision HOA, our CCTV and our flourescent tube lights used to not operate well above 100 degrees outside. Replaced the flourescent lights with LEDS. CCTV usually goes out when thermometer hits 98 or 99 degrees in the direct sun.......they are cheap cameras though so that could be part of the issue.
Also, when I was a kid most of the rail network was 39 foot sections of rail. Heck I still remember the steam generators Amtrak used to lug around.
25 MPH apparently was real Amtrak 171 to Roanoke ran on NS at 25 or less untill about 1850.
CMStPnP Gramp Reason has left the building. Glad I'm the age I am. Temps were cooler when you were younger, check it out on the Internet on a historical weather site. I think we are in uncharted territory as far as the weather is concerned now. I am a volunteer on a large subdivision HOA, our CCTV and our flourescent tube lights used to not operate well above 100 degrees outside. Replaced the flourescent lights with LEDS. CCTV usually goes out when thermometer hits 98 or 99 degrees in the direct sun.......they are cheap cameras though so that could be part of the issue. Also, when I was a kid most of the rail network was 39 foot sections of rail. Heck I still remember the steam generators Amtrak used to lug around.
Gramp Reason has left the building. Glad I'm the age I am.
In today's welded rail, the only joints that are left are Insulated Joints needed for signal operation and/or crossing protection operation.
While welded rail may get laid in nominal 1320 lengths, once the rail is in place forces come along and weld up all the joints between insulated joints.
Do UP and BNSF constantly reduce speed limits in the desert southwest during the summer because of heat?
Growing up in northern Illinois I can remember heat waves, pulling weeds in 98 degree temps with oppressive humidity. Media never talked about heat index. Only concern was about heat stroke. I'm just tired of the media not doing their fundamental job and instead sensationalizing.
Gramp I'm just tired of the media not doing their fundamental job and instead sensationalizing.
I'm just tired of the media not doing their fundamental job and instead sensationalizing.
The "fundamental job" of the media, just like any other company, is to make money for its owners.
GrampDo UP and BNSF constantly reduce speed limits in the desert southwest during the summer because of heat?
Heh, is the risk the same? How many built up urban areas are there in the desert with families and kids? What about buildings and structures? What is the cost of a potential derailment in the desert compared to the areas heavy with passenger trains?
Also, I suspect the temp in the desert is largely factored into the rail infrastructure. I am sure sun kinks happen in the desert but just not with the same frequency as where the temps are well above normal.....like on the East Coast.
FWIW, here is an EPA graphic of heat waves. The starting date chosen impacts what you interpret.
https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/07/Heatwave-Graphic-7-27-2023.jpg
GrampFWIW, here is an EPA graphic of heat waves. The starting date chosen impacts what you interpret. https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/07/Heatwave-Graphic-7-27-2023.jpg
Looks like the Dust Bowl era of the 1930's was warm. Considering the orign of the link ?????
Gramp Do UP and BNSF constantly reduce speed limits in the desert southwest during the summer because of heat? Growing up in northern Illinois...[me too!] Media never talked about heat index. Only concern was about heat stroke. I'm just tired of the media not doing their fundamental job and instead sensationalizing.
Growing up in northern Illinois...[me too!] Media never talked about heat index. Only concern was about heat stroke. I'm just tired of the media not doing their fundamental job and instead sensationalizing.
Perhaps your memory is a bit off. I can recall John Coleman on Eyewitness News 7 giving the that metric in the 70s at least.
"THI stood for Temperature-Humidity Index, which was used in the 1960s to quantify discomfort using temperature and dew point. An index of 70 or lower meant everyone was comfortable. At 71, 10% of the populace was deemed uncomfortable, 50% at 75 and 100% at 80. When the THI hit 84, federal workers in non-air conditioned offices were dismissed. The current heat index was introduced in the early 1980s, replacing the THI. It is a single, “apparent or feels like temperature” —how hot the air feels at a given temp and dew point or relative humidity." [Tom Skilling, Aug. 2921, WGN.]
charlie hebdo Gramp Do UP and BNSF constantly reduce speed limits in the desert southwest during the summer because of heat? Growing up in northern Illinois...[me too!] Media never talked about heat index. Only concern was about heat stroke. I'm just tired of the media not doing their fundamental job and instead sensationalizing. Perhaps your memory is a bit off. I can recall John Coleman on Eyewitness News 7 giving the that metric in the 70s at least. "THI stood for Temperature-Humidity Index, which was used in the 1960s to quantify discomfort using temperature and dew point. An index of 70 or lower meant everyone was comfortable. At 71, 10% of the populace was deemed uncomfortable, 50% at 75 and 100% at 80. When the THI hit 84, federal workers in non-air conditioned offices were dismissed. The current heat index was introduced in the early 1980s, replacing the THI. It is a single, “apparent or feels like temperature” —how hot the air feels at a given temp and dew point or relative humidity." [Tom Skilling, Aug. 2921, WGN.]
Today's heat index is nothing mroe than THI given another name - it is still calculated of temperature and humidity. Local TV weathermen all start to get 'hot to trot' when both the temperature and humidity get above 70. When that happens the Dew Point starts getting into the 70's and higher.
When NBC purchased The Westher Channel is when they started making a panic out of the weather and how many million of people were experiencing the current extreme conditions.
The heat we have experienced in the Mid-Atlantic so far this year, from my sweat analysis has been cooler than normal. The weatherman, before this current 'heat storm' said we had only experienced SIX 90+ degree days so far this year. While I don't have facts and figures at my fingertips, 30+ 90 degree days is the norm with up to 5 100+ degree days thrown in for good measure.
Well, you pays your money and you takes your chance.
I was thinking of the 60's. We didn't have Chicago TV reception then. Just Rockford channels with Rolie Sponberg and Bob Kevern. Weather map presentations used magnet frontal boundaries and smiley suns.
Skilling on Channel Nine specifically stated the THI started in the 60s. In the 50s we had Clint Youle on NBC and PJ Hoff, "The man in charge of looking out the window" on CBS. Different era for sure.
My time living in Southern Indiana at Washington the local TV came out of Evansville and NOBODY could ever forget Marcia Yockey with the weather.
Crescent cancelled south of ATL today due to heat restrictions. Question is are NS freights restricted as well?
Appears bothCrescents will not operae south of ATL tomorrow Tue Aug 1.
As of 9:26 am ET, Due to extreme heat order speed restrictions, Crescent Train 19, which is scheduled to depart New York (NYP) on 7/31, will now terminate in Atlanta (ATL). Alternate transportation between Atlanta (ATL) and New Orleans (NOL) will be provided.
I imagine less glass/steel/concrete/asphalt around when you were younger...the "heat island" effect
It's not that temps were any better or worse in summers long past. It's that there are a lot more lawyers around now. Liability is the name of the game.
UP level 2 heat restrictions restrict passenger trains to 50 mph on signalled track. Level 1 and 2 are blanket restrictions. It is always possible to have a specific, more restrictive heat related speed issued if they feel conditions warrant.
Jeff
Lost count Crescent cancelled MON and Tue. As well 19 cancelled south of ATL tomorrow 8/15.
Maybe cancelled because of poor ridership?
jeffhergert It's not that temps were any better or worse in summers long past. It's that there are a lot more lawyers around now. Liability is the name of the game. UP level 2 heat restrictions restrict passenger trains to 50 mph on signalled track. Level 1 and 2 are blanket restrictions. It is always possible to have a specific, more restrictive heat related speed issued if they feel conditions warrant. Jeff
You msy choose to believe that but July was the hottest in recorded data.
Gramp Do UP and BNSF constantly reduce speed limits in the desert southwest during the summer because of heat?
Safety First, Safety Always
Actually, yes. They slow down freight trains.
Railroads will increase the Neutral Temperature of CWR in a high temperature area, but that will increase the likelihood of a rail break in cold weather. It gets cold in Virginia.
The Amtrak Empire Builder derailment in 2021 was a Track Buckle derailment. In Montana.
A freight train can increase the rail temperature by 30 degrees while passing. In a mixed corridor, heavy commuter traffic the rail doesn't get a chance to cool down.
blue streak 1 Crescent cancelled south of ATL today due to heat restrictions. Question is are NS freights restricted as well?
One thing that tends to get overlooked about slow orders that are put upon a right of way for whatever the reason, be that track condition or weather condition. That slow order applies to the ENTIRE train. A 800 foot passenger train experiences less delay on a point specific slow order than does a 8000 foot freight train. The passenger train can brake from track speed to slow order speed much quicker than the freight train. If the slow order is for a tenth of a mile (528 feet) it goes at the slow order speed for the length its train over identified location, thus moving at slow order speed for 1328 feet minimum before getting back up to track speed. The 8000 foot train takes longer to slow to the slow order speed and will remain at slow order speed for a minimum of 8528 feet before it can start to accelerate to track speed.
Slow order delays, without regard to the specific cause, add up - the bigger the freight train the longer the delay.
When CSX was still operating its P&W subdivision between Glenwood Jct. (Pittsburgh) and New Castle they scrimped on track maintenance until the subdivision was leased (or sold) to the Allegheny Valley and the B&P for the entirety of the sub. Just before CSX divested the sub, it had a plethora of 10 MPH slow orders, some a tenth of a mile apart, some a mile apart, some a mile and a half apart. For the crews operating their normal (5000 to 6000 foot) trains the entire subdivision was effectively 10 MPH.
Crescents cancelled again Thursday south of ATL.
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