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[Anonymous]

I live on the main seaboard line between Bostic yard and Hamlet, NC. I notice when the coal trains come through they are allmost always 100 cars. What is significant about that number??? Some times there are 96 or 98 but usually 100 of them headed to Duke Power in Mt. Holly or 100 emptys headed back to Bostic before they go to Virginia.

[ndbprr]

Is there dedicated power on the head end or the same type engines every time? Chances are that is the number of cars that particular set of engines can handle over the ruling grade OR that is the number of cars the coal mine can handle. Also a possibility is over a certain length slack action increase substantially and that may be the number that allows the greatest tonnage without pulling knuckles.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ndbprr

Is there dedicated power on the head end or the same type engines every time? .

I'm not sure yet. That is something I've been trying to keep notes on and find out. I have noticed the CSX #433 headed west back to Bostic running bobtail (without any other locomotives or rolling stock) several times now. I wonder if it is being used as a helper engine on some of these trains.

[jsoderq]

Rail rates are based on 100 car unit trains. Less cars means a higher rate.

[Anonymous]

Same # of cars, cuase its most lilkey the same trains.

[ndbprr]

I had the chance to be trackside on the exNYC/CR mainline in Portage Indiana yesterday and saw five trains all of which were 113-135 cars long including coal, racks, containers and mixed so siding length may also be a factor.

[Anonymous]

Maybe its a 100 car unit train with a couple shop cars set out.

What are the reporting marks on the cars?

The Rat

[Anonymous]

I think I've got it figured out. This week on about 5 or 6 different occasions I've seen the CSX# 433 pushing the 100 car trains up the grade from Bostic to Lattimore. I also think it may have something to do with the length of the sideing on the Lattimore block . Last night I had the scanner on an was listening to the conversation as a coal train with 3 engines was trying to get out of the Bostic yard. They said they had "Stalled out on the hill and requested a push." The 433 pushed them well on into the Ellenboro block till they were up to about 30 MPH or so and then came on the radio and said "y'all've got it David. Were headed back."

[Anonymous]

The length of the siding sure might have something to do with it. I know here in MN coal trains are usually no longer than 120 cars because they won't fit in many of the sidings if they're that long.

[csxengineer98]

alot has to do with the mine in which it was loaded at... some mines can handle longer trains then others.... i use to run on average 130 loaded coal in 1 train... becouse that mine could handle 130 cars at one time...but some other mines on the same district could only handle 80 or 90..so the trains that came out of them where always around 80 and 90 cars... also it might have something to do with tonnage restrictions on the line... 100 might have been the magic number to be able to move the train without a helper for trailing tonnage reasons....and like someone said befor...it might also be the place where the train is headed to might only be able to handle at max 100 cars at a time...
csx engineer

[SteelMonsters]

The longest coal train I've ever run is 48 cars long, but that is 1:87 rather than 1:1.

I can imagine that busting a couple is easy with a loaded 130 car train.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SteelMonsters

The longest coal train I've ever run is 48 cars long, but that is 1:87 rather than 1:1.

I can imagine that busting a couple is easy with a loaded 130 car train.

Yes, the train forces can be a big deal, especially without DPUs.

[csxengineer98]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SteelMonsters

The longest coal train I've ever run is 48 cars long, but that is 1:87 rather than 1:1.

I can imagine that busting a couple is easy with a loaded 130 car train.

not realy...just like any train..you cant do anything fast...you dont go from notch 1 to notch 6 and expect it to say in 1 piece...and you dont go from the 8th notch of throttle to the 8th notch of dynamic and back out to the 8th notch of throttle in a 1 min time peirod and expect the train to say in 1 piece...(knew an enginer that did just that with and auto track train some years back....lets just say the conductor was calling the engineer alot of nasty names times 3!!!) if you plan you moves and use good train handeling skills...a 130 car coal train can be run just as smoth with no problems as a 10 car local.....like i said befor...its all in doing things slowly...and planing your moves a few miles in advance so your not putting yourself in a situation where you have to something in a hurry....
csx engineer

[csxengineer98]

oh by the way...this is on river grade too..and no DPUs and rear end helpers...all power is head end only
csx engineer

[nslakediv]

longest coal train (empty) 300 cars on the N&W Sandusky Line back in the day