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Trackside with Erik and Mike Vol. 27 recap homework

Posted by Bergie

on Mon, Mar 28 2005 3:04 PM

In the Trackside with Erik and Mike Vol. 27recap story, Erik was unfamiliar with a part hanging from the front coupler of a BNSF SD40-2S. Know what the part is? Share it here!

Erik Bergstrom

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Posted by Anonymous

on Mon, Mar 28 2005 8:25 PM

My guess is some sort of grounding cable.

Posted by jeaton

on Mon, Mar 28 2005 8:52 PM

It appears to be attached to the brake line and I think it might be to keep the end of hose from hanging below the bottom of the pilot. That might keep the gladhand from getting torn off by any junk between the rails.

Jay

"We have met the enemy and he is us." Pogo Possum "We have met the anemone... and he is Russ." Bucky Katt "Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." Niels Bohr, Nobel laureate in physics

Posted by Anonymous

on Mon, Mar 28 2005 8:52 PM

The cable looks to me like it would hold the hose up. With my tired eyes, it seems that without the cable , the hose could drop below the pilot and could be damaged at grade crossings.

Posted by Anonymous

on Mon, Mar 28 2005 8:54 PM

That cable holds up the air hose away from the tracks. A low hanging air hose is usually the thing that stops a train at detector for dragging equipment. The conductor will go back and wire the hose up, and the train will continue. I believe this is what you are seeing on this 40-2.

Posted by Anonymous

on Mon, Mar 28 2005 9:56 PM

Holding up the air hose, www.railpictures.net has some clear shots of engines with either a cable are chain holding up the air hose.

Posted by Gluefinger

on Mon, Mar 28 2005 10:18 PM

Erik, nice pictures- heres #63 coming back on number 8

Posted by Anonymous

on Tue, Mar 29 2005 7:34 PM

keep the gladhand from moving to far from center of engine

Posted by mrunyan

on Wed, Mar 30 2005 11:39 AM

I'm sorry to see the rule change on winning the vote. There are only about 700-800 of us that vote so every one counts. It was so cool to see the picture I voted on win by one vote and think, "I did that" Isn't this supposed to be fun for we the audience as well as give you the artist feedback on your work? Step up and grab victory, draws are for sissies.

Posted by mandelswamp

on Mon, Apr 4 2005 11:57 AM

I disagree with mrunyan's comment. I think a difference of a few votes should be counted as a draw. I like your idea that the voting has to be 51% to 49% for a clear win.

Posted by JDHRAP

on Mon, Apr 11 2005 11:26 PM

Several people have hit it on the head. Cable holds hose up from hanging below pilot, but more imporrtantly holding the hose up when connecting to another motor/car to keep the train from going into emergency when something hits it (if it's hanging too low). Typically grade crossings will cause low hanging hoses to disconeect and place a train into Undesired Emergency.