Layin down the law.

Posted by Anonymous

on Sat, Aug 7 2004 11:27 AM

Hey all,
Last weekend I saw a train doin about 90 miles per hour on my trip to Nebraska on flat land, and it had 40 cars(all loaded coal). With one engine, an SD45. Why was it going so fast?!

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Posted by Anonymous

on Sat, Aug 7 2004 9:13 PM

For one thing coal trains are allowed only 35 mph.

Posted by Willy2

on Sun, Aug 15 2004 8:04 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by BNSF SD70MAC

For one thing coal trains are allowed only 35 mph.

Okay, if coal trains are allowed only 35 mph, why do I always see them going at about 60 to 70 mph out on the mainline throughout Nebraska and Iowa?

Willy

Posted by railman

on Sun, Aug 15 2004 8:30 PM

Here's another case to add to the melee;
up here in Minnesota coal trains roll right up to the 65 max on some lines, and I can't believe engineers would speed so often if it was frowned upon and so easy to catch them doing so.
In Minn. this is full-bore main line, with plenty of traffic and a daily Amtrak visit to top. Old Northern Pacific. That said, I have no idea why one train was rollin' at 90. Maybe they had a train to catch.

Posted by Anonymous

on Sun, Aug 15 2004 10:08 PM

Westbounds,60mph.
Eastbounds,35mph.?

For one thing I have never seen a loded coal train over 40mph.

Posted by jeffhergert

on Sun, Aug 15 2004 10:19 PM

Loaded coal trains are 50 on the UP. Some areas used to allow 60, but that changed sometime back.
Empty coal hoppers can be 50 or 60, depends on the car type.