BaltACDReplacing diamonds - especially at a location such as Rochelle is a highly involved undertaking and requires a tremendous amount of coordination between the carierrs at multiple level throughout each carriers organization. Not to mention having the tracks of both carriers being out of service at the location for 8 to 16 hours or more if something goes wrong.
Especially in the depths of winter, I would guess, when the roads have other problems to contend with. Even the maintenance and repairs must not be any fun in the 7-degree weather they've had in Rochelle the last few days.
/Mr Lynn
No speed restrictions on the UP today - Just watched a WB tank train (both the buffer cars were on the head end) and a EB Coal train on the other track - both running track speed.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
lots of mow action on the diamonds today.
I thought that thing looked like a giant vacuum cleaner. Does anyone know what it does?
Jim in Costa Rica
Modeling freelance Northern California late 1930s
Some guys get all the luck...I went in to check out that interesting-sounding "suck truck", and all I got was trains...three of them! (Two estbound BNSF, with an eastbound UP waiting for them.)There may have been spillage of something by the diamond--no reclamation value, just hazard removal, or something the neighbors might not wish to be downwind of after a while.
P.S. The left side of the lens (in particular) could use some serious wiping off. That isn't all just smoke!
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
CShaveRRThere may have been spillage of something by the diamond--no reclamation value, just hazard removal, or something the neighbors might not wish to be downwind of after a while.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
It looked like they were possibly blowing coal off the two BNSF crossings of the closest UP track. There was a pretty big black cloud, but it could have been exhaust from the truck.
Coal dust is plausible--we know what it did to the heavily-used trackage at the Powder River Basin after a while.As for grain, Larry, that's kind of what I had in mind. After that stuff ripens (what the wildlife doesn't get) nobody wants to catch a whiff!
CShaveRRAs for grain, Larry, that's kind of what I had in mind. After that stuff ripens (what the wildlife doesn't get) nobody wants to catch a whiff!
Day before Thanksgiving last year, saw something along those lines after a BNSF grain train came through. That post is at the top of page 9 of this thread. As soon as the train had cleared, squirrels were out scavenging. Haven't seen that after other types of trains have cleared.
Did a lot of searching on google images for rail maintenance of way equipment. The unit that was out there is/was a RPM Tech Hi-Rail Snow Blower - probably getting ice out of the flanges in the diamond? The manufacturer represents that it removes ice, etc. and a video shows use on switches, etc. Spec sheet that's viewable also shows a red vehicle like the one on the diamond today.
See http://www.grouperpmtech.com/en/rail-and-metro-equipment.aspx
The youtube video on the site shows a unit - painted similarly (white/red) to the unit that was at Rochelle today. Sounded like a pretty high pressure cleaning. From the coloration of the tracks - both UP tracks and the far BNSF track looked like they were heavily used. The near BNSF track - where they were working where it crosses the near UP track still had subtantial snow between the rails.
Some years ago a truck carrying fresh fruits and vegetables overturned in the median of the Interstate near here. The highway folks figured they'd just leave it there to "return to the earth" in a natural manner. It was far enough from any residences that any resultant odor wouldn't be a problem.
They eventually went back and cleaned it all up. The local wildlife loved the smorgasbord and car-animal collisions went through the roof there.
if this is a duplicate - I apologize - thought I sent this yesterday but it wasn't posted? rejected by the moderator?
After much searching of google images I believe that the truck that was out on the diamond yesterday was an RPM Tech AF1 Cold air blower mounted on hi-rails - see http://www.grouperpmtech.com/en/rail-and-metro-equipment.aspx
Blows air at an awesome pressure.
There's a youtube video on that site showing a unit having the same colors, etc.
Perhaps they were blowing ice/snow out of the diamonds to avoid using tools? From my view of the cam the near side BNSF track has more snow on it than the far track. Could ice build up in the special work on the diamond be a problem that was being worked on?
Bob
9 AM CST 1/19 - large contingent of MofW trucks and a Red Board up on the UP
EB BNSF stacker on near track - slow & making noised approaching crossing.
Just logged in (c 10 AM Eastern) and see a whole pile of trucks there: I count five!
Anyone know what's up?
UP Westbound passing over diamond on far track at track speed.
Some MofW personnel still on hand.
Slow Order in effect on UP near track
1220 CST -
BN Tamper working near track in camera rage while UP stack train is occupying UP near track.
Both within limits of the interlocking.
BaltACD 1220 CST - BN Tamper working near track in camera rage while UP stack train is occupying UP near track. Both within limits of the interlocking.
Saw a couple of trackmen closely examing a section of rail about 15 yards north of the BNSF signal housing box about 10 AM CST - wonder if there is a problem with the rail? That might explain why BNSF trains on the north track have been crawling through the junction for the past week or so while those on the south track seem to be moving at track speed.
Is that the "Breast Cancer Awareness" Track sweeper there? Lovely shade of "safety pink"?
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
BN Tamper and Ballast Regulator and about 8 supervisors are now gone.
UP slow order (red placard) on the near UP track is also gone. Perhaps the level of the BN track was causing the diamond maintenance issues?Bob
gonna be more work on diamonds today see a red stop board on the near up track
Tamper working on the BNSF track near the park.
1120 CST
BNSF Tamper & Ballast Regulator in plant on Near TrackBNSF High rail truck in plant on far track.
CNW Heritage Unit leading 15:13 Eastern
I just saw a westbound intermodule with a CSX unit leading followed by two back-to-back switchers (like old SWs).
Thought I had a stuck frame. Stack train across the diamond, but nothing was moving. Then it moved, every so slowly WB. Probably waiting to get into Global 3. Perhaps still the train with the CNW unit?
Now it's stopped again... I do hear a horn...
MrLynn I just saw a westbound intermodule with a CSX unit leading followed by two back-to-back switchers (like old SWs). /Mr Lynn
That was the UP1995 (CNW Heritage) that was leading the two switching engines. That was the train that stopped.
rdamon MrLynn I just saw a westbound intermodule with a CSX unit leading followed by two back-to-back switchers (like old SWs). /Mr Lynn That was the UP1995 (CNW Heritage) that was leading the two switching engines. That was the train that stopped.
Oh, cool. I didn't get a good look (appeared blue through the haze on my screen). And when you said 'Eastern' I read 'eastbound'. Duh!
Now we've empty and full coal trains meeting on the diamonds.
rdamonThat was the UP1995 (CNW Heritage) that was leading the two switching engines. That was the train that stopped.
Busy, busy! Once the stack train finally cleared, BNSF came through with an ethanol or oil train (can't read the placards). Once that cleared, UP hit the diamonds with westbound empty hoppers, and eastbound loaded hoppers soon making an appearance for a two-for-one...
Snowing - Red Board up again on UP
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