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String Lining

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Posted by SD70Dude on Monday, January 7, 2019 9:12 PM

NDG

Eastbound M318 (Edmonton-Winnipeg manifest) didn't stop in time and ran into the middle of westbound Q115 (Toronto-Calgary intermodal).  Happened at Nattress, on the east side of Portage La Prairie, where the double track mainline briefly narrows to one across the Assiniboine River bridge. 

318 was almost 20,000 tons, with 2 units on the head end and 2 more mid-train.  A shame that junk GECX leaser (the CSX unit) didn't get beat up more. 

A little history about Nattress, posted by a knowledgeable fellow on another forum:

oldrailben

Fun fact about CN station name Nattress, which, as the article below describes, is a single track gauntlet bridge over the mighty Assiniboine River, on the otherwise double tracked Winnipeg to Portage east end of the Rivers Sub. When the second main track was constructed/connected in the 1970's or so, there was a debate about whether or not the major expense of building a second bridge over the river was required. As one might imagine, the operational folk said it was, and the planning/financial folk said it couldn't be justified. Oddly enough, the latter won out, the second bridge wasn't built, and the gauntlet at Nattress remains to this day. BUT the ops guys had the last laugh - they named this obvious bottleneck Nattress, after the chief bottlenecker, one Mr (?Ian?, but I stand to be corrected as memory fades) Nattress, who was coordinator of transportation planning in Winnipeg at the time. Word is that even he understood this was not an honour...

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Monday, January 7, 2019 10:51 PM

 

Dear Sir!
 
Thank You for the elucidation!
 
The story of the name is Wonderful!! Love IT!
 
There was a two-bit Official down here who did everything right to antagonize everyone.
 
Needless to say, Higher Up LOVED him and named a Siding after him.
 
Obnoxious nasal and lips sounds were audible for quite some time when it became mandatory for trains to ' Highball ' that location on the Radio.

Thank You.

 

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Posted by SD70Dude on Monday, January 7, 2019 11:27 PM

The "two-bit" folks always seem to get promoted too. 

If it were all loads a 20,000 ton train would probably be around 8,000 to 9,000 feet, but could be well over 11,000' if there were some empties or lighter cars.  I can't remember offhand exactly how long this one was.

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

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Posted by SD70Dude on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 3:27 PM

RE: CP Alyth derailment, the official Transport Canada blurb:

R19C0002

Date: Occurrence Type:

Time:

Accident/Incident Type: NON-MAIN-TRACK TRAIN COLLISION

ACCIDENT 2019-01-06 3 07:00 Classification:

Province: Nearest Town/City: Subdivision Owner: Subdivision Name: ALBERTA CALGARY CP - CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY CO. BROOKS Subdivision Mileage: 174.00 Location:

Details: DG Cars Involved: Train Operator: Yard Name:

0 CP - CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY CO.

DG Released: 0

Spur Name: Spur Mileage:

Injuries:

Minor:Serious:Fatal: 00 0

Occurrence Summary: CP reports Alyth Belt-pack Yard assignment, while shoving, struck and derailed a number of cars (involving DG cars - unidentified). 58 cars from four separate tracks may be impacted. Area cordoned off for first hour. CP Hazmat team confirms no leaks. TSB investigators deployed and assessing.   

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Wednesday, January 9, 2019 4:12 PM

 

Thanks for the Incident Report.
 
Quite a Car Count for a Yard Move.
 
Info, Please?  I have never seen a CPR Belt Pack Locomotive Operation.
 
Do these Locomotives have Event Recorders as do Road Power??
 
Used to take Rte 24 Ogden bus out to Alyth to watch F-M and, later the T-M/GP Combinations
 
Possibly a ' True Story '
 
Was talking to a Piglet who said he had run a Beltpack job for a while.
 
He said there was one move where the locomotive was run ' Light ' about 1/4 mile round a long curve to change pull down leads. During this move the Unit was out of sight from the Yard for some time.  He got tired of riding down there and back and timed the trip.
 
One trip he did NOT ride the Engine. It went out of sight. He stopped it by Remote, Yard Tower threw the switch for next route, and he brought it back on the other track. He said Tower could see the Engine.
 
Said he ' Did it all the Time. '
 
Don't know how he saw the new route was lined, maybe Tower told him.
 
 
One weekend Supervisors took Motorola Portable radios, 5 W w/strap, wire antenna w red knob on top to ' Go Hunting ' 
 
Similar w/o strap.
 
 
They were miles away in the mountains, but their stupid comments and Language all over the area as they were up high where the Game was.
 
The story got better as one of worst, who had been promoted from Engine Service as he was such a S Disturber re the Agreements. He did it so he could be a Bully as  An Official and Get on Steady Days w a Company Vehicle, had shot an Illegal doe ( Deer )
 
A Crew came along in another 4x4 and stopped to chat.  Used Hand Signals by day in lieu of PT300s?? when hunting??
 
They SAW and heard the Rwy Radios, Each Terminal had their Radio Battery sections painted a specific colour to identify same at Distant Terminals where there would be more than one Crew re Frequencies, and saw the fresh kill.
 
The ex Road Service Road Foreman Dude went into Intimidation Mode and asked how they liked their jobs, that HE might just do a Ride Along SOON for Safety and Train Handling, etc. etc.
 
The crew said  Nice Rack ( Antlers ) on your doe, John, and left it at that.
 
Another of the Officials present put his 4x4 thru the ice on a lake when Ice Fishing. The whole Terminal was really upset......That it did NOT sink.
 
Glad to be gone.
 
Hmmmmmm.
 
Have to go, six 6 inches of Snow hier soir.
 
The Kat is not amused.
 
Thank You. 
 
FWIW.
 
Mallet w 12-wheel tender.
 

https://www.american-rails.com/images/CBDMD7212.jpg 

 
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Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, January 9, 2019 7:01 PM

NDG
FWIW.
 
Mallet w 12-wheel tender.
 
 

https://www.american-rails.com/images/CBDMD7212.jpg

The only way to go - B&O

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Overmod on Thursday, January 10, 2019 12:02 PM

NDG
Mallet w 12-wheel tender.

B&O was rightly famous for these, perhaps the lightest-weight tenders for their capacity built.  Looking at them side-on was something of a trip as it was difficult to see there was any structure under that middle 3-piece truck.

Apparently preferable both in linear loading and riding to the alternative with 6-wheel Buckeyes (which are a fancy kind of 'three-piece design')  The catch is how you provide lateral on the middle truck together with adequate side-bearing control while keeping smooth pivoting...

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Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, January 10, 2019 1:23 PM

NDG

Picture also brings to light something I have never seen, and have no idea what they are for - in the foreground are steel steps fastened to two ties on the outside of the rails in the track.  ??????

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Thursday, January 10, 2019 4:09 PM

 

Thank You Mr. O.!!
 
I too was wondering how the centre truck on the Tender would move laterally thru Turnouts yet support it's share of the weight. Would the Tender have come that way from the Builder, or was that a later modification??
 
In fact, the WHOLE LOCOMOTIVE is a marvel of Science.
 
The LP Cylinders are huge!
 
Would like to see a Film on these engines similar to the Virginian film w the side rod electrics some time ago.
 
Many photos from the past solve some questions and, at the same time, pose others.
 
The Good Old Days on the Railways now is when there was NO Graffiti
 
An Old Bastard asked why I was taking photos of Diesels. I said 'cause STEAM was gone.
 
QED.
 
Life goes on until it ends.
 
Surgery next Wed.
 

Thank You.

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Posted by Overmod on Thursday, January 10, 2019 4:26 PM

NDG
I too was wondering how the centre truck on the Tender would move laterally thru Turnouts yet support it's share of the weight. Would the Tender have come that way from the Builder, or was that a later modification??

I'm pretty sure all the three-truck (and extended-length lightweight Vanderbilt tenders in general) were built by B&O, probably at Mount Clare but BaltACD would know better than I would.  If I remember correctly, the lateral accommodation was something like 14", provided as on some three-truck electrics by providing a horizontal slot for the kingpinand extended bearing surface for the side bearings.  This worked well as far as I know because anything providing either rapid or extreme lateral would be negotiated at relatively slow speed, so little chance of getting slosh action going...

On the other hand, B&O could be famous for widespread adoption of things that never quite seemed explained.  The great push to front-end stokers in the period around the beginning of WWII is one; supposedly upward of 70 of the things were installed, but I can't find a photograph or diagram of one in service, and haven't even seen drawings or pictures of the equipment itself.  (And while I can imagine some whopper practical issues with front-end stoking of typical B&O locomotive coal, I can't imagine things so bad as to require official 'down the memory hole' denial that the whole plan ever existed...

A working hypothesis on the 'steps' -- I think they are jacking points, for example as might be used to lift one end of a freight car to swap out a bad truck.

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Posted by AgentKid on Thursday, January 10, 2019 5:32 PM

BaltACD
in the foreground are steel steps fastened to two ties on the outside of the rails in the track.

Between the rails to the right of the objects is a pile of ash, not ballast. I suspect those are stands used by the men to empty ash pans or do some other maintenace near the ash pans.

For the moment I can now log in again and we will see how I feel, to be able to make more posts.

I continue to enjoy your work and hope you have a happy and healthy 2019.

Bruce

 

So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.

"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere"  CP Rail Public Timetable

"O. S. Irricana"

. . . __ . ______

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Posted by SD70Dude on Thursday, January 10, 2019 5:47 PM

Bruce, it's good to have you back.

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Thursday, January 10, 2019 7:00 PM

Great to see you back!!

 

Thank You.

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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Thursday, January 10, 2019 8:44 PM

BaltACD
in the foreground are steel steps fastened to two ties on the outside of the rails in the track.  ??????

Balt, Those metal items look to me to be ATS test units. I have seen similar items on the throat of the Chicago C&NW terminal, and when riding into Chicago in the lead cab car, the engineer gets an ALERT beep as we pass over them.

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Posted by Deggesty on Thursday, January 10, 2019 8:45 PM

Bruce, It's good to know that you are still around; you have been missed.

Johnny

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Thursday, January 10, 2019 11:25 PM

Electroliner 1935

 

 
BaltACD
in the foreground are steel steps fastened to two ties on the outside of the rails in the track.  ??????

 

Balt, Those metal items look to me to be ATS test units. I have seen similar items on the throat of the Chicago C&NW terminal, and when riding into Chicago in the lead cab car, the engineer gets an ALERT beep as we pass over them.

 

 
That is what I understood them to be.  ATS test stands.  Notice there are two.  Thaat is for testing in either direction of travel  ATS pickup shoe is mounted on right side of front truck of a loco.  Look at any Amtrak P-42 and you will note on the front truck there is a "U" shaped racket at each axel that the pickup shoe can be installed on when loco assigned to ATS train.  SW Chief is one I have in mind also Starlight when on LAX Metro.
NDG
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Posted by NDG on Friday, January 11, 2019 4:11 PM

 

 
Lovely!
 

Thank You.

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Sunday, January 13, 2019 3:49 AM

 

FYI.
 
F-M H-16-66.
 
 

Thank You.

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Posted by Overmod on Wednesday, January 16, 2019 7:00 AM

NDG
Inside Working Steam Boiler.

Visible proof that Porta was right about the nature of boiler water under the dome

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Posted by SD70Dude on Wednesday, January 16, 2019 11:55 PM

NDG
Info, Please?  I have never seen a CPR Belt Pack Locomotive Operation.
 
Do these Locomotives have Event Recorders as do Road Power??

Can't speak for CP, but pretty much all of CN's locomotives have the tattling purple box (WiTronix). 

When I first learned about the Bingham Canyon operation I found it really neat that it lasted so long, with trains functioning like haul trucks.  And electric too!

The portable catenary must have been interesting to work with.

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

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Posted by zugmann on Thursday, January 17, 2019 12:10 AM

Not CP, but with our engines, you have the event recorders on the engines plus I believe you can get a detailed event download from whatever the remote company is (Laird/Cattron). 

I heard the latter cost a bit of money, so is only requested when absolutely needed (incidents/accidents). 

 

But that's just what I heard.  I know the few (heh) times we had isues with teh remotes, the help people could pull realtime info up pretty easy and help you figure out what's going on.  (like a reverser thrown in the consist, for example).

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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Posted by SD70Dude on Thursday, January 17, 2019 12:28 AM

Data and camera footage can be remotely downloaded on ours.  They are also programmed to generate an alert and send a snapshot to the local Engine Service Officer's* cellphone any time a locomotive goes into emergency above 10 mph. 

Not sure if the MSREP's (Diesel Doctor) can remotely access information by themselves, they always seem to want you to toggle the Diagnostic Access Switch first.  For some reason CN hides it in the electrical cabinet behind the Brakeman's seat, BC Rail was nice enough to put it on the back wall next to the traction motor cutout switches. 

*ESO is Canadianese for Road Foreman of Engines.  No idea why it's different up here. 

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Thursday, January 17, 2019 2:51 AM
Belt Pack.
 
Thank You Sirs! for the Info!
 
With EHH I was rarely near the Company's Property after being caught a second time whilst watching them lift most of the steel in the Yard, ( the Turntable is still here, and much of the Roundhouse ) and threatened with Arrest, have avoided the place, so I have not been able to catch up on anything re Locomotives.
 
Cameras everywhere linked to a System Supervisory Centre?? in once Steam Plant Old Ogden Shops, Calgary??? which is in direct contact w Rwy Police forces??
 
Understand Employees have been Unencouraged to discuss or give out ' Information ' to non-Employees.
 
The last Locomotive Cab I was in was Steam about twenty years ago.
 
Was talking to a fellow ( Now Retired ), and he said there were TWO moving cuts of cars in the Calgary Pile Up moving in Opposite Direction on same track. ONE of which had a Locomotive Coupled. No Air, anywhere.
 
In HIS WORDS they now have a ' Mini Hump ' at that location, not that high, cars are shoved over it and let roll. No Retarders. Skates are used in some fashion???? Sometimes???
 
At the time the ' Incident ' occurred it would have still been dark.
 
With a Belt Pack the Engineer's nose may not have impacted the front/rear window?? 
 
 

Thank You.

 

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Friday, January 18, 2019 12:09 PM

 

Thank You for all the Information!

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Wednesday, January 23, 2019 8:24 AM

 

FYI.

Icebreakers at Work St Lawrence River. 2019.

 
 
Back in the day ice jams would form in Lac St Pierre below Montreal Harbour, water would build up and cause flooding and ice shoves in Montreal into Nineteen Forties/Fifties.
 
 
Spring Flooding. 
 
 
We went down the East end by streetcar c 1951 and watched icebreakers pushing thru. The ice moved under our feet. Scary.
 
1964
 
The Helga Dan becomes the first ship to reach the Port of Montreal at the outset of the year in January. Year-round navigation is born in Montreal.
 
Helga Dan 1964.
 
 
Conditions improved with dredging and dams upstream on the Seaway. 
 
 
2019.
 
 
2018.
 
 
Thank You.
NDG
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Posted by NDG on Thursday, January 24, 2019 1:19 PM
FYI,
 
CPR Locomotive w Spark Arrester Stack. Canal Flats, BC.
 
 
Note  Loader on flat to right.
 

Thank You.

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Posted by Miningman on Thursday, January 24, 2019 1:56 PM

That is one shiny locomotive, especially for a logging railroad. 

NDG
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Posted by NDG on Thursday, January 24, 2019 2:38 PM

 

I understand that the Locomotive and Train Crew were ' Hired ' by the logging company/sawmill from CPR as the Train would be operating on CPR Trackage between various bush logging spurs branching from Lake Windermere Subdivision Governed by CPR Rules and Timetable and Crew would have to be ' Written Up .'
 
 
The CPR Engineer would be In Charge of the Locomotive and is on running board painting locomotive boiler jacket with a Valve/Journal oil mix w a paint brush. Belpaire Firebox.
 
 Thank You.
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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Sunday, January 27, 2019 12:07 PM

A day or so ago a tourist boat (and other barges & etc. - 8 total) broke free in the Albany, NY area from high water and ice jams.  The boat got stuck under the "Livingston Avenue" railroad bridge:  

"Standoff Ends Between Unmanned Cruise Ship And Railroad Bridge"

https://www.npr.org/2019/01/25/688838962/standoff-ends-between-unmanned-cruise-ship-and-railroad-bridge 

Some photos there, too.  

It couldn't have been too much of a concern for the railroad, though - as one fo the photos shows:

"But other business continued as usual: One picture shows an Amtrak train crossing the Livingston Avenue Bridge while the Captain JP III sits lodged underneath." 

Kind of reminds me of Joe Koh's Clinton St. viaduct - "Still undefeated against too-tall trucks!"

- PDN. 

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)

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