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 Dear Readers, Like most Railway Stories they get twisted in the Telling. The Loaded Coal Train Pulling Apart on the Bugaboo Sub. is true, I spoke to the Conductor. The Engineer is now called "Half-a-Train Wayne". The only reason they were not pulled out of service is that the FRED had been giving problems and they had received Authority to proceed without it to next major Terminal at the end of their run. They did a Brake Test and their Change Off Crew Incoming watched him Pull Out and all was fine. When the UDE happened, the train broke in Two places, the Rear Portion catching up to the Middle Portion and looked Coupled in Headlight when Meet passed it in Siding. Meet had already changed Knuckle on Pull Apart closer to Head End, and no one never expected another in same Train. Don't know how far back from Slave the second Pull Apart was, but Release Air Pressure from Feed Valve on Slave did get some, if not all Brakes to Release despite Open Angle ****. With Thirty or so Cars left behind on Main, Train now 3900 Tons Lighter, and lots of Power, so could Drag with some Brakes Set. Second Loads was Restoring Switch when First Loads went by Talking Scanner and First Loads was discussing wrong Axle Count and wondered if Scanner Defective. Apparently Scanner did not indicate anything HOT like Sticking Brakes. I understand the Second Loads Backed Up Clear of Switch, then using Lead Unit only, Pushed Loads on Main out over North Switch and then Backed thru Siding with Loads on Nose, cutting them off in North End of Siding. Backed out onto own Train at South End and Departed. Loads handled by another Train. Remote Operation had all sorts of Thrills. When New, back in late sixties, an New Robot Train Stopped for Red Signal at night. An Irate Motorist at Crossing, they figure, Closed Angle Cocks and Pulled Pin. Signal went Green and he Pulled Out. Head End was lighter, and pulled away from Tail End with Slaves, the Tail End following by Remote Radio Commands from Master Unit altho no longer Coupled as One Train. Brakes Released by Feed Valve in Robot Car with Slave Units. ( Some Robot Cars were made from Retired CLC Opposed Piston B Units as previous Robot Cars too light and Buckled Out of Train by Draft Forces causing Derailments as made from Baggage Express Cars known as 'Silk Cars" from high speed Silk Service from Orient, a story in itself. The CLC B Unit Robot Cars became known as 'Fairbots' as B Units of F-M Design and the others known as 'Silkbots'. All painted Dark Blue eventually, Robot 1 came Painted in Tuscan/Grey in 1967.) The Two separate Trains with One Engineer travelled along until passed an alert Civilian who called the Railway and they stopped Train by Radio. Luck Again, as Rear Portion travelling without Headlight as Coal Car 'Leading.' When GE Power new, they Set Off a GE Remote Locomotive at the North End of the Bugaboo Sub into a Yard Track. Middle of Night, as usual. Shop Force not cut in on new GEs yet, and did not deactivate Remote Link properly. Hand Brake Applied. Train made Joint and did Brake Test, then Pulled Out. Remote Unit, 9511, finally Wakes Up over it's Brakes as Outgoing Train with it's Master reaches Full Throttle. Speeds down Yard Running through Switches with Abandon trying to Catch Up, and Hits side of Outgoing Train at Switch. BIG pileup. A New Coal Mine opened up high in the Mountains. Steep Downgrade at Mine Entrance. When almost all Cars on Train Loading Coal at Loadout almost Full, Engines could NOT hold Train on Grade with Engine Brakes Alone making constant speed for uniform Loading difficult. Company fits several Coal Cars with a Holding Brake and Separate Train Line with Hoses to Actuate from Lead Locomotive. Certain Master SDs Fitted with Holding Brake Valve on Brake Stand in Cab. Holding Brake Applied and Released in a sort of Straight Air idea on first Ten Cars or so only on Trains at this one Mine with the Grade. Operating Air from Locomotive thru SIGNAL LINE. ( Remember that hose?? Next to Drawbar with Train Line for Passenger Train Communication Whistle before Radios from Steam Era. ) Yes, Signal Line ALSO USED for Air on Plows and Spreaders with Change Over Valve beneath Cab Floor. Main Reservoir Pressure to Plows. One Christmas a Holding Brake Train Set Off on Bugaboo Sub at same Siding as described above. Power and Caboose removed and into Town over Holidays as Winter. Come New Year Power and Caboose sent out to get Train for Mine. Lead Unit all prepped for Holding Brake Feature, SECOND UNIT in from Plow Service. Signal Line Hoses not Coupled between Units at Shop. Engineer about 35 Watts Bright. Train Crew did Brake Test at Tail End from Caboose. Main Reservoir Air from Signal Line set for Plow Service on Brakes thru Holding Feature on First Ten Cars, Train Brakes all Okay through Normal Train Line on rest of Train and Released. Train Pulls Out South. High Amps, but, Engineer on "Dim" Train Cold and sat for a week in Snow. Gets Rolling as 50 Per Track. Brakes heat and lock on Holding Feature Cars. Cars Skid all to Hell and one Derails finally, putting Train into Emergency. As EmptyTrain in Draft Mode by Emergency Application and Titelock Rotary Couplers NO BIG PILE UP. Skidded Cars limped into Objective Terminal. At least Twenty Wheel Sets replaced. Shops blamed for not Testing Holding Feature at Rear of SECOND Unit. Holding Feature Cars still around, as have extra Pipe along side, no Hoses, Tho
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