Single SD60 unusual?

[88gta350]

The line that runs past work sees unit coal and intermodal trains, and typical motive power consists of 2 or 3 Dash 8 or 9s usually. Occasionally other but always at least 2 engines. Today a unit train passed with a single SD60 pulling it. It was open hoppers so I'm guessing one of the coal trains that always pass by, but the hoopers were unusual too, they were 2-3 feet taller than normal and had "High Top" written on them, if I remember correctly. It had the usual 100+ cars. Even if they were empty wouldn't this be a lot of weight for a single SD60? Also, a few hors later a unit COFC passed, with a single Dash 9. Why all of a sudden the single locos being used? Is this a sign of a power shortage on NS, or something else? Just curious if anyone can give any insight.

[zardoz]

The CP runs some of their trains with one unit between Milwaukee and Chicago. Even the IM train that departs Milwaukee for Chicago around 9am usually has only one unit.

One SD60 unit (3500hp) is sufficient power for an empty hopper train (which averages 4000 tons) running in an area that has no grades exceeding 1%. It will not set any speed records, but it should be able to run nearly 40mph on flat ground.

[eolafan]

We frequently see empty coal trains headed west with only one unit here at Eola yard, but eastbounds with loads will always get two or three units, typically SD70MAC's or Dash 9's

[Junctionfan]

CN does that usually for average sized consists that are mostly empty. I have seen NS do that before with an empty eastbound coal train through Fostoria; 1 C40-8.

[Anonymous]

Those "Hi-Top" cars are for coke service. A lot of coke comes in by ship at Sparrows Point, MD (Baltimore) at the ISG Steel facility and some goes out elsewhere by rail, both CSX and NS. Where did you spot this train?

[BaltACD]

All things being equal....which they generally aren't!

Railroads want to put as little power on a train as will provide it 'acceptable' performance over the route of the train. The ideal is to haul a 4500 ton train with a single locomotive that is rated for 4500 tons over the territory that the train traverses.

Different catagorys of traffic have different 'acceptable' operational parameters; ranging from Intermodal's requirement to have the train operate at maximum permissible track speed over the territory that the train operates. 'Drag Tonnage Train' requirements have just enough power to keep the train from stalling over the territory the train operates, and the train will not operate anywhere near the maximum permissible track speed.

The second consideration in assigning power to a train is the need to 'balance' the power requirements of the rail system. Due to physical characteristics, some terminals accumulate power....ie. the inbound tonnage rating is lower than the outbound tonnage rating (ie. Cw44AC rated 10000 tons inbound and 20000 tons outbound). Outbound trains would tend to be 'overpowered' in relation to their tonnage in an effort to return the power to where it is needed.

The varying tonnage ratings of each subdivision is one of the things that keeps assigning power from being the proverbial 'childs play'.

[88gta350]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dubyaM6

Those "Hi-Top" cars are for coke service. A lot of coke comes in by ship at Sparrows Point, MD (Baltimore) at the ISG Steel facility and some goes out elsewhere by rail, both CSX and NS. Where did you spot this train?

This train was indeed heading south out of Middletown, PA. Not sure where the line runs exactly (NS's Royalton sub) but it was heading in the direction of MD.... South along the Susquahanna RIver. BTW, it was a Conrail SD60, if that matters. It was the first trai of this type I had seen over this line. It gets 5-10 trains a day and all are unit coal trains or intermodals, with a few manifest freights thrown in every now and then. Have never seen the coke train.

Thanks for the info guys! If anyone know exactly where the royalton sub runs after it leaves Roylaton, that'd be great too!

[Anonymous]

That would be the "Port Road" that follows the Susquehanna River to Perryville, MD and the Northeast Corridor. Some of that southbound traffic is Baltimore-bound; at least one "TV", unit coal trains for export at the Consol Coal facility and probably one manifest each way to/from Baltimore. This coke business puzzles me. At Sparrows Point I've seen them load coke into NS "Hi-Tops" and CSX "Coke Express" cars alike but not far away within the complex there is a rotary car dumper with a presumably remotely operated locomotive, but I haven't seen them actually dumping coke.

[Anonymous]

Try pulling over a hundred empty buckets on a windy night with headwind with a single SD45. I have done it. LOL

[Anonymous]

Westbound on the N&W perhaps?

[TheS.P.caboose]

That, for around here, the single unit would be for a local. We have a lot of 2.0% to 2.5% grades in the Los Angeles area thayt would require more power.

[zardoz]

QUOTE: Originally posted by gwallace54

Try pulling over a hundred empty buckets on a windy night with headwind with a single SD45. I have done it. LOL

Did you get much over 30 mph? That's about all we get on the 113-car coal hoppers, running with only 1 SD40-2 on line.

[Anonymous]

Maybe 35 or 40 with the 45. Faltland between Chciago, IL and Clinton, IA

[Justicar]

BTW, SD60's are 3800 hp.

I think I read somewhere in our company's monthly propaganda mailing that 4 out of 10 trains run one unit, on average.

Another factor resulting in locomotives being deadheaded back the other direction is for some lines the loads tend to go mostly in one direction. For CP Chicago to Canada its loads going mostly East, as far as I can tell.