lighting bolt under road #

[Anonymous]

on the CSX line i have seen a number of locomotives with .. like a lighting bolt under the # on the side of the cab... i think it has something to do with the radio???

could some one PLEASE tell me what it means

thanks

[Anonymous]

I believe it indicates that it's an AC traction unit.

[Anonymous]

sorry to be dumb... what is an AC traction unit?

[Jackflash]

traction motors that run on lightning bolts

[Anonymous]

The generator produces alternating current for the traction motors,as opposed to direct current.

[Anonymous]

oooooo , I C they only run on stormy days.... thanks!

[eolafan]

Wow, these answers make me think there must be a full moon out tonight. the lightning bolt on the cab side (usually right under the side window) is often accompanid by the words "Radio Equipped" and simply means the unit has a radio. Unusual, yes, as all new units have radios but many old units, such as GP7, GP9, etc. did not come with radios as standard equipment and this indicated to crews (as well as foamers) that the cab had an installed radio. Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

the units that i have seen were much newer units ... and i think.... EMD's not 100% sure

do you think some one can give me a list of what the slang terms are...

foamers?, hoger?? ect ect... what they are or mean

ok ok, i have been out of this for... well 15 yrs... and just need a crash course

[Anonymous]

They are GE units-AC4400's,C-44's or something along those lines,and the lightning bolt indicates "AC." Several years ago CSX purchased these units and were numbered #1,#2,#3 etc..Radio-equipped?..in this case you are incorrect.

[Anonymous]

Ok, I'm 14 years old and know that the lightning bolt under the road number of certain CSX GE units indicates AC traction (good job, Jack). Radio? All units today have radios, it is a given that they have a radio on board and railroads don't give a hoot about promoting this technology anymore. I know I've seen older units in pictures with "radio equipped" with a lightning bolt under it. That was when radio was a new and advanced thing, but not today...nope...just a waste of paint and labor by today's standards. Oh yeah, nice response Jimmy, but it helps to read the first post before you respond.

Joe
Atlanta, GA

[Jackflash]

I said that tongue in cheek, actually if I
were going to indicate on the side of a locomotive
that it had AC traction motors I would show a
sine wave symbol, indicating a alternating
wave form, thanks jackflash

[eolafan]

Riddle me this, guys, if the lightning bolts MUST indicate AC traction units, then why did the older units such as GP7 and GP9 have the lightning bolts on their sides, LONG BEFORE AC WAS EVEN IN OUR LINGO?

[csxengineer98]

wow..your way off with the lightning bolt and the radio conection....being an engineer for csx i should know... the lightning bolt means..as exactly what someone already said... its an AC traction locomotive...

[csxengineer98]

FOAMERS=rail buffs, HOGER=engineer, GROUNDPOUNDER, BALIST BABY,=conductor, RAIL ROAD BULL= rail road cop, ON THE GROUND= derailed, MAKING A TRAIN MASTER OR ROAD FORMAN= taking a crap, KNOCK THE BRAKES OFF=

[csxengineer98]

sorry..hit the worng key on the keybord,
now where was i
KNOCK THE BRAKES OFF= get moving (said to one crew to another when one is holding the other one up) SPREADING BALIST= train is going slow, HIGH BALL= premistion into a trackmans work area, LASING UP THE AIR= coupling up the air hoses, TIEING THE TRAIN DOWN= securing the train according to the rules for being left unattened, (hand brakes and/or setting the air brakes)
hope this is a good start

[eolafan]

I understand and appreciate your being in a perfect position to know such things, but I would like to repeat my original question, that being "If the lightning bolt signifies AC traction, then why did the lighting bolt appear on some old first generation units like F7 and GP7 units with the words 'radio equipped' directly below the lightning bolt?". Perhaps the lightning bolt meant one thing in the 1950's and 1960's and quite another now. Please give me your thoughts on this as well.

[csxengineer98]

well..as for csx haveing lightning bolt units in the 50s and 60s, humm.....that would be realy hard since csx didnt exist untill the mid 80s,

[eolafan]

ok, ok, I goofed and really meant the lighting bolts on the fifties and sixties vintage units of B&O. Now am I making any sense at all?

[Anonymous]

It was for advertising in the 50's and is used to tell the difference between the similar looking AC and DC products on the CSX nowdays. It was a big deal to have radio's in trains way back then and every railroad wanted the public to know how modern they were by having a radio.

[eolafan]

Dan, thanks very much for answering my question (I can only assume you may have seen such lightning bolts on older units in the fifties and sixties, likely B&O units, etc.). Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

well... ummmm i had no idea when i posted the simple question it would lead to this long of thread.
thank you all for clearing up the lighting bolts... BUT why is it so important to know if it is a ac unit ?

do they run differant than others? dont they play well with other loco?

[Anonymous]

From an operational standpoint it is important because they are used for different types of operations. Generaly the slower AC units are used for heavy hauling where the AC has a great advantage over the DC units. The DC being faster is used in more time critical operations or lighter duty such as locals. From a maintenance point of view the traction motors and controling hardware are totally different. I believe that a bit of advertising had its role in the desplay of the lightening bolt also.

[Anonymous]

A few other points. The AC4400CW's have a single lightning bolt under the road number. The same goes for the SD70MAC's. The AC6000CW's have a lightning bolt on either end of the road number. Also the lightning bolt is staying on with the new paint scheme.

[Anonymous]

thanks for including the EMD also, i "thought" i saw an EMD with the lighting bolt also , but wasnt 100% sure . thanks for all your info