Freight Speeds

[Anonymous]

Hi All,
I'm a bit of a computer geek rather than a train expert, but I'm trying to design a kind of train simulator for home PC use.
I'm a bit confused about freight trains. On some freight lines the freight speed limit is given as 40 or 50mph, yet average speeds published by the railroads seem to indicate they average about 20-25mph across the journey.
Are these speed limits just theoretical maximums? Or are they really acheived by freights?

If anyone can clear this up I'd be mighty grateful!

[dknelson]

Remember that average speed includes time spent stopped at a red signal, slowing for city grade crossings, etc etc.
Check an Amtrak timetable sometime and calculate the average speed -- pretty slow! -- and yet if you were at trackside that would be a 79 mph train. Same reason
Dave Nelson

[edblysard]

Hi Phantom,
The FRA rates track as to what speed it will maintain, based on what type of rail, weight of rail, welded or jointed rail, type of ties, (steel, wood or concrete), condition of ballast and how well it's all maintained. It sound like you have track speed and train speed confused with each other, they are not interchangable. Train speed is determined by what type of equipment is in the consist, weight, height and width restrictions, and length of the train, and power. A unit train, or a intermodel would all have the same type of cars, and have a higher speed that a frieght with flats mixed in with tanks, boxes and hoppers. And some speicality cars have a speed restriction on them. You wouldnt run a depressed center flat car with a generator for a power plant on it at the same speed as, say a grain train. And the speeds you mentioned are just that, averages. So a really slow train knocks the average speed of all trains down. The speed limit the FRA assigns a track is based on the above data, and the average type of train that uses the route. In reality, a well maintained main line would have a real track speed over what its rated, sorta like the interstate, you could drive at 100mph, but the goverment sets the speed limit at XX mph.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[Jackflash]

Also, sometimes a train cant acheve its allowed
speed, maybe the timetable says it can go 50 mph
but doing all it can do it only gets to 38-40 mph
because of weight of train,and/or,lack of power on the head end, grades, ect. jackflash

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind that many freight trains often spend ALOT of time just stopped (waiting for other trains, crew changes, etc, for hours). And that lowers average speeds.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Guys - Thats cleared it up

[wabash1]

Just like the other guys said track speed and average speed is differant. on the runs i make the speed i get paid for is based on 16.25 mph. What this is based on is time spent on train meets any switching on the way, and soforth, the track speed for the trains i run are 50mph for fright and 60 mph for intermodel. This scale is set for a 130 mile basic day. if you run from point "A" to point "B" is 150 miles you get paid 20 overmiles at a differant rate. So to break this down in 9hrs and 14min is what it should take to get from point a to point b. ... the 1st 130 miles in 8 hrs and the 20 overmiles in 1hr and 14 min. if you are not at point "b" and off the train in 9 hrs and 14 min you start overtime rate. the 20 overmiles are a set rate (usually around 1.29 per mile for me) paid into your basic day run. IN short if i run a 150 mile day if i was done in 6hrs i made money, if i made the run in 10 hrs i lost money (even with overtime rate) but if i am on overtime at 10 hrs on duty i am going to get all 12 hrs. (3hrs and 46 min of it).

[edblysard]

I tell ya, if Enron had hired railroaders for accountants, instead of those other guys, no one would have ever found the money.
Stay Frosty
Ed

[Mookie]

Ed: once more, you made my day! :)

Jen

[Justicar]

you mean, 2 hours and 46 mins of OT on a 12 hr day? Also, I'm curious....my run is 134 miles which I think translates to OT after 8'11" (I think we use the 16.25mph scale, too)...so at being on duty for the full 12 hours and using 10 minutes additional time we get the basic day of 130 miles, 3'49" at overtime rate and one hour of Tow-in. Not sure if your familiar with tow-in as I have no idea how any other railroads pay but basically if we use more than the 12 hours or specifically tie-up after the 12 hours then we are paid a minimum of one hour of tow-in regardless of actual use. I know the tow-in rate is less than OT rate which is wrong, but for me it translates to $20/hr. Therefore, 12'10" on duty will get me 251 miles, if I remember correctly. But, that could include my Meal Enroute of $6....one of the very few arbritraries I get.

[wabash1]

I have never heard of tow in. but I may be miss leading to a point with my statement. if you are in terminal and yarding your train and the hours of service gets you and you tie up at 12hrs and 1 min of on duty time then you get what ever your overtime rate is. for simplicity lets say due to milage your overtime starts at 9hrs and 30 min in a regular 12 hr day you would get 2hrs and 30 min overtime rate. Now lets get real if you go on the law at 12:15 pm cause you started work at 12:15 am but you never got into the yard , and they didnt get you a relief crew there til 130pm and the ride back to the yard is 30 min. Of course we always haft to go to the rest room on company time also. and you dont tie up til 2:30pm then you still get paid 4 hrs and 45 min overtime rate.it is still on duty time even though you are not working. Hope this helps