18 Mile Trains? Possible or Not

[Anonymous]

I was talking to a buddy of mine a couple of hours ago about how train lengths. He was saying that along the bald prairies some trains get up to 18 miles in length. I was a bit [:0] at this information but didn't think trains were allowed to be that long in length. Has anyone here know if trains do & can get that long or is just misinformation[?]

[wallyworld]

As my foggy brain recalls, the longest was on the N&W @ 500 cars.Someone with a Guiness Book can answer this better.

[tpatrick]

I would venture a guess that your buddy heard of 18 thousand ton trains and his mind converted tons to miles, probably over a period of a long time. While a train of that length could be theoretically possible, it would be so impractical that it would never be done. Trains of 18 thousand tons, while large, are pretty common. Norfolk and Western used to run such trains eastbound out of Columbus OH, pulled by a single 2-6-6-4.

[David_Telesha]

That would be 1584 modern 60' cars, or even 1188 80' cars..

So I highly doubt it...

5280ft x 18 =95040ft

95040ft / 60ft = 1584ft or 95040ft / 80ft = 1188ft

[Modelcar]

....Drawbars....Even with DP doubt it could be controlled..{meaning proper slack control}...And no feasible economic reason to do it.....Are just some of my {non professonal}, thoughts and opinion.

[BaltACD]

Don't give Management any more hair brained ideas.

18,000 foot trains may be a practical possibility, however once it stopped for mechanical problems that would probably out law the crew right where it stopped.

I don't think it would be possible to pump air 18 miles to get the brakes to release, at least with today's braking systems.

[Anonymous]

The Brunswick yards near Harpers Ferry is what.. 8 miles long>?

Stacking a 18 mile train will create an unacceptable 30 minute delay as it rolls thru town at 70 mph.

I can see it if individual freight cars have onboard control systems and can generate thier own power for thier own traction motors and they can probably join and leave a consist at will as it passes thru various points that is best routing for the cargo within the freight car.

**Eyes the coffeepot and throws it into the sink. Suspect something might have settled it too much today.

[BR60103]

Won't that create some fun when it breaks down in the middle of Erie!

[Anonymous]

Sayeth tpatrick:

Trains of 18 thousand tons, while large, are pretty common. Norfolk and Western used to run such trains eastbound out of Columbus OH, pulled by a single 2-6-6-4.

You're just a little off the mark, t.

Norfolk and Western used to run 16,000-ton trains westbound out of Williamson, W. Va., pulled by a single 2-6-6-4.

Eastbound out of Columbus, Ohio, the movement was empty hoppers back to the mines. Some of those 2-6-6-4-hauled trains amounted to more than 200 cars.

Old Timer

[Anonymous]

Ahem... didnt the 2-10-4's take such trains straight thru to Toledo? I gotta put that in because I dislike the Class A's stealing all the thunder LOL.

[Anonymous]

Possible: perhaps, Probable: I think not.

[Chris30]

18 mile train! To think that some people get upset having to wait at a crossing for a 6000ft train.

CC

[tatans]

Did I read it right that the heavy haul division CPR in Moose Jaw pulls 10,000 foot trains ? ?

[wallyworld]

According to one source, the longest train was about 4 1/2 miles long pulled by eight diesels for 700+ miles in Australia in 2001.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by wallyworld

According to one source, the longest train was about 4 1/2 miles long pulled by eight diesels for 700+ miles in Australia in 2001.

Yeah, as I recall it was 680-something in Australia... don't know what the longest train in North America has been.... I know here on CN many of our trains are 8000 to 10,000 ft (100 to 150 cars).

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Safety Valve

Ahem... didnt the 2-10-4's take such trains straight thru to Toledo? I gotta put that in because I dislike the Class A's stealing all the thunder LOL.

I think not. C&O had a 160-car limit and in that era that didn't make 16,000 tons.

The T1s had to be shoved up the hill out of Columbus toward Toledo; that's the same rise of land that caused PRR to doublehead their 2-10-4s out of Grogan Yard up to Lewis Center.

And if you're thinking that 2-10-4s took trains straight through from Russell Yard to Toledo - forget it.

Old Timer

[waltersrails]

thats just crazy. There might be a double track with that many trains. LOL

[Anonymous]

how'd ya like to be the conductor on that train, and have to walk it? LOL

[Anonymous]

They would prorably have to have a Mechincal Department Rider on the Train or in a Car following the Train, I highly doubt this will ever happen but a 700 Car Train could happen one of these days.

[ddechamp71]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Chris30

18 mile train!
CC

I can't ever imagine the slack for such a train if ever....

About the 4-mile train in Australia s.o. noticed above, I remember it was weighing 107000 tons, and was powered with 10 AC6000 DPU'ed in 5 sets of 2 engines.

D.

[Anonymous]

my thoughts on this, are what about the hills? what happens when all of the locomotives are pulling while some are going down the hill. I would also image that the drawbar pull at the crest of a hill would be enourmous, to the extent that having locos cut in midway through the consist, would still not lower the drawbar pull enough to be within limits.