oo oo oo

[adrianspeeder]

Can four wheel drive come into play for extra traction? How about stick shift vs. automatic? Do you downshift to slow down? Always wanted to know.

Adrianspeeder

[starwardude]

I've seen a hi-rail truck railer right near the Stamford MTA maintenance facility. It was essentialy a wood ramp with RR tracks starting at the base. Me and my dad got off the wrong exit,and passed the maint. facility.We've taken a few pix nearby. A short distance away were some barely visible, paved over tracks. We saw the wire train on a spur that day. Got 2 pix of that. OK, I'm done typing[:)]

[Anonymous]

I have seen hi-rails with dual tires, usually the bigger ones, but most special rims that offset the tires to match the railhead. they are narrower than normal vehicles tire spacing.

[Modelcar]

MC....Can understand why hi railers would be awful "handlers" on the highway...Lots of extra weight and springs that have to accomodate that extra weight as well. And some of that weight is clear out at the extreme edges of the four corners of the vehicle. Hence, the weight acting like it was on long levers.

[Modelcar]

....On the larger trucks [the hi rail type], that we have mentioned must have to forego the dual wheels and put in place large wide single wheels instead so they line up with the rails.

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by traingeek087

Hey mookie, are you talking about the crossing on the west side of Hobson Yard, where all of the tracks interchange and then split off, to go down the Denver line and the Coal line?

no - on the east side - about 3rd and D - 3rd or 4th. I come down through that neighborhood and those tracks are so horrible - Millie just hates them. But I live south of town, so it isn't practical to go clear down to O street and then come in from the north. Actually, the tracks at the east end of the yard at 1st and J aren't all that great either!

[traingeek087]

Hey mookie, are you talking about the crossing on the west side of Hobson Yard, where all of the tracks interchange and then split off, to go down the Denver line and the Coal line?

[Mookie]

PS - Big Boy - I loved your pictures! [^]

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

It is just a handy place to get on the rails. Think how hard it would be to try to balance a vehicle on the rails. It would be like trying to jump two curbs at a time to get the tires on the rails. It's easy to drive up to a grade crossing where the head of the rail is set in the pavement, and lower the flanged set of wheels, and you are off!!!

Mook, this is what I said back on page 1, right after you asked. Maybe I don't speak Mookeese.[swg]

I re-read it and yes, I got what you said, but you just didn't said it far enough. Mookeese is very hard to do - because you are working with .....well, sometimes the brain and the eyes don't connect.

I understood everything except if it was possible to get on when not at a nice raised grade crossing - which would be like getting on the rails in between grade crossings.

I have a problem expressing myself, cuz you can't see my hands!

Moo

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

It is just a handy place to get on the rails. Think how hard it would be to try to balance a vehicle on the rails. It would be like trying to jump two curbs at a time to get the tires on the rails. It's easy to drive up to a grade crossing where the head of the rail is set in the pavement, and lower the flanged set of wheels, and you are off!!!

Mook, this is what I said back on page 1, right after you asked. Maybe I don't speak Mookeese.[swg]

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jchnhtfd

Mookie -- if you're trying to get your hi-rail on the rails at a crossing which isn't at least reasonably close to level with the rails (like a couple of inches...) it's d___ near impossible, although a good man (or woman!) can do it. But you do have to get the regular rubber tires balanced (!) on the rails at some point; the truck fits on, not between, the rails. A lot easier, to put it mildly, when you have a decent crossing.

I might add that not only do hi-rail trucks handle like pigs on the highway and, so far as I can tell, have no springs at all (oh my back!), the traction between the rubber tires and the rail (which is what you have available to stop and go -- the flanged wheels are just for guidance) is pretty poor, too, especially if the rails are wet. Amazing how far those puppies can slide...

Thank you Jaime! This is exactly what I was looking for! My bet is we have lots of good places to put these beasts on and off, but now wonder how far they might travel in the wilderness of Nebraska looking for a good place to get off the rails....

The one I referred to looked like that cute little pick up truck that goes up and down the Rochelle tracks every so often.

Thanks to all for the information - I will now go think up something else to pester you with!

Mookie

[jchnhtfd]

Mookie -- if you're trying to get your hi-rail on the rails at a crossing which isn't at least reasonably close to level with the rails (like a couple of inches...) it's d___ near impossible, although a good man (or woman!) can do it. But you do have to get the regular rubber tires balanced (!) on the rails at some point; the truck fits on, not between, the rails. A lot easier, to put it mildly, when you have a decent crossing.

I might add that not only do hi-rail trucks handle like pigs on the highway and, so far as I can tell, have no springs at all (oh my back!), the traction between the rubber tires and the rail (which is what you have available to stop and go -- the flanged wheels are just for guidance) is pretty poor, too, especially if the rails are wet. Amazing how far those puppies can slide...

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

Maybe this will help.

I understand that part - it is the mechanics of the doing.

This is like trying to do brain surgery by e-mail! Let's see....You have the car lined up next to the tracks. You don't have a raised crossing - just a really bad, bumpy rails only crossing. So you just run over the first rail. Now you are straddling one rail. I assume your truck fits in between the rails, so you get the other half of the truck between the rails. Is this correct?

(I can take it from there).

If we had a raised grade crossing - with the rails level with the road - I can see where this would be the place to go. Kind of like standing on a dock and jumping off into the water. But this truck was right next to a crossing that was not raised. It was extremely rough - still is for that matter.

[mudchicken]

Modelcar:

Railroad and vehicle operator would be at fault (with certain mitigating factors)...

Most Hi-Rail trucks are Fairmont, Mitchell or (spacing the name right now)

Brant's Road Railer is a special application for heavy trucks. Some can tow railcars...

It's a special tallent to set these rascals on and off quickly...

UPRR and some others have Hi-Rail semi's for rail replacement...

Air operated shunts can drop the gates..

think 19 inch rims and heavy duty tires...

Hi-rail trucks are not the most nimble things on the highway. Ride like lumber wagons.

the hi-rail gear adds 1500-3000 pounds of weight to the truck...don't find the gear on too many 1/2 Ton trucks (they can't handle it very well)

Off to the field where mudchickens do their thing!

[Modelcar]

Wonder what the ramifacations would be if the railroad owned [hi railer], vehicle would be involved in an accident when it is 90 degrees to the roadway...A movement contary to normal traffic patterns.....As far as Insurance responsibilities are, etc....

[Big_Boy_4005]

Maybe this will help.

[bnsfkline]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kevinstheRRman

You know that is a good Question, But here is a fatc for you. The wheels are insulated so they won't set off Railroad lights or Signals.

Can't complete the track current, and that means less screw ups.

Then Union Pacific's here in Missouri dont, I saw one take a signal from Green to red!

[Mookie]

Duh here.... I know the concept.....now...... but

I am sitting at a crossing that I literally have to throw Millie across because it is so rough it shakes us both apart. This crossing looks no different than the gravel and rails on either side of it. So does the truck have to use the crossing or can they just get on anywhere along this stretch of tracks. And do they get on by straddling one rail and then driving over the 2nd rail to get into position.

Now I am blushing

I am just not picking up on this how to get from the street into position on the rails .....on a crossing that looks no different that the regular stretch of rails. Are you following me?

I know some grade xings have be built up to be pretty level so you don't bump over the tracks as bad. This isn't the case here! Or do they just drive to a more level xing?
And what if you are in the country - they don't all have level xings do they?

[Anonymous]

No change needed. All that is needed is the back tires to sit on the rail to add for the movement.



...Ok on the small vehicles and wheels on the rails....On the tire pressure question, I was thinking in terms of running for some miles and the support of the rail head on the tire is much more narrow then on the road surface, hence wondering about any PSI requirement change.....

[Anonymous]

This vehicle is call a road railer. How do I know? I work for the CP rail way and I am a forman in the Milwaukee area in the MOW.( Track department) Why we use this type of vehicle is it is faster then the old car mover witch were a cat loader with out the bucket. and move very slow. This will move more cars.

Here's a photo of a much larger version of this type of vehicle. This thing has a coupler on it's rear bumper!!! This one belongs to the CP and is being used to pull a few gondolas to distribute ties for a replacement project. I have seen this exact arrangement used by the BNSF too.



Click on the photo to enlarge it, sorry it's a bit fuzzy.[:I]