Trackside Lounge: Sep.-Dec. 2009 Edition

[Modelcar]

Paul_D_North_Jr

Dowty is a different type of car retarding system, which was invented in Great Britain in the 1980's

 

Wow....They look like they could double {under some circumstances}, as a derailer....such as a light car and  unloaded....even some strong wind, etc....

[CShaveRR]

Thanks, Paul, for helping out with the explanation of Dowty retarders. There are often rumors about installing some of them here (especially on the tracks on which it's rough to get the proper speed), but I have my dowts.

Dan, I have noted the names of every Cryo-Trans car I've seen--actually I think I have all of their names. That's enough to keep me busy, since they have hundreds of cars. I occasionally look up CRYX 3099--Proviso--because I suggested the name for that one. There are also reefers named Lombard, Elmhurst, and Wheaton, so someday I might try to follow those, when I run out of other fun things to do.

After today, I think I'm going to start a rumor about the possibility of their decorating the interior of my tower as a handbasket...slightly rough day today.

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

Dowty is a different type of car retarding system, which was invented in Great Britain in the 1980's or so.  It consists of a group of small hydraulic cylinders or pistons - each about the size of a shaving cream can - with a metal plunger shaped kind of like a mushroom cap in the top.  See this photo - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/Dowty-Retarder1.JPG/300px-Dowty-Retarder1.JPG

The flange of the moving car's wheels contact the plunger and pushes it down - but because the hydraulic fluid must be squeezed through a small internal orifice, that takes a lot of energy, which slows down the car.  After the wheel passes, a spring restores the plunger to its previous height. 

Actually, they are now manufactured or sold by Ultra Dynamics Railway Products .  See - http://www.dowties.com/    'Google' it and I'm sure you'll find more.

- Paul North.

[CNW 6000]

CShaveRR

Today, we humped Cryo-Trans reefer 3169. My records show that the car is named "Gallup". That would make sense--most of their cars carry geographic names of cities, mountains, bodies of water, etc. And Gallup is a well-known city in New Mexico. So I immensely enjoyed seeing CRYX 3169, the Gallop, passing by me! It just rolled--not even a trot or a canter.

Being more of a 'motive power' and MOW equipment fan while trackside...the CRYX and similar series reefers with names on them are neat to catch.  I have seen quite a few heading up through the Fox Cities (FDL/OSH/NEE/APP) on the CN.  Never figured out where they were heading though.  Carl-do you keep track of the ones you've seen or simply note the type/name and move on?  Also...who's Mr. Dowty?

[CShaveRR]

Mr. Dowty doesn't reside in Proviso, so it rolled merrily along.

[mudchicken]

I'm sure it galloped when Mr. Dowty got hold of it.

[CShaveRR]

Today, we humped Cryo-Trans reefer 3169. My records show that the car is named "Gallup". That would make sense--most of their cars carry geographic names of cities, mountains, bodies of water, etc. And Gallup is a well-known city in New Mexico. So I immensely enjoyed seeing CRYX 3169, the Gallop, passing by me! It just rolled--not even a trot or a canter.

[zardoz]

tree68

The Butler

Could they be clearing the tracks for faster trains?  Know what I mean?

Never mind faster trains, they may have simply been keeping the track clear.  Been there, done that...

During very heavy snowfalls, this technique has been used to keep the crossings clear of too much ice buildup in the flangeways.  The downside to doing this is that it tends to pack the snow into switch points.

During anticipated heavy snows, Metra used to (I don't know if they still do) turn the entire train that will be the first one in the morning from outlying points that do not see any rail traffic all night long (Kenosha, Richmond, Harvard). The locomotive leads in to Chicago, so the weight of the loco will cut the crossing ice better than the much lighter cabcar.  Whenever I was running one of those trains, I would still slow down while going over certain crossings that I knew usually have a lot of auto traffic over them.

[CShaveRR]

I'm groaning, too, this morning. Looks like UP's system velocity fell below 20 m.p.h. (and its goal) for the first time yesterday, no doubt due in large part to the blizzard to the west of us. I know it had an effect, because we humped the receiving yard dry yesterday, in spite of the various problems we were having. UP's management, by the way, sprung for some chili to serve to the folks freezing their tails off on the hump jobs.

It's about eight degrees warmer this morning than yesterday.

[Mookie]

groan....

[tree68]

CShaveRR

Illinois has sought $550 in federal economic stimulus money to improve rail beds along the St. Louis, Milwaukee and Detroit corridors.

(This item was distributed Dec. 10, 2009, by the Associated Press.)

Maybe they're going for new mattresses in the sleepers?   

[CShaveRR]

UTU is not known for changing the wording of news articles on the Archive News section of its web site. But if this were true, I'd gladly match it (as a loan), in hopes of moving things along...

Illinois has sought $550 in federal economic stimulus money to improve rail beds along the St. Louis, Milwaukee and Detroit corridors.

(This item was distributed Dec. 10, 2009, by the Associated Press.)

[tree68]

The Butler

Could they be clearing the tracks for faster trains?  Know what I mean?

Never mind faster trains, they may have simply been keeping the track clear.  Been there, done that...

[The Butler]

Could they be clearing the tracks for faster trains?  Know what I mean?

[CShaveRR]

If you had a lot of snow, and a train couldn't get through, the locomotive may have been used to retrieve a crew that had (or soon would) run afoul of Hours of Service. Perhaps they also brought a new crew to said train.

[blhanel]

Maybe the operator/rider(s) had to go back and forth between two locations, and decided to use the loco instead of rubber-tired transportation?  I know I'd feel alot safer up in the cab of a GP40 than I would in my minivan in weather like that...

[CNW 6000]

Good points.  Odd things I saw last night: I had some chasing that had to be done during the storm after work was finished and saw several times a lone CN GP40-2LW running light going north and south...within about 3 hours over the main.  No other trains in that time frame, so I wonder what was going on.  It wasn't moving very quicly at all...but a steady ~25 mph in either direction.  Any ideas anyone?

[CShaveRR]

Things will flow normally until the first problem. Cars may not roll down the tracks if the rail is covered with wet snow like this. You need to break the track open first. Retarders will quickly dry out and be all right, but probably not needed as much. As for other operations, perhaps taking a little extra care in walking (definitely not a bad idea) will slow things down.

[CNW 6000]

CShaveRR

Proviso will be plowed and salted, no question of that. I just need to find out how the tracks will roll and the switches will throw. And everything will be different when the cold hits.

I'm guessing that the operation slows down when it gets cold and speeds have to be reduced a tad, correct?

[CShaveRR]

Not as bad as expected this morning--temp apparently stayed above freezing. I can still see the mailman's footprints from yesterday evening.

Proviso will be plowed and salted, no question of that. I just need to find out how the tracks will roll and the switches will throw. And everything will be different when the cold hits.

[The Butler]

CShaveRR

We now have a thorough coating of snow outside. Total accumulation of snow and sleet through tomorrow night is going to be somewhere between 5 and 9 inches. A friend in Milwaukee (not from the Forum) advises that they're expecting 14 to 16 inches. I haven't heard any anticipation figures from across the pool yet. We have to keep our driveway and walks clear tomorrow--not only do I have to get to work, but they're supposed to deliver a new dryer to us then.

That use to mean money in my pocket.  I use to plow Chicago Public School parking lots.  Forecasts like that meant bonus pay.

[The Butler]

tree68

The Butler

AgentKid

[snip] In a uniquely Canadian and more particularly western Canadian way the TSN sports network will be broadcasting between 9 and 10.5 hours of Curling a day from today until Thursday. [snip]

Bruce

I'm envious.

With two Canadian channels in our lineup, curling is available for viewing here.

While it's a precision sport that uses techniques I only vaguely understand but definitely admire, watching it can also be as exciting as watching paint dry.

Mr. Larry, how could you say that! I find the sport very enjoyable to watch.  I got hooked a few years ago watching the Winter Olympics.

[CShaveRR]

We now have a thorough coating of snow outside. Total accumulation of snow and sleet through tomorrow night is going to be somewhere between 5 and 9 inches. A friend in Milwaukee (not from the Forum) advises that they're expecting 14 to 16 inches. I haven't heard any anticipation figures from across the pool yet. We have to keep our driveway and walks clear tomorrow--not only do I have to get to work, but they're supposed to deliver a new dryer to us then.

[CShaveRR]

I'm visualizing maglev trains moving along a smooth guideway, guys with brooms desperately trying to smooth the track ahead of it...

Short as my hair is, it would definitely be curling!

[tree68]

The Butler

AgentKid

[snip] In a uniquely Canadian and more particularly western Canadian way the TSN sports network will be broadcasting between 9 and 10.5 hours of Curling a day from today until Thursday. [snip]

Bruce

I'm envious.

With two Canadian channels in our lineup, curling is available for viewing here.

While it's a precision sport that uses techniques I only vaguely understand but definitely admire, watching it can also be as exciting as watching paint dry.

[The Butler]

AgentKid

[snip] In a uniquely Canadian and more particularly western Canadian way the TSN sports network will be broadcasting between 9 and 10.5 hours of Curling a day from today until Thursday. [snip]

Bruce

 

I'm envious.

[blhanel]

Well, they did have a cab car towards the south end, but there also was a private car (the Susquehana) behind it, hence the need for the engine, I would guess.  An acquaintance of mine, Dave Kroeger, who frequents some of the Yahoo groups, got to sit up in the cab car and make PA announcements.  It looked like all of the bi-levels had flourescent lighting running the length of the car interiors, plus heaters, so I would guess that some serious HEP was being used.

[CShaveRR]

Nice paint job! Although I wouldn't mind seeing either locomotive remaining, it's really too bad they didn't get a cab car to use on one end.

Many reasons:

1. The opportunity for a lucky railfan to stand in the end vestibule and get a view out the front.

2. Energy savings--they don't really need two units to move those trains, do they?

3. The ex-CNW cab cars had the sweetest-sounding three-chime horn I can remember--I miss them!

[blhanel]

Here's another shot with a better view of one of those cars:

 

And a shot of the engine on the south end of the train:

[CShaveRR]

Bruce, I think the Burlington first used gallery-style cars in the mid-1950s; those cars were stainless-steel. The C&NW got its first cars sometime in the late 1950s. The cars in Brian's picture, however, are probably among the more recent production, built sometime between the mid-1960s and 1970. Without a picture, I couldn't tell you much about your yellow car or where it came from.