Hello everyone I'm new here.....
To add just a little bit: The "bowl" of the classification yard is called such because in an ideal situation, it has that shape if you viewed the tracks' profile from the side - down from the hump, flat for most of the way down the "body" tracks, and then a slight rise in grade at the far end to keep the rolling cars from going out of the yard - which also assists any switching operations at that end, too.
Actually "bowl" doesn't seem to be quite the right term to me, because the grades aren't that steep and the bottom isn't that short - I'd compare it to a dinner plate in cross-section instead (although maybe when those grades are compressed and fore-shortened with a telephoto lens or similar, it does look like a bowl anyway). So now you know why I'm not often asked to name anything . . .
- Paul North.
P.S. - See also this photo by our fellow Forum member and frequent photo-poster here Charles Freericks - the hump is out of the photo to the right, but the bowl is straight ahead: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=311117 - PDN.
P.P.S. - Better yet, see this one - the "bowl" is all the tracks in the foreground, the hump is in the far left background: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=341275 - PDN.
rogredcap Hello everyone I'm new here.....
What are you interested in ? Got any questions ? This is a great place to ask - no question is viewed as being too basic or "newbie", 'cause we've all been there - and answering is usually an opportunity to take a fresh look at the subject for the person answering. And there's lots of resources here as well.
First, rogredcap:. Glad to have you aboard!
Second, if it's found that a train can't/won't make a grade, do they back it up to retry or call for a helper? Would they try it more than once? Is this comp. policy or crew (who on the crew??) discretion? When a train is in shove (a.k.a. push-back?) mode, are they required to have a person on the leading end? How far can/would they back up, bc I'm thinking it would need to go back quite far to get a good run at the hill. Thanks, as always.
Nance-CCABW/LEI
“Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” --Will Rogers
Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right! --unknown
Welcome to Rogredcap!
Nance, in response to your question, the first thing that should happen when a train stalls is that the dispatcher be notified. He'll probably be the one to make a decision as to what is done, and he may even provide protection for the backup move (though there would have to be a person back there to protect grade crossings, if any--something else that they would know).
One time when I was working between Proviso and Butler (Milwaukee), we had a train ahead of us that was having a rough time. We were told by the dispatcher to cut off from our own train and give him a push, which we did, then went back to our train. The train ahead stalled again, and the second time we pushed him, we took our train with us. Humorous tale there about how we went through an absolute signal without stopping, with the train ahead just a few carlengths away from us, but that's another story.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
A blah day today in Chicagoland--it got up into the mid-fifties earlier this afternoon, and I was out on my bike (only two scoots went through in the 15 minutes or so I was trackside), but now it's raining and the temperature has fallen by ten degrees. The good news is that the last old ice in our yard finally disappeared...just in time for the rain to change to snow by tomorrow morning.
Lots of bodies out on the east end of CP Y019. Can't quite figure out what was going on, but it's somewhat beyond the new crossovers. Could they be putting in the footings for a new signal bridge?
Mookie's cold has traveled almost as fast as the weather currents, and I'm trying desperately to recover from it. I hope to have gotten rid of it by Sunday, when we want to head north to visit our new grand-niece.
Hello, I've got a question. I know I asked about this before, sort of, but now I understand a bit more, sort of.
I (think) I've got the B-B and C-C stuff down. but as I was studying, I came across that , for example, an Alco switcher is a type A. WHAT??!! (Just for the record, I'm a bit type-A myself, but I KNOW that's not what they're talking about!! )
This has something to do with the trucks but...
An example in context?
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
I just don't understand what they are talking about. Is it all one in the same; no wait, it can't be. So yes, I guess so. Thanks.
Let me guess...it was an S3, S4, or S6, and not an S1 or S2, and it had AAR Type A trucks.
That would be a standard two-axle truck as applied under switchers (many Alco switchers and a lot of EMDs as well). That has no connection with the wheel arrangement.
An AAR Type B truck, by the way, is found under most four-axle Alco road locomotives, as well as early GE locomotives (and a few AA, SOO, and GM&O GP30s and GP35s that had Alco units traded in on them).
Yes! So a type B truck has nothing to do with a B-B configuration, etc? It's weird bc they talk about an A1A truck, which confuses me even more.
Oh, I think I'm hopeless!! I did well in school but must be old age robbed me of my gray matter!
Nance - the "type" is a truck design consideration. "A1A", "B-B", etc are wheel arrangements.
Other truck designations you may see are Blomberg (EMD), Flexicoil, HTC, and plenty of others.
Found this, which you may find informative.
CShaveRR One time when I was working between Proviso and Butler (Milwaukee), we had a train ahead of us that was having a rough time. We were told by the dispatcher to cut off from our own train and give him a push, which we did, then went back to our train. The train ahead stalled again, and the second time we pushed him, we took our train with us. Humorous tale there about how we went through an absolute signal without stopping, with the train ahead just a few carlengths away from us, but that's another story.
I shoved somebody like that once up West Allis hill; my only thought as we cut off on the fly was, "I sure hope he doesn't lose his air"!!!!
Ah, Jim, you know it well, then! If the guy we'd been pushing had lost his air, we would have had to lose ours in a hurry! We cut off him a short distance east of Belton Junction, and as we were going through there the engineer looked at me (still the rookie) and asked, "Ever run an absolute before?"
CShaveRR Ah, Jim, you know it well, then! If the guy we'd been pushing had lost his air, we would have had to lose ours in a hurry!
Ah, Jim, you know it well, then! If the guy we'd been pushing had lost his air, we would have had to lose ours in a hurry!
CShaveRR tree68: Try this. Larry had better luck than I did. Take his result, enlarge it one enlargement, move it two steps west and one step north, and you'll have pretty much what I was describing.
tree68: Try this.
Try this.
Larry had better luck than I did. Take his result, enlarge it one enlargement, move it two steps west and one step north, and you'll have pretty much what I was describing.
James
The ButlerCarl, which set of retarders is Tower A responsible for, the pair to the west or the pair to the east of the diamond?
Both! You didn't think I had it easy up there or anything, did you?
(I also had to handle the crossover switches, and the three switches immediately below (to the right of) the lower retarders--one on the north and two on the south. About five people who have been on the Forum have been lucky enough to see me work...it won't happen again!)
Getting over my cold, but not before having to delay our Michigan trip (would have hated to infect the new baby or her mother!). Instead, we saw a few trains at LaGrange, and one on the CN at Addison. I like the looks of the IC spartan-cab SD70s, but they look downright ominous when there are a pair of them mid-train serving as DPUs.
Congratulations to Brian Hanel on winning the Photography Contest this time, with his shot from Hill 582 at Cajon Pass! (He got my vote!)
Just Curious;
I have been reading this Thread, and 'The Cafe'. From time to time, but have not commented in a long time on these threads.
Yesterday, I was surprised to find the Thread referencing the 'dust-up' between the AMTRAK Folks and the TSA VIPR Team, at Savanah, Ga.'s AMTRAK Station. I was amazed the Drudge Report would not only pick up that Thread, but would prominently post in (roughly center page on DRUDGE'S Web page)/
The only comments that I have picked up on on the Threads impact was that the response time was really slow ( Kalmbach's Computer Capacity really needed a 'couple of pushers' to get them through the heavy traffic).
Is this good or bad for the whole FORUM? I am sure that some of the 'outside traffic' may come back, but there will also be some problems with newby's who will need to be scolded if they become un-civil (?).
AS LARRY (TREE68) noticed the view count close to 2200 Eastern was around 224,000! Pretty phenominal numbers for a THREAD around here; particularly, in such a short time. Be interesting to hear what the Web Folks at Kalmbach have to say about that (?)
Was just wondering what other Posters had to say about the fact that a Thread of interest here was timely enough to make another web sites agenda?
I know from surfing around there are a number of topics we have discussed here that seem to wind up in similar categories on web browsers, to be searched: like GooGLE, and YAHOO, and MSM (BING).
Just thinking out loud and curious.
CShaveRR [snip] Instead, we saw a few trains at LaGrange, and one on the CN at Addison. I like the looks of the IC spartan-cab SD70s, but they look downright ominous when there are a pair of them mid-train serving as DPUs.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=344858
Carl, you're not alone in that sentiment - remember this essay ?
samfp1943 Just Curious; ...snip... Was just wondering what other Posters had to say about the fact that a Thread of interest here was timely enough to make another web sites agenda? I know from surfing around there are a number of topics we have discussed here that seem to wind up in similar categories on web browsers, to be searched: like GooGLE, and YAHOO, and MSM (BING). Just thinking out loud and curious.
...snip...
As to a Thread here making another web site's agenda, to me, it reinforces the importance of trains in the U.S
My
The more, the merrier!
Anyone hear know anything about a nuclear stress test? In a few weeks, will you be able to find me with a Geiger counter?
Heard something on the news this morning about some approval or money or something granted to the proposed Metra service to the south suburbs. It will run from LaSalle Street Station to a new RI-C&WI connection, and eventually down the UP (ex-C&EI) as far as Crete. Stops serving the Ford plant (in Chicago Heights?) and U.S. Cellular Field were mentioned. But the Metra website has nothing new on this, nor do the major media outlets I checked.
Sounds like another good reason for the Englewood Flyover to be constructed as planned.
CShaveRR Anyone hear know anything about a nuclear stress test? In a few weeks, will you be able to find me with a Geiger counter?
Carl: actually when you have the test the testers will give you the test global consent form and a statement is that your body may trigger some radioactive monitoring devices. (TSA). Form was recommended to be carried for at least 30 days after. My isotopes were TC99m and T1201. BTW My test indicated that medication was working and almost blockage free. Good luck.
Test itself was very easy just had to take a bunch of pictures after being injected!!
Just be glad you're retired; otherwise one of your former co-workers might want to use you to protect a crossing, 'Specially since you'll glow in the dark for awhile.
Paul_D_North_Jr CShaveRR: [snip] Instead, we saw a few trains at LaGrange, and one on the CN at Addison. I like the looks of the IC spartan-cab SD70s, but they look downright ominous when there are a pair of them mid-train serving as DPUs. Link to a broadside photo of an IC SD70: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=344858 Carl, you're not alone in that sentiment - remember this essay ? Spooks mid-train helpers by McCall, Charles C. from Trains April 1976 p. 30 anecdote - Paul North.
CShaveRR: [snip] Instead, we saw a few trains at LaGrange, and one on the CN at Addison. I like the looks of the IC spartan-cab SD70s, but they look downright ominous when there are a pair of them mid-train serving as DPUs.
They sure are gruff looking in the all-black paint. Best of luck with your test Carl.
Dan
CShaveRRAnyone hear know anything about a nuclear stress test? In a few weeks, will you be able to find me with a Geiger counter?
Had one a few years ago after an EKG supposedly detected a slightly abnormal rythm. Led to a trip to the cath lab, where I got a clean bill of health.
Mine involved some time on a treadmill, followed by the dye inject, some cool-down time, then a half hour motionless in a special x-ray scanner.
Unfortunately, I didn't get the usual cool down (they had an opening in the scanner), so after the scanning, I passed out when I sat up. Orthostatics and all that.
I think they can do a similar test without the treadmill. Not sure. Haven't been back myself.
Thanks, everyone! I won't be flying anywhere for the next few years (at least!), so I should be okay there. And perhaps we can save electricity on the <1-watt night-light, Sam!
Got the story on what happened with Metra Southeast, from Railway Age:Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D) on Monday signed a bill creating the Southeast Commuter Rail Transit District, a step designed to implement regional rail passenger service for southeastern Chicagoland. The district will be overseen by officials in 20 municipalities along the future line, and will help channel any funding required to institute Metra service. A final proposal for the line is due this year. The proposed line, about 33 miles in length, would link Crete, Ill., almost due south of downtown Chicago, with Chicago’s LaSalle Street Station. Stops could include a Ford Motor Co. plant on Chicago's South Side and U.S. Cellular Field, home of Major League Baseball’s Chicago White Sox.
I'm wondering about that Ford plant. The one on the south side of Chicago is nowhere near the former C&EI line that would be used for this Metra Service.
tree68 [snipped] Mine involved some time on a treadmill, followed by the dye inject, some cool-down time, then a half hour motionless in a special x-ray scanner. Unfortunately, I didn't get the usual cool down (they had an opening in the scanner), so after the scanning, I passed out when I sat up. Orthostatics and all that. I think they can do a similar test without the treadmill. Not sure. Haven't been back myself.
About 20 years ago I had a non-nuclear stress test done before starting an exercise program - that involved a stationary bike to get the heart rate up. So Carl, you can just bike to the lab, and tell them you're "Good to go" already - oh, and by the way - to deduct the charge for the warm-up session from the bill ! (yeah, right - good luck with that ! ) But mark my words - maybe that'll be the future trend for lowering health-care costs - more "Do-It-Yourself" test preps ! We already have the various vile concoctions that you have to drink at home (with various 'cleansing' effects ) for various scans, as well as removal of IV tubes, 'pain pumps", etc. at home, so I suppose that is a next logical step . . .
Funny, though - despite all the hoo-hah about scheduling the lab tests, I too have had the experience of drastic rearrangements of various scans just because "There's an opening there now, and you're ready to go anyway . . . ". Actually, now that I think about it - 5 years ago, it was - one of those was nuclear in nature, but not a stress test. It was inserted with an IV, and was probably the least troublesome and annoying of any test of that sort that I've encountered. As usual, the 'troops on the ground' - the lab techs - had the most helpful and informative advice on the whole procedure.
Good luck with it, Carl !
Good thought, Paul! Maybe in two weeks, when this test is to take place, it will be springlike enough to consider biking. The shortest route to the hospital, unfortunately, is not one that even the bravest of bicyclists (me, once!) is comfortable with. I've taken a route that involves a detour of roughly three miles (nearly doubling the distance). That, in turn, makes it too much of a trip for Pat to even consider. I've done it in the past, and there's no question that it would provide the requisite warmup. And downtown Downers Grove is mostly downhill from there, for the post-test recovery, meal, and train-watching.
Sounds like a plan ! (except for the route difficulties, though - too bad )
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