At last count, the PTRA has 5 radio controlled switched, all 5 control access from single track to double track mains.
They all operate on a single, separate frequency from train traffic, in our case, channel 5 which is our MOW/car department channel.
You go to channel 5 , hit digital frequency button and dial a number, oddly just like a phone number,7 digits, followed by the # sign, the switch will line, the last digit in the number determines which way the switch lines, and because we operate at restricted speed, we can get away with switch point position indicators, red for diverging, green for tangent, or normal.
Each switch has its own set of “phone numbers” used only for that particular switch.
The ones down here on UP have a tone back response, they “answer” the radio request to line with a steady tone if successful, and a interrupted or pulsing tone if they don’t or won’t line.
I would guess that most railroads have a little used frequency they assign to their radio lined switches.
23 17 46 11
CShaveRR I'd be remiss if I didn't give a shout-out to Sister Jen (a.k.a. Mookie) on her birthday. One hopes that she will stay warm and comfortable on her special day, or that perhaps some train-watching at Camp Mookie would not be out of the question. Later today we will hoist a mug of hot chocolate in your honor, SJ!
I'd be remiss if I didn't give a shout-out to Sister Jen (a.k.a. Mookie) on her birthday. One hopes that she will stay warm and comfortable on her special day, or that perhaps some train-watching at Camp Mookie would not be out of the question.
Later today we will hoist a mug of hot chocolate in your honor, SJ!
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
Happy Birthday Mookie. I hope it's a good one!
Dan
Dan - Happiness is that I haven't had to dust it, cook it, scour it, or wash it.
Some links pertaining to the radio-controlled track switches:
"UP radio-controlled switches" from Jan. 2010 at: (note: "Northe" isn't me !) http://forums.radioreference.com/railroad-railfan-monitoring-forum/170160-up-radio-controlled-switches.html
Vossloh's "Global Rail Systems" Model TS-4500 Switch - see the "methods of operation" 2. and 3. under "Switch Machine" at: http://www.globalrailsystems.com/ts4500.html or
http://www.vossloh-usa.com/cms/en/rail_infrastructure/signal_switch_control_systems/ts_4500/ts_4500.html
There are others, too . . .
- Paul North.
Happy birthday, Mookie! Hope it was a great one for ya! (Sorry I am late--had a bit of an [non-RR] accident tonight.)
Thanks much guys, for the info on the switches--it really helps!!
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
Paul_D_North_Jr mudchicken: Carl: Did railroad safety training with some of our folks. Amazing what some understand and scarilly what some do not (assumed to be true).... Which is why it - and similar OSHA training, etc. - is often required annually. Between what some people never understood rightly before, did know but forgot or just now mis-remember, new situations, new rules, new territories, new responsibilities, new hires/ promotions, new equipment/ procedures, etc. - annual refreshers are none too often. And even if you and I know it cold and could teach it - well, it's an opportunity to help do that, too, and as here - remind ourselves that not everyone is as well-informed or sharp, and we need to look out for them, too. - Paul North.
mudchicken: Carl: Did railroad safety training with some of our folks. Amazing what some understand and scarilly what some do not (assumed to be true)....
Which is why it - and similar OSHA training, etc. - is often required annually. Between what some people never understood rightly before, did know but forgot or just now mis-remember, new situations, new rules, new territories, new responsibilities, new hires/ promotions, new equipment/ procedures, etc. - annual refreshers are none too often. And even if you and I know it cold and could teach it - well, it's an opportunity to help do that, too, and as here - remind ourselves that not everyone is as well-informed or sharp, and we need to look out for them, too.
Thx IGN
Two news articles in today's Newswire have a common link and it's a tad scary ... hope somebody else sees it.
News of our own, unfortunately.
For reasons that have yet to be determined, we ended up with three of our cars and the front truck of the trailing locomotive on the ground tonight, prematurely ending a trip to the north pole.
Tomorrow's trips are iffy, depending on whether the track can be repaired. We have some cars we can use in a pinch, if those involved won't pass muster.
Fortunately, there were no injuries as a result of the derailment, although two elves managed to come up with a stubbed to and banged elbow shortly thereafter.
First such incident in 20 years. And it wasn't even on our own track.
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...
Oh no, I'm sorry to hear that. I hope it all works out so you can operate today. Any idea on the cause? Good luck.
MC, would you be talking about the middle two of the four articles?
Larry, I think I heard from someone that your track was in better shape than the joint trackage. Sorry to hear about the wreck, but on the bright side, there are some folks for whom that will be more memorable than the visit to see Santa at Llanfair................gogogoch. (We saw the sign on our trip; it's on the west side of the tracks.)
Nance, how are you doing today--able to be up and about?
We got our first measurable snow today; it didn't even cover the top of our well-manicured lawn (I can say that...we just mowed it last week!). Even though it's cold out there, the sun has taken care of most of it now. It looked nice this morning, though, when I had to run errands. Nothing railroady on that trip out, unfortunately...the drought continues for me.
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)
Thanks, Carl. I am up and about today, though yesterday was spent in bed, for the majority of time. It is getting better, swelling and pain are decreasing somewhat.
Good thing, too bc all the microferroequinologists come out of the woodwork this weekend and have a big meet up. Gotta get ready to roll to that, esp. since it's my initiation into such events!
Carl: Top & bottom as it sits now. The one at the top has already started a ruckus.
Yup, they changed the order...those were the two I was thinking. Does V&S stand for vultures and scavengers?
There must have been a signal problem on Metra's UP West line last night, just before midnight. Three scoots that were on the line were stopped at West Chicago, Lombard, and Kedzie (the signal problem was probably more widespread; that just happens to be where the scoots were caught). Things were restored after a little more than an hour.
tree68 News of our own, unfortunately. For reasons that have yet to be determined, we ended up with three of our cars and the front truck of the trailing locomotive on the ground tonight, prematurely ending a trip to the north pole. Tomorrow's trips are iffy, depending on whether the track can be repaired. We have some cars we can use in a pinch, if those involved won't pass muster. Fortunately, there were no injuries as a result of the derailment, although two elves managed to come up with a stubbed to and banged elbow shortly thereafter. First such incident in 20 years. And it wasn't even on our own track.
You made headlines! http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/09/9329441-polar-express-train-jumps-tracks-with-100-children-on-board?ocid=twitter Looks like the situation was handled well.
Jay
"We have met the enemy and he is us." Pogo Possum "We have met the anemone... and he is Russ." Bucky Katt "Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." Niels Bohr, Nobel laureate in physics
Carl, There was a CTC problem last night. The dispatcher that handles East Mo Valley to Fairfax had his entire territory affected. I was deadheading by train west when it happened. We were turned into a dog catch and relieved an eastward manifest and returned to Boone. When we arrived the outbound crew said the failure had went all the way to Chicago. I know I heard our dispatcher calling a lot of trains and ask them where their head end was.
I don't know if it's related, but there is a new computer system that has replaced the CAD system. It cost quite a bit ($30 to $50 million depending on who you ask) but has bugs in it. It was picked by someone high up, and no one wants to say it has problems.
Jeff
So, my apologies to Larry and anyone else who was annoyed by my initial reply asking about the cause! I now see, after re-reading it, he already said cause yet to be determined. Oops; anyone have a towel so I can wipe the egg off my face?
It made our evening news tonight. Doesn't sound like you got too far out of Utica.
tree68 [snipped] For reasons that have yet to be determined, we ended up with three of our cars and the front truck of the trailing locomotive on the ground tonight, prematurely ending a trip to the north pole. . . . And it wasn't even on our own track.
Some news reports I saw earlier today indicated that there was a switch at or near the point of derailment . . . ? I was also wondering if it might have been caused by ice in a grade crossing's flangeways, but I believe it hasn't been too cold or wet/ snowy up thataway yet, and the leading locomotive should have taken care of that anyhow.
Wonder what FRA Class that track is supposed to be (since it's carrying occupied passenger cars, it can't be "Excepted Track" = no Class, or "Class 0" - it has to be Class 1 or greater), when it was last inspected, and whether it still met the requirements for that Class at the time and place of the derailment . . . ?
jeffhergert [snipped] I don't know if it's related, but there is a new computer system that has replaced the CAD system. It cost quite a bit ($30 to $50 million depending on who you ask) but has bugs in it. It was picked by someone high up, and no one wants to say it has problems.
I hope it 'failed safe". Even if it did, that big of a failure may attract the attention of the FRA enough to investigate compliance with the FRA's dispatching, safety, and operating system rules, which will be fun for no one and only compound the grief and aggravation . . .
"We're here for the finance - not the romance!"
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
CShaveRR Yup, they changed the order...those were the two I was thinking. Does V&S stand for vultures and scavengers? [snipped]
"Victoria Southern Railway, which acquired the ex-Missouri Pacific route between Avondale and Towner, Colo., in October, has let the state know it plans to savage [sic - emphasis added - probably should be "salvage" instead] the entire line."
And our local turkey buzzards want it to be known that they object to any mention of their kind in the same sentence as the "grave dancer" scrappers . . .
P.S. - Is this the same line that usually figures so prominently in the discussions about "What happened to the Tennessee Pass route ?", "Will it ever be used again ?", etc. ? - PDN.
FRA and DOT are involved - we'll have to wait for their determination on cause, although I know of several considerations under study.
The track outside "Rule 98" (which calls for restricted speed and is not under control of the DS) is good for 30 MPH. The lead engine had just passed the sign denoting the border between the two, but the trailing engine had not yet passed the point, so we were well under the 20 MPH allowed in Rule 98.
I'm taking credit for one big factor that's been mentioned in several of the stories - Santa visited with each child while arrangements were being made for buses. Turns out that was "huge," as they say, and a number of the parents interviewed mentioned it. The Jolly Old Elf(s) had doffed their red suits in preparation for exiting the train when I asked them to suit back up and go visit the kids.
A local rail salvage company (like Hulcher, but not them) had the engine and all three cars back on the rails a hour and a half after they started. The track contractor went to work shortly thereafter, and the Saturday trips will be going off on schedule.
We were able to split the train in two, ferrying the half still on the tracks to an unloading point where the local VFD assisted passengers to the buses, then returning for the other half of the passengers to repeat the operation.
I'm sure some folks were frustrated, etc, but most saw it as an adventure. One little boy was thrilled to be taking his first ride in a bus, people posed with the firefighters for pictures (much to the amusement of the firefighters), and I encountered a family at the hotel this morning who was most complimentary about how the entire incident was handled.
I was curious about the coverage so I Googled it. Pages of hits....
Paul_D_North_Jr So am I right in thinking that the leading locomotive and some number of passenger cars did get over/ past the point of derailment without derailing themselves or any other problem ?
The rail spread - what remains to be determined is why.
Train-related Christmas lights. Starts at the 30 second mark.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGl4M4_QnvI&feature=related
tree68 [snipped] I'm taking credit for one big factor that's been mentioned in several of the stories - Santa visited with each child while arrangements were being made for buses. Turns out that was "huge," as they say, and a number of the parents interviewed mentioned it. The Jolly Old Elf(s) had doffed their red suits in preparation for exiting the train when I asked them to suit back up and go visit the kids. . . . I'm sure some folks were frustrated, etc, but most saw it as an adventure. One little boy was thrilled to be taking his first ride in a bus, people posed with the firefighters for pictures (much to the amusement of the firefighters), and I encountered a family at the hotel this morning who was most complimentary about how the entire incident was handled.
. . . I'm sure some folks were frustrated, etc, but most saw it as an adventure. One little boy was thrilled to be taking his first ride in a bus, people posed with the firefighters for pictures (much to the amusement of the firefighters), and I encountered a family at the hotel this morning who was most complimentary about how the entire incident was handled.
Thanks also for the detailed responses to my questions.
It happens. But those passengers had a trip they will never forget.
zugmann It happens. But those passengers had a trip they will never forget.
Not to mention the crew...
tree68 zugmann: It happens. But those passengers had a trip they will never forget. Not to mention the crew...
zugmann: It happens. But those passengers had a trip they will never forget.
Took me a couple years to have my first derailment (wasn't my fault!). Similar situation to yours. Old rail, wide gauge... you know the rest. Funny part is during the past couple of weeks prior I shoved probably close to 30 loaded tie cars over that track, ran the engines over it multiple times, but on our last move with 2 engines and 3 empties, well, that last empty was just too much for it.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.