"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
QUOTE: Originally posted by ValleyX That's really what we're talking about here, speeding things up and it won't speed things up so much that it would be cost-beneficial, I simply don't believe it. The railroads would have to invest vast amounts into infrastructure to make this speed up traffic and, as Mark Hemphill has pointed out previously, at what point do they break even. The business has to be there and will have to be there in the future for them to invest the money and they're not going to invest if it doesn't benefit long term. Regardless of the crew change points, be it cross-country or what we have today, you're still going to have to meet other trains, inspect trains, work your way through terminals, with the structure in place today. It won't matter whether the crew is going through or changing at the terminal, there usually isn't much time lost in crew changes, it's all the other things that happen throughout the course of a normal trip. And, some genius would screw it up anyway, things always work like clockwork on the railroad the first week or so they try it but then. . .
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...
QUOTE: Originally posted by futuremodal Interesting topic! One question that really wasn't answered: Is the current situation optimal? Going dead out in the the sticks due to unforeseen circumstances, waiting a few hours for the shuttle cab to take you to the Sticky Sheets Motel, getting called back on duty while still under the influence of the Budweiser and aspirin you had the night before, getting oh so close to home on the return trip only to end up dead again with another few hours delay, finally getting home at God knows when only to realize that the whole nightmare will probably repeat itself in less than 12 hours....... CSXEngineer, are you SURE you wouldn't at least want to try it out (preferably with the Pullman sleeper)? Seems to me that the current situation isn't exactly something to write home about!
QUOTE: Originally posted by ValleyX Futurmodal, you paint a dismal picture, you think that we outlaw on the Hours of Service each and every trip and that we spend no time at home whatsoever. That simply isn't the case and I also stay in some very nice away-from-home lodgings, nicer than the Super 8, that's for sure. This team engineer idea really isn't very feasible, I know you're thinking that I cannot think progressively or that I'm mired in the past but it isn't really a very good idea. Although different contributors had pointed out valid reasons why it isn't, all of you supporting it continue to refute those reasons. Actually, this topic should be put on the dead list.
QUOTE: Originally posted by futuremodal What if we named the first crew car something more appealing, like "Mustang Ranch" or "Hooters"? Bet that'll get them to try it out......
QUOTE: Originally posted by futuremodal Interesting stuff, to say the least. Some observations.... 1. Is there really that much contrast between railroading and ships/barges? The latter seem to have worked it out, why not the former? 2. IF this idea were somehow implemented today, it would be done on a limited scale, and probably not injected into the regular mix. I can see it working for the 3 to 5 day round trip, but not much longer due to the points made by the topic participants (e.g. food, linen/laudry, crew members hating each others guts). The shorter rotation may be enough to get rid of the more out of the way crew change points (cost savings to the railroads) without causing too much grief among workers. If a Pullman sleeper is good enough for the average rail traveler, it should be sufficient for the crew as well. Wouldn't you rather stay in a moving Pullman than in a motel with some noisy party going on upstairs? 3. Aren't there a number of the push/pull commuter cars with controls at one end? Take one of these, convert it to the mini dorm, and stick it in front of the consist, with the engines following. Or, place the Pullman in between the lead and trailing engines. There goes your slack action risk. Of course, a dorm car at the head end of the train can lead to other problems if the unfortunate happens. 4. Then again, maybe the federales will finally pull the plug on Amtrak, and there will be a sudden surplus of passenger equipment available cheap for such an experiment.
Mechanical Department "No no that's fine shove that 20 pound set all around the yard... those shoes aren't hell and a half to change..."
The Missabe Road: Safety First
QUOTE: Originally posted by HighIron2003ar Trucking is a whole different ball game versus railroads. My wife and I drove Reefer team for a year. All we did was rescue troubled and late loads from single drivers who for whatever reason cannot get to customer on time. 24/7, cooking, sleeping and restrooms on board and on the move. Stopping only for fuel and maybe a rest break if things get too intense in that cab. We covered loads that literally cannot stop. With the waste in terms of time leaking out of the railroads a team operation wont improve things. Now. You can design a locomotive to include bunks that are isolated from the rest of the engine. We do this all the time when building semi tractors. Sometimes things are so quiet you dont even realize the engine is running. Then you need to design a space for the crew to live in. A cab is a small place for two people over time. Fit in the necessary storage space and eletrical/climate support and a small desk you already are intruding into current locomotive technology. We would have to add space onto the locomotive itself to make this all work. No. I veto the team engineer idea. I dont think railroads will make deliverys any faster using teams. In order to speed up trains with teams you gotta speed up everything else to keep up with train. For example we could load in New Jersey at noon monday and be passing Little Rock Arkansas tuesday at noon with Armarillo Tx by midnight tuesday. Can you keep up? When you consider the potential for work orders, slow areas, yards and division points as well as possible problem cars and everything else that can interfere with the high speed transit over a short period of time along with the Human knack of throwing a monkey wrench into everything at the worst time. If the rails can do it they would have already done so.
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QUOTE: Originally posted by BigJim What a stupid idiotic idea[:(!] The clown that thought this up obviously doesn't have a family or care about having a home cooked meal or even care about sleeping in his own bed.
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