Isn't there a button the crews can push if they need to release the automatic interlock?
cefinkjr I went to Rochelle just now (about an hour later than your post) and everything looked normal.
I went to Rochelle just now (about an hour later than your post) and everything looked normal.
Thanks for the heads up. Everything is working fine here as well.
Bruce
So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.
"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere" CP Rail Public Timetable
"O. S. Irricana"
. . . __ . ______
rdamonIsn't there a button the crews can push if they need to release the automatic interlock?
If this is done the way it used to be, you:(a) contact your dispatcher for permission to push the button.(b) push the button and wait for the signal to clear.(c) if the signal doesn't clear, contact the dispatcher, and move into the limits of the crossing, which will/should give a stop signal to anything on the opposing tracks. (This is, I think, where the crew was at in the process.)(d) After waiting the set amount of minutes, flag the crossing. We used to do that with fusees; don't know if those are still around.(e) Proceed at restricted speed until the next clear has been passed by your entire train. In cab signal territory (which this is, for UP), you may resume speed after the train has completely passed the point where the signal cleared for you.Plese keep in mind that I haven't had to deal with these procedures in many years, and may have messed up on this (and I haven't even looked at the rulebook since retiring, though I still have it).
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)
If it's a completely automatic interlocking, forget the dispatcher. (Some interlockings might have an automatic portion for a railroad crossing and a manual portion for a controlled switch. For those types, then you do need to contact the dispr first.) Go to the release box, find the one for your railroad. (Hint- it's the one that has the lock your switch key fits.)
Unlock the door and read the instructions. Usually there will be indicator light(s) to show that signals on conflicting routes are at Stop. Push the release button. The instructions should say how long it takes before the signal will clear up. (Length of time will probably vary according to maximum speeds on conflicting routes.) Once time has elapsed and it's verified that signals on conflicting routes are at stop (remember the indicator lights) then the train may proceed on hand signals from a crew member at the crossing. Pick up the conductor and go. In Cab Signal territory, we can now pick up the speed as soon as the cabs clear up. Don't have to run a train length anymore.
Jeff
Thanks Jeff.
This is not mentioned in either of the timetables.
Robert
Just saw a single transformer load come by at track speed on the BNSF "far" track.
WOW! I just saw 138 empty hoppers go west on the UP with one unit on the point and one on the rear. And they were moving right out at track speed (or better).
I may have miscounted when the screen froze a couple of times but I don't think I was off by more than 10 cars. UP is sure getting their money's worth out of that power today.
As to exceeding track speed, it happens. I remember a time when I was a trainee on the NYC riding the cab of ML12 from Collinwood (Cleveland) to Buffalo. We had 5 GP40s and about 60 bi- and tri-level automobile loads. Standing behind the engineer, I saw the speedometer at 84 mph (track speed for passenger and certain high priority freight was 70), verified it with the mileposts and my watch, and just pointed to the speedometer. The engineer's reply was a gruff, "It's broke!"
ChuckAllen, TX
2130 cst, Just watched a EB on the UP, and was thinking a street light put on the pwr pole nearest the diamonds would really be a help to identify consits.
Or even have the railroad park put up a street light above the cam????
Some fun things to look at between trains ...
Interlocking Limits Quiz - http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=ODQ0ODAyUJZK
UP TE&Y Rules Study Guide - http://www.fogchart.com/Down/Other/PDF/2008%20Study%20Guide%20with%20Answers.pdf
From the BNSF Timetable: http://www.blet75.org/2010-09-08_chicago_timetable_no7.pdf
Rule 9.12.3—Signals governing movements over the UP crossing at Rochelle also govern the block. Rule 9.12.3 must be complied with. Movement through the UP interlocking must be made completely through the plant before a reverse move is made. Under no conditions should equipment be left standing or unattended in the plant.
i see lots of coal trains loads and empties on up .
not on bnsf. do they run them on different route?
rdettmer i see lots of coal trains loads and empties on up . not on bnsf. do they run them on different route?
Johnny
No past pictures with the new system.
cefinkjr WOW! I just saw 138 empty hoppers go west on the UP with one unit on the point and one on the rear. And they were moving right out at track speed (or better). I may have miscounted when the screen froze a couple of times but I don't think I was off by more than 10 cars. UP is sure getting their money's worth out of that power today.
All the empty coal trains usually only have two engines on line, any others are just along for the ride. Exceptions are for mechanical problems. It's a fuel conservation measure.
West of Clinton on the Council Bluffs Service Unit, distributed power units on empty coal trains are normally restricted to throttle notch 4. Also a fuel savings measure. When the edict first came out, the DP was restricted to notch 1.
I don't know if the Chicago guys have similar restrictions.
playing around with google earth, street view, found this on main street by the UP tracks. When I first saw it, i thought it was a antique steam engine being worked on. But it's yellow color shows it's MOW equipment. dated sept 2007, so it's probably long gone now.
what is it? my guess it's a blower.
https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&output=classic&dg=brw
hope the link works.
david
Full moon in a couple of days; tonight (this morning, actually at 1 AM CST) interesting and somewhat visible (cranking the brightness on the screen) activity of a WB tank train on BNSF meeting an EB manifest. A WB UP manifest holding at the signal bridge, then three minutes after the EB BNSF clears, the WB UP resumes its trip, reaching track speed at about the time it clears the diamonds.
Not floodlights, but at least the train types were discernable.
Like the snow just saw a UP train make the rails shine.
Russell
0952 CST 2/2 - UP's CNW heritage unit - single unit move EB
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
1230 PM CST - EB UP 50 car all mechancial reefer train
1:30 PM CST - Savanna bound tank train with NS lead loco. and Lackawanna heritage loco. second, buffer cars on each end of train.
James
The last couple of days, I have been watching the webcam, but I don't get any sound. I can watch youtube, CNBC, aol, etc. with plenty of sound but not for Rochelle. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
northwesterner The last couple of days, I have been watching the webcam, but I don't get any sound. I can watch youtube, CNBC, aol, etc. with plenty of sound but not for Rochelle. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Sound works fine here (Safari on MacOS 10.9). Try a different browser (e.g. Firefox, Chrome). Update extensions, like Flash (dunno if the browsers uses it).
This morning I saw a BNSF tank train with a green loco in second position. Any idea what RR that was?
Another question: I have a tough time distinguishing GE from EMD diesels. Obviously the EMDs with five-sided windows are easy, but the others not so. Tips?
/Mr Lynn
MrLynnAnother question: I have a tough time distinguishing GE from EMD diesels. Obviously the EMDs with five-sided windows are easy, but the others not so. Tips?
Blower housings for the dynamics seems to be the easiest tipoff. The GE's engines have a distinctive four-stroke sound as well. I notice that the vast majority of UP coal trains are running with GE power these days, at least through Rochelle. (We don't get a lot of coal traffic down here otherwise.)
Radiators, toward the rear of the unit. GE units have grids on the roof; EMD units have fans.
Nearly midnight at the diamonds and fresh activity involving two, maybe three trucks parked with considerable illumination of the diamonds. Not the best time to be out working the diamonds, but at least it's not nearly so cold as it was a couple of days ago.
Edit: At midnight, an EB stacker is coming out of Global III on the WB track.
Edit: At 12:05 AM, with the stacker clearing, a WB UP manifest is now moving across the diamonds on the EB track stepping along at near track speed.
Edit: At 12:10 AM, the WB clears in time for another EB stacker on the WB track. MW folks seem to be in their truck cabs (it's 19° right now, according to the webcam page). Busy, busy, busy.
CShaveRR Radiators, toward the rear of the unit. GE units have grids on the roof; EMD units have fans.
That should help; also the dynamic grids, which recent EMDs put behind the radiators. I've been trying to look closely at the cabs (EMD SD70s with the rectangular windshields have a horizontal nose, where GEs bevel to a point). But all the details, front and back, are hard to pick up with the fuzzy resolution, even when the trains are moving slowly (as they will be now, with a red marker up and a truck crew there).
Seeing the red sign out this morning.
The "rock and roll" over the diamonds on the UP south track was getting out of control over the weekend - perhaps they're there to correct this?
Seems like the crossing needs its own full-time section crew!
CatFoodFlambe The "rock and roll" over the diamonds on the UP south track was getting out of control over the weekend - perhaps they're there to correct this? Seems like the crossing needs its own full-time section crew!
Maybe with all that traffic it would be more cost-effective to build a fly-over (or an underpass).
rdamon Seeing the red sign out this morning. yep there it is just saw some nice new tractors heading north missed train name it was moving pretty fast
Looking at Google earth's view of the area I am not sure where to start such a structure for a "fly over" or where to dig to cut a trench under the intersection.
Would the businesses and residents be willing to have an elevated structure through town? Or a trench?
Either solution would require a longer approach on the town side to take care of bridges for the town streets (either street bridges over the trench or RR bridges over the town streets) to not cut the town in half.
And which RR would be willing to put their route out of service for such to be built? How long would the route be out of service?
An alternative to shutting the route down would be to build a parallel route... Where would it go?
What would be the cost of: a trench? elevated structure? alternate route?
Just as a matter of technical info... does anybody know how far from the crossing would one need to start a trench/flyover to keep the grade acceptable? (Not counting how far the trench/flyover would have to be extended through town for ground connections across the trench/flyover.)
Guessing on my part I would suspect there needs to be about a 20 ft seperation at the crossing, so, assuming the land is flat and you want to keep the grade to 1% then... hmmmm... I need to take my shoes and socks off for this... (OH PHEW!)...
Ummm... I'll leave that to someone else to answer.
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
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