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Semi-official Rochelle webcam discussion thread

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Posted by Norm48327 on Monday, January 9, 2017 2:33 PM

Deggesty
And if somehow you lose all your coolant while on the road, what then?

You pull into the nearest "park and ride" and wait.

Norm


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Posted by Deggesty on Monday, January 9, 2017 2:23 PM

jeffhergert

 

 
BaltACD
 

 

CSX rules now prohibit T&E employees from adding water.  Mechanical personnel are the only ones allowed to do it.

 

 

 

Many of our engines are being fitted with hardware so that to fill the engine you have to have a hose with a special fitting to connect to the intake.  No more having the local fire department come out so you can get water in an emergency.

Jeff

 

And if somehow you lose all your coolant while on the road, what then?

Johnny

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Posted by jeffhergert on Monday, January 9, 2017 1:59 PM

BaltACD
 

 

CSX rules now prohibit T&E employees from adding water.  Mechanical personnel are the only ones allowed to do it.

 

Many of our engines are being fitted with hardware so that to fill the engine you have to have a hose with a special fitting to connect to the intake.  No more having the local fire department come out so you can get water in an emergency.

Jeff

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Posted by BaltACD on Monday, January 9, 2017 7:10 AM

jeffhergert
zugmann
jeffhergert

And if you don't, then Mr. Guru will.

Our newer engines have it and I've seen it retrofitted to others.  Some of the SD70ACe have on the back wall instuctions on how to keep it from operating while filling with relatively cold water.  The instructions caught my attention because it talks about the penny-pincher.  Reading the instructions for that particular model of Guru, it said the plug could be extended and held in place by inserting a penny or other coin in the penny-pincher.  I thought at the time that now we'll all have to keep loose change in our pocket just to add water. 

Jeff  

CSX rules now prohibit T&E employees from adding water.  Mechanical personnel are the only ones allowed to do it.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Pjangis on Monday, January 9, 2017 12:15 AM

Why isn't anti-freeze used? Seems just about every other engine- be it diesel or gas- uses anti-freeze in it's cooling system- why not locomotives?  Pj

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Posted by jeffhergert on Sunday, January 8, 2017 10:16 PM

zugmann

 

 
jeffhergert
Antifreeze isn't used so if an engine shuts down and won't or can't be restarted, either automatically or manually, the engine needs to have the water drained.

 

And if you don't, then Mr. Guru will.

 

 

Our newer engines have it and I've seen it retrofitted to others.  Some of the SD70ACe have on the back wall instuctions on how to keep it from operating while filling with relatively cold water.  The instructions caught my attention because it talks about the penny-pincher.  Reading the instructions for that particular model of Guru, it said the plug could be extended and held in place by inserting a penny or other coin in the penny-pincher.  I thought at the time that now we'll all have to keep loose change in our pocket just to add water. 

Jeff   

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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Sunday, January 8, 2017 9:57 PM

Do most engines have these? Looks like it would prevent damage and save a very expensive repair. You tought me something new today. Thanks, Jeff and Zugmann

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Posted by zugmann on Sunday, January 8, 2017 8:20 PM

jeffhergert
Antifreeze isn't used so if an engine shuts down and won't or can't be restarted, either automatically or manually, the engine needs to have the water drained.

And if you don't, then Mr. Guru will.

 

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

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Posted by jeffhergert on Sunday, January 8, 2017 7:52 PM

Electroliner 1935

Jeff, Would I be correct that the road engines don't have the HOTSTART type of equipment that keeps the prime movers warm when shut down? And that even though they may be four cycle engines, they don't use antifreeze? 

When engines are "off line" are they running at idle speed or are they shut down?

Thanks.

Jeff, I also wonder what ability does the lead control loco have to start and/or shut (stop the prime mover) down, DPU's. ANd if it is shut down in below freezing temps, what keeps the unit from freezing up? Two cycle GM's had to be kept running or drained to prevent freezing was my understanding.

 

None of our modern road units, to my knowledge, have a system to keep the engine warm when shut down.  Many, including yard and local power, are equipped with Automatic Engine Stop/Start.  It shuts down the engine when certain parameters are met and will restart the engine when a different set of parameters occur.  (Well, most of the time it will restart automatically.)  Antifreeze isn't used so if an engine shuts down and won't or can't be restarted, either automatically or manually, the engine needs to have the water drained.

Off line engines are running at idle.  If AESS is active, it can shut down an isolated engine.  Then restarting it as necessary.  I've noticed, at least on the GE engines, when the engine is cold it will idle at a faster speed.  It gives a message on the engineer's computer screen when it's doing so.  

The lead engine can shut down DP consists, but can't restart them.  It's an emergency feature, the same as on the lead or on a conventional consist.  Once shut down in this manner when an engine might freeze, someone either needs to restart it or drain it.

Jeff  

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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Sunday, January 8, 2017 3:45 PM

Jeff, I also wonder what ability does the lead control loco have to start and/or shut (stop the prime mover) down, DPU's. ANd if it is shut down in below freezing temps, what keeps the unit from freezing up? Two cycle GM's had to be kept running or drained to prevent freezing was my understanding.

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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Sunday, January 8, 2017 2:51 PM

Jeff, Would I be correct that the road engines don't have the HOTSTART type of equipment that keeps the prime movers warm when shut down? And that even though they may be four cycle engines, they don't use antifreeze? 

When engines are "off line" are they running at idle speed or are they shut down?

Thanks.

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Posted by jeffhergert on Saturday, January 7, 2017 11:20 PM

tree68

 

 
Semper Vaporo
It becomes a major headache for the Operations Department when the MOW folk are suddenly busy with pull-aparts and broken rails and smashed frogs and...

 

Agreed.  My point was that the cold itself isn't a problem for the ops folks.  As long as the rails are intact, the locomotives run, the trains can get air, etc, it's business as usual.  

If a train can't get charged up, a loco freezes up, switches are frozen, etc, now ops has problems (and yes, I've had to deal with all of the above...)

 

Not quite business as usual.  Extreme cold brings out cold weather restrictions.  For UP, Passenger trains, light engines and freight trains averaging less than 90 tons per car/platform are restricted to 40mph on unsignalled track.  Freight trains averaging 90 tons or more are restricted to 40mph on signalled track as well as unsignalled track.  Some subdivisions can have further speed restrictions added to them. 

Lately, the very long trains they love to run have been getting split up into two smaller trains.  Also during extreme cold snaps, all locomotives can be on line, observing tons per axle restrictions, when normally they only allow enough power to just make the hills.  Both to try to avoid the problems of the extreme cold affecting the air brake components and/or the locomotives themselves.

Jeff

   

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Posted by tree68 on Saturday, January 7, 2017 2:57 PM

Semper Vaporo
It becomes a major headache for the Operations Department when the MOW folk are suddenly busy with pull-aparts and broken rails and smashed frogs and...

Agreed.  My point was that the cold itself isn't a problem for the ops folks.  As long as the rails are intact, the locomotives run, the trains can get air, etc, it's business as usual.  

If a train can't get charged up, a loco freezes up, switches are frozen, etc, now ops has problems (and yes, I've had to deal with all of the above...)

LarryWhistling
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Posted by MKT Dave on Saturday, January 7, 2017 7:10 AM

Here in east central Oklahoma, we're at 0 F 0708 am, with 5-6 inches of snow on the ground. One little strip across the central part of the state had these snow amounts. Go north or south ten miles, less than an inch

...
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Posted by Semper Vaporo on Saturday, January 7, 2017 12:47 AM

tree68

Most railroads pay attention to such temperatures - pull-aparts do occur (see the video currently making the rounds of burning rope along the rails).

Given that the diamonds are getting pulled four ways and not just two, I'd imagine it's a concern for the MOW folks.  Perhaps not so much for the operations department.

It becomes a major headache for the Operations Department when the MOW folk are suddenly busy with pull-aparts and broken rails and smashed frogs and...

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

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Posted by cefinkjr on Friday, January 6, 2017 11:15 PM

tree68

Most railroads pay attention to such temperatures - pull-aparts do occur (see the video currently making the rounds of burning rope along the rails).

Given that the diamonds are getting pulled four ways and not just two, I'd imagine it's a concern for the MOW folks.  Perhaps not so much for the operations department.

Not really disagreeing but I think frozen switch points and filled flangeways are a bigger concern until you get into the really cold (continuous sub- sub-zero) temps for several days at a time.  I never worked any further north than Watertown, NY and then only for a few days (I'm not a glutton for punishment) but ice in the wrong places was always a greater concern on the NYC.

Chuck
Allen, TX

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Posted by tree68 on Friday, January 6, 2017 7:49 PM

Most railroads pay attention to such temperatures - pull-aparts do occur (see the video currently making the rounds of burning rope along the rails).

Given that the diamonds are getting pulled four ways and not just two, I'd imagine it's a concern for the MOW folks.  Perhaps not so much for the operations department.

LarryWhistling
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Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

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Posted by rdamon on Friday, January 6, 2017 10:03 AM

-4° now!!  .. Do they have special ops for the diamonds when it gets this cold?

 
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Posted by cefinkjr on Thursday, January 5, 2017 1:39 PM

Semper Vaporo

Its a heat wave!  It says "5°F" now!

And now I see 7°.  Break out the cold drinks.

Chuck
Allen, TX

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Posted by rdamon on Thursday, January 5, 2017 1:37 PM

Up to 7F now, but the picture is a little flakey

 

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Posted by Semper Vaporo on Thursday, January 5, 2017 12:29 PM

Its a heat wave!  It says "5°F" now!

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

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Posted by rdamon on Thursday, January 5, 2017 11:23 AM

BRRRRRRRR!!!

 

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Posted by Miningman on Monday, January 2, 2017 10:17 AM

Many Railroads celebrated the Bi-Centennial with special paint schemes..above is N&W 1776. 

Mystery solved in either case. 

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Posted by Miningman on Monday, January 2, 2017 10:15 AM

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Posted by CShaveRR on Monday, January 2, 2017 9:59 AM

Miningman
It looks like the commemorative 1776-1976 Bi-Centennial Hopper from days gone by but that would make it 40 years old ...And thats just since the paint job. Good eye, though.

 

I assume you're talking about CNW 135799, their Bicentennial hopper.  It was delivered that way from the plant, and is still in service, though it's been modified a little bit (but the paint job is original).

Having said that, the car in the webcam shot is not the CNW car.  The paint is in much better shape, and the size is more in keeping with the modern cars on the same train (the CNW car, even with its recently-added height, would stand out like a very sore thumb in that train!).  I suspect that the car in the webcam shot is fairly recent, and of aluminum construction.

And, having now said all of that, I have to confess that I have no idea what it might be.  I suspect that loaded cars on that train make a right at Gibbon Junction, and don't come our way.  

EDIT:   Found it!  It's UCEX 2015, in honor of U.S. veterans.

http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4197718  

The pink car next to it in the shot is UCEX 2014, "On Track for The Cure".  Since the pictures I saw of these cars shows them separately, I assume somebody somewhere worked very hard to get the two of them next to each other.

 

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

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Posted by BaltACD on Monday, January 2, 2017 8:35 AM

Have a new W10 laptop - trying to fire up Rochelle and the recieved screen says I need a plug in - but doesn't offer up the option to download it.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Miningman on Monday, January 2, 2017 1:34 AM

It looks like the commemorative 1776-1976 Bi-Centennial Hopper from days gone by but that would make it 40 years old ...And thats just since the paint job. Good eye though. 

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Posted by MKT Dave on Sunday, January 1, 2017 11:09 PM

Watching the UP Bailey Yard Cam, I caught this loaded coal gondola in a consist on the yards run through line, wondered is it is a commemorative car or just unique graffiti?

https://flic.kr/p/QD6haR

...
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Posted by AgentKid on Thursday, December 29, 2016 2:21 PM

They love it when a plan comes together.

At 1415 CST the local cleared the main track down the spur after a delay of at most, two minutes on the main line. That included some of that mysterious short back and forth jiggling we discussed here a few months ago.

If I don't get back before then, I would like to wish everyone here a Happy New Year.

Bruce

 

So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.

"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere"  CP Rail Public Timetable

"O. S. Irricana"

. . . __ . ______

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Posted by cefinkjr on Monday, December 26, 2016 4:44 PM

tree68
... virtually every town had a coal siding ...

  Not so much in small towns where I grew up.  A dealer just couldn't compete with the price of coal picked up at the mine by a friend (using the city's dump truck that hauled garbage to the dump 5 days a week).  Wink

I do recall a fairly unique coal dealer along Rt 51 as you approached Pittsburgh from the south in the early '50s.  His customers were no doubt apartment buildings, hospitals, churches, etc.  What made this one unique was the fact that coal was dumped from hoppers into the tops of 3 (4?) round silos about 50' above street level where it was loaded into dump trucks for delivery.  Those silos stood against a very steep embankment with a very short trestle leading to the silos.  I was very young (10?) when I saw this so I'm not sure whether Pgh Rys, P&WV, or ??? spotted hoppers atop those silos.

Chuck
Allen, TX

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