rdamon jeffhergert I didn't know a DP had a right direction. Jeff I am sure there is a wrong direction however ... :)
jeffhergert I didn't know a DP had a right direction. Jeff
I didn't know a DP had a right direction.
Jeff
I am sure there is a wrong direction however ... :)
There is sort of a wrong direction. When setting up the DP units, there is a button to set the DP control unit "same as lead/opposite as lead". This compensates the DP control unit should it be facing "backwards." If the DP is facing backwards and set same as lead, the DP will pull away from the train. It's happened a few times.
So, Jeff, you not only have to know your territory, you also have to know which way your DP unit is facing?
Johnny
Deggesty So, Jeff, you not only have to know your territory, you also have to know which way your DP unit is facing?
If you set up the consist you do. I once doubled up a train together where the hostlers had set up the DP consist and placed it in the train. Leaving town I noticed the DP loading erractically and then dropping it's load completely. I notified the locomotive help desk and they thought it was dirty/plugged fuel filters. At one point we stopped on the subdivision ruling grade. It was one heck of a pull, but we got started. A few towns over we picked up a MOP (road foreman to others) and told him what was going on. (He wasn't there to check on us, but needed a ride back home. He even had the conductor, being a set back engineer, take the controls to give him his required ride to keep his qualifications up.) Upon arrival at our home terminal a mechanical guy came out and changed the fuel filters. A few weeks later I talked to the outbound engineer who took the train east. He said he got about 50 miles and still was having the same problem. He chanced to move the train with the DP alone at a place where he got stopped. It started moving backwards and that's how they discovered the DP was set up wrong. Now anytime I put a train together where the DP is already set up, I either get on the DP or test it (by starting up only with the DP) before departing.
There have been a few other instances of DPs set up wrong. Some were caught right away, others also went a few hundred miles before being discovered.
Makes me think of Dr. Dolittle ..
rdamon Makes me think of Dr. Dolittle ..
And THAT reminds ME of a friend's name for an early Amtrak color scheme on GG1s. They were basically silver with blue lettering and red "noses". His name for them was, of course, Red Nosed Pushupullmes.
ChuckAllen, TX
I haven't seen anyone mention it, but the zoom feature on the railcam has been back for a couple of days now. It's a little jerky om my laptop, but it works.
Tom
Pittsburgh, PA
jeffhergert Now anytime I put a train together where the DP is already set up, I either get on the DP or test it (by starting up only with the DP) before departing.
Is this not already in your operating manual? It is in CN's.
10000 feet and no dynamics? Today is going to be a good day ...
Rio Grande heritage unit 1989 just crossed the diamond westbound on UP. Fourth engine back. 8:50PM EDT.
Mark F Rio Grande heritage unit 1989 just crossed the diamond westbound on UP. Fourth engine back. 8:50PM EDT.
Just got a glimpse of what I think was the Southern Pacific heritage unit, leading a westbound intermodal all by itself.
/Mr Lynn
MrLynnJust got a glimpse of what I think was the Southern Pacific heritage unit, leading a westbound intermodal all by itself.
It just came back east as the first of two on an intermodal that cleared the diamonds at 1241 CDT.
Bruce
So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.
"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere" CP Rail Public Timetable
"O. S. Irricana"
. . . __ . ______
AgentKid MrLynn Just got a glimpse of what I think was the Southern Pacific heritage unit, leading a westbound intermodal all by itself. It just came back east as the first of two on an intermodal that cleared the diamonds at 1241 CDT. Bruce
MrLynn Just got a glimpse of what I think was the Southern Pacific heritage unit, leading a westbound intermodal all by itself.
You're both talking as if there is only one SP heritage unit. Is there only one of each heritage unit? Wouldn't surprise me of UP to have painted several heritage units for SP, CNW, RGW, etc. Good PR.
cefinkjrGood PR.
Far from it. They're protecting their name rights.
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...
Caught it!!!
Uh-huh. Now that you have it, what are you going to do with it?
The man asked his dog after the dog caught a car.
Actually, it is very nice.
Score one for my home team.
A WB UP oil train cleared the diamonds at 1527 CDT with a Canadian Pacific unit as the second of two, followed by a Soo Line covered hopper as a buffer car.
Yay!
Just saw the Katy unit go by .. looks like part of a power move with a small train.
Looks like they were set up to do some work today ... but the rain may have other plans
rdamonLooks like they were set up to do some work today ... but the rain may have other plans
There are very few railroad work operations that a little rain will stop.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Got two ...
Back out 2 hours later ...
rdamon Back out 2 hours later ...
And Turned.
A trespassing incident just occurred. Three people and one dog were walking east right along the south rail of UP #2 track just north of the connection track off of BNSF #2 just as a west bound UP stack train pulled by a single engine entered the crossing, blasting the horn. a BNSF track gang was working around the swiitch but were only aware of the trespassers due to the horn blasting. The idiots did not move clear of the track until the engine was ON the diamonds. The engineer plugged the train which, of course, did not come to a stop for several car lengths past where the trespassers had been. Meanwhile the trespassers proceeded around the connection track along the BNSF, passing the track gang. One or more of the track gang talked to them, but did not not otherwise confront them. They continued along the BNSF tracks, still trespassing rigtht out of the camera frame.
The train reported the incident to the DS, who replied that, by coincidence, he had swithed on "the camera" and had seen the incident. I wonder if the camera is our EarthCam or if UP has their own camera?
xjqcf A trespassing incident just occurred. Three people and one dog were walking east right along the south rail of UP #2 track just north of the connection track off of BNSF #2 just as a west bound UP stack train pulled by a single engine entered the crossing, blasting the horn. a BNSF track gang was working around the swiitch but were only aware of the trespassers due to the horn blasting. The idiots did not move clear of the track until the engine was ON the diamonds. The engineer plugged the train which, of course, did not come to a stop for several car lengths past where the trespassers had been. Meanwhile the trespassers proceeded around the connection track along the BNSF, passing the track gang. One or more of the track gang talked to them, but did not not otherwise confront them. They continued along the BNSF tracks, still trespassing rigtht out of the camera frame. The train reported the incident to the DS, who replied that, by coincidence, he had swithed on "the camera" and had seen the incident. I wonder if the camera is our EarthCam or if UP has their own camera?
BaltACD rdamon Looks like they were set up to do some work today ... but the rain may have other plans There are very few railroad work operations that a little rain will stop.
rdamon Looks like they were set up to do some work today ... but the rain may have other plans
One day I was having electrical problems with my lead unit. It would reduce it's load and give the message (going by memory) something about firing crowbars. When I reported to locomotive maintenance, the EMD desk asked what the weather was like. Partly cloudy, but there had been rain west of where we got on. The tech said that it was likely that water was getting into the electrical gear somewhere. After that I told the conductor that I guess we are no longer an all weather railroad. (IIRC, the traction motors on the one of the trucks was causing the fault. The only thing we could do was determine which truck and cut it out.)
"Firing crowbars"?
What in the world could the system have meant?
jeffhergert BaltACD rdamon Looks like they were set up to do some work today ... but the rain may have other plans There are very few railroad work operations that a little rain will stop. One day I was having electrical problems with my lead unit. It would reduce it's load and give the message (going by memory) something about firing crowbars. When I reported to locomotive maintenance, the EMD desk asked what the weather was like. Partly cloudy, but there had been rain west of where we got on. The tech said that it was likely that water was getting into the electrical gear somewhere. After that I told the conductor that I guess we are no longer an all weather railroad. (IIRC, the traction motors on the one of the trucks was causing the fault. The only thing we could do was determine which truck and cut it out.) Jeff
During my working days, I always featured that CSX was 'The Fair Weather Line'. If the weather was anything outside of 'pleasant' - problems mounted - rain caused trains to stall on grades, thunderstorms damaged signal equipment, heat caused slow orders and sun kinks, cold caused broken rails and pull-a-parts, snow caused frozen switches and difficulties for MofW personnel trying to get to the frozen switches. Hurricane cause routine line closures and sporatic line damage (Katrina caused several hundred million dollars of damage and 6 months of expeditied reconstruction activity to rectify the damage.) Fortunately CSX is not located in an active earthquake zone and has not experience a tsunami. Tornados have caused damage from time to time.
The first 'cold snap' night would generally leave 10 - 20 'track circuits' - track circuits that were inspected and found to be broken rails and pull-a-parts. After the first cold night of the season the track circuits would diminish as the physical plant becomes accustomed to cold weather.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.