What I am hearing, is that bcause of expensive fuel spill clean-ups and tighter environmental regulation, new fuel depots are built to better prevent/contain spillage and are more costly. I would assume that fuel depots are getting fewer and farther apart. I have seen videos of rolling crew changes, and refueling was not an option.
DeggestyFueling the City of New Orleans at Memphis may be standard practice; My wife and I went through Memphis during the time that the train had to go through the freight yard because a culvert beneath the pasenger track had collapsed, and the engine was fueled at the stop that was made for passengers to transfer to/from the bus(es) that ferried them to/from the station.
It was standard practice then because there were two complete trainsets involved, one south of the break, and one that terminated in Memphis going southbound (arriving from Chicago in the morning) and then sat there all day until departure back to Chicago after 10 pm. Unsurprisingly with no access to fuel facilities in New Orleans, and that long a wait, and with easy road access up to within a few feet of the locomotives, Central Station was an obvious place to perform refueling. I never saw how the southern-end train was refueled.
Deggesty Fueling the City of New Orleans at Memphis may be standard practice; My wife and I went through Memphis during the time that the train had to go through the freight yard because a culvert beneath the pasenger track had collapsed, and the engine was fueled at the stop that was made for passengers to transfer to/from the bus(es) that ferried them to/from the station. Passengers were warned that no smoking was allowed at that stop. I had not noticed such an operation when the train passed through the station. Perhaps the usual operation is such that there almost no danger that a passenger would wander towards the engine?
Fueling the City of New Orleans at Memphis may be standard practice; My wife and I went through Memphis during the time that the train had to go through the freight yard because a culvert beneath the pasenger track had collapsed, and the engine was fueled at the stop that was made for passengers to transfer to/from the bus(es) that ferried them to/from the station. Passengers were warned that no smoking was allowed at that stop. I had not noticed such an operation when the train passed through the station. Perhaps the usual operation is such that there almost no danger that a passenger would wander towards the engine?
Bismarck-Mandan has fuling facilities for trains headded in either direction (at each end of the terminal).
I know that AMTK refuels at Minot ND, cause I seen 'em do it. North Dakota does not permit smoking in buildings, nor is it permitted on the train platform.
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BroadwayLionYou can figure 200 miles. Crews change every 200 miles, they may as well put some fuel in the tank. You never know whn a unit wil be left idling somewhere overnight getting 0 mpg.
The only time I have ever seen a consist fueled at a 'field' crew change was via a 10-wheel contract truck, on Amtrak at Memphis Central Station. And I had the very strong impression it was an exceptional or at least unusual thing, although perhaps I should have asked. I am sure it happens from time to time, as it's indeed an ideal opportunity and usually at least a convenient place -- if it is a spot where a crew van can go, there may likely be access for the fuel truck.
On the other hand, ISTR we had a discussion about fueling facilities. I do not remember whether a crew makes a 'special' stop there, or a crew change point is co-located: someone here like Dave Husman or Don Oltmann will know. But the tanks on modern road power will be sized to assure that a typical trip segment between regular fueling points will be easily accomplished, even on services like unit coal trains.
Someone (the odds-on candidate being Peter Clark) can quote the average SFC at each throttle position over typical profiles with a given drawbar load, and the tankage capacity, of modern road power. That will give you a somewhat more precise idea of expected capacity in the absence of delays or other trouble, which is what I think you are asking about.
With engines SD40-2 or better, 1000 miles (adjusted for weather, grades, tonnage, etc.)
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BroadwayLionBut then I suppose that rules also say that the engineer should check his fuel status before departing the terminal.
1. Assuming the gauges are working right and/or accurate.
2. Then you have to assume someone with a tad bit of authority didn't order a crew out with a low fuel level. Yeah, it happens.
I can't help CO, as most of our mainline trains get refuled at a mainline facility, even if they are only a few hundred gallons below F.
Now my other terminal, that had Gp38-2s with ~2000 gallon fuel tanks would see the fuel truck once a week. You could squeak 2 weeks out of those engines in yard/local service, but it was running on mostly fumes by the end of that period. Most yardmasters were smart enough to keep those engines in the yard when they got that low, where running out wasn't a huge crisis.
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The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
You can figure 200 miles. Crews change every 200 miles, they may as well put some fuel in the tank. You never know whn a unit wil be left idling somewhere overnight getting 0 mpg.
I think I heard that they have biunkerage for about 500 miles, but what do I knwo, I am a LION, not a railroad engineer. Back in the '70s I was working in the news room at WNEW (NYC-as a 'copy boy) when across the wire comes a report that an LIRR commuter train ran out of fuel mid route between Montauk and Jamaica.
Contract specified that the fuel jobber would come and fill the engines at Montauk since the railroad had no fuel facilities of their own. But then I suppose that rules also say that the engineer should check his fuel status before departing the terminal.
Typically, (YES I am aware that variables come into play) how many miles does a main line freight travel between fueling? Mostly level ground, manifest freight, moderate weather...looking for a rule of thumb type figure not an iron clad guarantee.
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