Thank You.
NDGNote CP 8547 in Photo. This order had Sealed Beam Headlights within a Large Circular Glass-Face opening.
I believe this was a retrofit than many railroads used, replacing the large, single lamp reflector.
Perhaps those pieces of sheet metal were already cut.
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...
The ditchlights on modern units also get pretty scummy after trailing for a while, they get covered in dirt and track grease that gets thrown up by the wheels. The "Grime-Free" hand cleaner packets we get are pretty good at dissolving this stuff, and then you can easily wipe it off with some paper towels.
I've replaced a few headlight bulbs and many marker light bulbs over the years (CN still puts red lights on DP capable units), but I wouldn't dream of trying that while we're moving.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
SD70DudeI've replaced a few headlight bulbs and many marker light bulbs over the years (CN still puts red lights on DP capable units), but I wouldn't dream of trying that while we're moving.
Trivia: For those familiar with the animated movie "Polar Express," the headlight bulb changing scene was relatively authentic (aside from being done on a moving train, etc).
The train sounds for the movie were recorded using PM 1225 at Owosso. After the sound crew had left, it apparently occurred to someone at the production company that they should know how the bulb was changed in the headlight. They requested that SRI (Steam Railroading Institute) video the process, which SRI did. And you've seen the result.
Didn't some of Western Pacific's early Geeps use those garbage-can headlights?
Some interesting sealed-beam conversions were tried. NYC and B&O used what I recall was a Pyle conversion that attached on the front of a headlight, replacing the glass and frame -- this defines some of the familiar look of a Niagara. PRR put vertical sealed beams behind glass on quite a few GG1s. I have seen ONE picture of a T1 converted to two sealed beams (vertically arranged) -- in Indiana in 1948. (Didn't the Australian T1-tribute 4-8-4s wind up with horizontal pairs of sealed beams?)
At least one Southern railroad -- I think ACL -- put SEVEN sealed-beam units in one headlight housing... which as I recall had glass in front, perhaps not for too long. I suspect this did not last any longer than UP and C&NW's vertical 'spotlight' headlights (another fascinating idea).
As an aside, those "Golden Glow" reflectors use uranium glass. Radium glass at a concentration that would show any color would be... unadvisable. (And about eight-figure expensive in the '20s!)
FYI.
O T.
NDGCSL A Lovely Advertisement from Sixty Years Ago.
CSL's ships still ply the Seaway. I see them in the 1000 Islands frequently. Those ships running through the Welland Canal and the St Lawrence River are limited to just over 700' (IIRC) due to the size of the locks involved.
The "footers" can run everything west of the Welland Canal - they are 1000' and more (longest is 1,014'). The Soo Locks can handle them. They are impressive.
There is an impressive community of fans of ships comparable to railfans.
Hanging on the wall in my grandmother's retirement home was a terrific aerial shot of one of those boats passing under Bridge 13 (Main Street) as it threaded its way through downtown Welland. Before the canal was relocated the city would be cut in half for about 30 minutes every time a boat went through.
It's been suggested that some mysterious ship disappearances in the forties and before were due to the same phenomenon as the SS Grandcamp in Texas City.
The captain of the Grandcamp attempted to fight a fire in the hold by flooding the hold with steam. The problem was that the cargo was ammonium nitrate. These days it's known as a blasting agent. Pieces of the ship were found miles away.
NDGFYI. Snow Removal, Montreal, 1957. https://www.nfb.ca/film/snow_fighters/ Conventional White and COE Sicard Trucks w Suicide Doors clearing Snow in Montreal Manpower required. Streetcars had two 2 years to go. At Time 6:50 as truck turns to back into snow dump hole, across the street beneath streetlight, a horse-drawn side walk plow is standing. A gasoline Narrow Gauge side walk plow seen elsewhere. Thank You.
Can't think of anything more dangerous than personnel working immediately in front of the snow thrower and its operating, unguarded, auger rotating only a slip, trip or fall from disaster.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
NDGSnow Removal, Montreal, 1957. https://www.nfb.ca/film/snow_fighters/ Conventional White and COE Sicard Trucks w Suicide Doors clearing Snow in Montreal
Watching this brought to mind a question I have always had. At about 4:48, there is a grader shown clearing snow. Why is it that the front wheels on graders are designed to tilt from one side or the other?
adkrr64Why is it that the front wheels on graders are designed to tilt from one side or the other?
I've always been under the impression that it was to better counteract the side force of the blade, particularly when cutting.
Note that when used for cutting (ie, grading a road by taking off the top layer) the angle of the blade itself is different than when it's being used for moving snow, when the angle is more dragging than cutting. I don't think that's adjustable from the cab - you have to loosen bolts and adjust the tilt of the blade.
No snow blowers for urban streets that I've ever seen. The Illinois Tollway Authority does have winged snowplows in their snowfighting fleet. They have a definite resemblance to a Jordan spreader when the wings are extended.
tree68 adkrr64 Why is it that the front wheels on graders are designed to tilt from one side or the other? I've always been under the impression that it was to better counteract the side force of the blade, particularly when cutting. Note that when used for cutting (ie, grading a road by taking off the top layer) the angle of the blade itself is different than when it's being used for moving snow, when the angle is more dragging than cutting. I don't think that's adjustable from the cab - you have to loosen bolts and adjust the tilt of the blade.
adkrr64 Why is it that the front wheels on graders are designed to tilt from one side or the other?
Cutting Edge Engineering has a series of videos detailing repairs being made to a Cat Grader. In this particular video it is demonstrated that the blade can be moved to almost any angle and position that the operator may want for whatever the reaseon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LK1Wq1HgSVE
CSSHEGEWISCH No snow blowers for urban streets that I've ever seen. The Illinois Tollway Authority does have winged snowplows in their snowfighting fleet. They have a definite resemblance to a Jordan spreader when the wings are extended.
A city near me uses snowblowers to clear out the streets as a clean-up method. Faster than front loaders. Some town and county highway departments have them, and the state definitely does. We're in the "snow belt," so single snowfalls of a foot or more are always a consideration.
Some municipalities have snowblowers that hang on a front loader.
Virtually all plows used on the highways in this area (and many used in cities and villages) have at least a right side wing. Some have wings on both sides. Localities generally use a "wing man," although the state has gone to one-man plows for many routes. The driver operates the wing.
The underbody scraper I saw used in Michigan back in the day is a rarity here.
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