Resistors may be silent (not completely; there is inaudible very very low level noise as they expand when heating and contract when cooling), but the fans that cool them and keep them from melting or expanding and twisting out-of-shape, sure do make a whine.
EuclidMake sure you check your fluids and clean the carbon traps:
And be sure the cocks are open before you use your bar or roll it over a few times.
A article on the various fuel strategies the Class 1 carriers are using to minimize one of their largest budget items. Strategies concerning fuel purchase. Strategies concerning fuel delivery to locomotives. The 'back office' support necessary to implement these strategies.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACD Euclid BaltACD tree68 Enzoamps You might be surprised... It depends on the brand. If you put that kind of information in 'public'. Some 'foamers' might try to apply it, with disasterous consequence. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SxuIoZrrO8 Fortunately - there are a number of steps that have to be undertaken before you get to the Minute 42 seconds that are on the video.
Euclid BaltACD tree68 Enzoamps You might be surprised... It depends on the brand. If you put that kind of information in 'public'. Some 'foamers' might try to apply it, with disasterous consequence. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SxuIoZrrO8
BaltACD tree68 Enzoamps You might be surprised... It depends on the brand. If you put that kind of information in 'public'. Some 'foamers' might try to apply it, with disasterous consequence.
tree68 Enzoamps You might be surprised... It depends on the brand.
Enzoamps
You might be surprised...
It depends on the brand.
If you put that kind of information in 'public'. Some 'foamers' might try to apply it, with disasterous consequence.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SxuIoZrrO8
Fortunately - there are a number of steps that have to be undertaken before you get to the Minute 42 seconds that are on the video.
Make sure you check your fluids and clean the carbon traps:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY9bGqiexoY
EnzoampsHow do they "start" locomotives? I assume they don't just turn the key like in a car.
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...
Not tech exactly but has trains ever done an article about grafitti? Not just the hoows and why's of its legality but of the how's and why's it is done at all?
Modeling the Cleveland and Pittsburgh during the PennCentral era starting on the Cleveland lakefront and ending in Mingo junction
I like technical stuff. I want to know what is inside electric locomotives. I see cutaways of E units or F units, but other than one GG1 piece, I have litle idea how electrics work inside. I see box cabs with front and rear "porches" over the wheels. On some of the porches are two large vertical cylinders, what are those?
A couple years back there was an issue devoted to E-units, and one article was about Blomberg trucks. I found that fascinating. Trucks are not just sideframes with axle holes, they are complex levering arrangements. I'd like to see more on them.
DYnamic brakes are rarely more than this sentence: "Dynamic brakes turn the motors into generators to slow the train." Fans talk of dynamics "whining", Since the motor/generators turn motion into electric current, I assume fed into resistors, what exactly whines? Resistors in my world are silent.
MU uses big multiwire cable, and a few hoses. What is going through each one? What has to be connected to what to MU locomotives?
Why does the locomotive paint scheme on Amtrak seem to be unrelated to that of the coaches? Any designs that never came to be?
How do they "start" locomotives? I assume they don't just turn the key like in a car.
Murphy Siding Euclid Murphy Siding euclid- Honest question- are you a sales rep for engineered lumber based out of the Minneapolis area? No. Why do you ask? I saw enough similarities that I thought maybe I had met you before. Don't take that the wrong way.
Euclid Murphy Siding euclid- Honest question- are you a sales rep for engineered lumber based out of the Minneapolis area? No. Why do you ask?
Murphy Siding euclid- Honest question- are you a sales rep for engineered lumber based out of the Minneapolis area?
euclid- Honest question- are you a sales rep for engineered lumber based out of the Minneapolis area?
No. Why do you ask?
I saw enough similarities that I thought maybe I had met you before. Don't take that the wrong way.
No problem. I understand.
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
EuclidI have heard it expressed that people do not like technical coverage. Their eyes glaze over. It is disparagingly called "rivet counting." Instead, what they call for is more coverage of the "human element" with pictures showing people interacting with railroading. The reaction to this thinking is to make technical coverage palatable by making it simple, light, and brief. I think this trend underestimates the readers, thier interest in techincal discussion, and their ability to comprehend it. So I would like to see technical articles that go deep, but at the same time, offer the reader the luxury of technical writing that is done with the skill of making it understandable and interesting to those not well versed in the art. One area that is full of technical details is passenger and freight car trucks, and also diesel locomotive trucks. I would welcome a technical article exploring the reasoning and design tradeoffs in suspension, ride, and power distribution of trucks. I have seen good coverage of the variety of locomotive models and their types of trucks, but never much on the intricate principles of those trucks.
I think this trend underestimates the readers, thier interest in techincal discussion, and their ability to comprehend it. So I would like to see technical articles that go deep, but at the same time, offer the reader the luxury of technical writing that is done with the skill of making it understandable and interesting to those not well versed in the art.
One area that is full of technical details is passenger and freight car trucks, and also diesel locomotive trucks. I would welcome a technical article exploring the reasoning and design tradeoffs in suspension, ride, and power distribution of trucks. I have seen good coverage of the variety of locomotive models and their types of trucks, but never much on the intricate principles of those trucks.
If you cannot explain a complex subject simply, you don't understand the subject.
Neil deGrasse Tyson is the perfect example, explaining astrophysics in a manner that can be comprehended by Joe Sixpack. He understands his audience and communicates in a manner they can understand. Too many technical authors believe their articles should be able to explain all the technical questions that would get posed in a Doctoral dissertation defense and leave the audience for the article knowing nothing more about the subject than they did when they started reading it.
I have heard it expressed that people do not like technical coverage. Their eyes glaze over. It is disparagingly called "rivet counting." Instead, what they call for is more coverage of the "human element" with pictures showing people interacting with railroading. The reaction to this thinking is to make technical coverage palatable by making it simple, light, and brief.
One thought is an update on "The ABC's of Railroading" articles that appeared in some of the 1967 and '68 issues of Model Railroader. Subjects covered included wheels, grades, air brakes, etc.
I was an attendee at Cincinnati Railroad Club's tour of AMTRAK's Indianapolis Repair Facility on Nov.7th. It is the former New York Central's Beech Grove Indiana Locomotive shop where NYC built and overhauled their locomotives. It is huge. The tours 48 members were guided by four Amtrak employee guides who gave us an up close view of the work being done at the shops. They rebuild diesel locomotives and passenger cars. They send the prime movers, motors and generators out for rebuilding by contractors. They install the PTC upgrades for the locomotives. We saw a superliner after it had had the exterior water blasted to remove paint and decals down to bare stainless steel. It got new airconditioner equipment, water heater, rebuilt seats, rebuilt trucks, etc. One of our guides took delight in telling us about the cleaning of the toilet retention tanks. (Somebody has to do it.) We saw both a locomotive and a viewliner in separate paint booths being painted. We also saw the two Breda Talgo train sets in storage.
I think TRAINS had an article about Beech Grove years ago and think stories about it, Amtraks Wilmington Shop, the major shops of the class I's, the shops of the independent locomotive rebuilders and the car builders are worth consideration.
I want to see coverage of worldwide development and use of freight car load sensors, and on-train derailment detectors, including the exact details of how these devices work. I also want to see explanations of how they work with ECP brakes and with conventional pneumatically controlled air brakes. I am particularly interested in the recent plan to equip passenger trains on India Railways with derailment detectors.
Steve Sweeney So far the big themes are ECP brakes, automation (of all kinds MOW, ops, etc.), how do they _fill in the blank_? All great suggestions. I'm re-working the calendar in my mind already. In the tech column over the past year or two, I've been experimenting with more graphic/illustration treatment of stories as opposed to 1,000-word-explainers with just a photo or two. Opinions? Wishes, please "do's" or "don't's" for how you want to see these appear...
So far the big themes are ECP brakes, automation (of all kinds MOW, ops, etc.), how do they _fill in the blank_? All great suggestions. I'm re-working the calendar in my mind already.
In the tech column over the past year or two, I've been experimenting with more graphic/illustration treatment of stories as opposed to 1,000-word-explainers with just a photo or two.
Opinions? Wishes, please "do's" or "don't's" for how you want to see these appear...
It is nice to know that there are some folks who would like to hear what the folks out here in the rest of the country, and in other countries , as well, have got to say about an industry the readership is interested in!
And to Larry's (tree68) point:[in part; a posting from elsewhere in this Thread]
"...How about "a day in the life of a dispatcher" on a busy line?
Security issues duly considered, what's involved in dispatching from a center that may be a thousand miles (or more) away from a given track location? Communications (code lines, fiber optics, satellites, etc), territory familiarization, etc.
Even if a topic has been covered in the past - not everyone has subscribed since Issue Number One. In fact, a previous article may be cited as a method of comparing practices then vs now (ie, section gangs vs mechanized gangs).
Just going through 40+ year old issues may provide fodder for "then and now" articles, much as is done with the map feature..."
Firstly, I am a big supporter of ECP based on my observation of operating ECP trains in Australia. I spent some years taking measurements of train action and truck tracking characteristics on systems that have subsequently converted to all-ECP operation. So I know why they changed over.
There is no new design work required, you can buy everything you need off the shelf from Wabco or NYAB.
The equipment has not been designed to reduce the effect of derailments of block oil trains but in theory more rapid brake application on trailing tank cars should help.
But the privately owned export mineral railways and operators in Australia, including those operating on track shared with passenger trains have overwhelmingly adopted ECP brakes as a commercial investment with measurable returns and there is still no regulatory interest in mandating it.
Australia's systems use the same track and trucks as US Railroads. Some vehicles (ore cars) are heavier and some vehicles are lighter but the equipment is basically interchangeable. So apart from familiarising operators, nothing needs to be tested or developed.
Some coverage of these Australian operations emphasising the similarities to USA operations might clarify the ECP situation.
M636C
Steve SweeneySo far the big themes are ECP brakes, automation (of all kinds MOW, ops, etc.), how do they _fill in the blank_? All great suggestions. I'm re-working the calendar in my mind already. In the tech column over the past year or two, I've been experimenting with more graphic/illustration treatment of stories as opposed to 1,000-word-explainers with just a photo or two. Opinions? Wishes, please "do's" or "don't's" for how you want to see these appear...
Remember PTC is a multi-faceted 'how do they do it'. Determining the design features required from the Congressional mandate. Designing features that COULD be manufactured. Field installation of hardware from both a signal and radio viewpoint - they are different. Installation of equipment in locomotives. The design and programming of the 'back office' computer applications that must tie it all together in concert with the Class 1's multiple vendors of Computer Aided Dispatching Systems. Finally what is required from employee training and real world testing and validation of the PTC system as it is installed into operation. Each facet is worty of in depth 'how it's done' article.
Steve SweeneyDigital Editor, Hobby
Without getting propietary - what do the various rail testing "cars" "see" and how is it presented to those who need to know?
CSX in central NY has recently been giving the DS fits as they clean up after some work along the line (including some rail replacement). To go along with the rest of the MOW ideas - how do they do it, what do they do, and how do they handle the materials, as in re-use, recycle, sell to a recycler, etc.
How about "a day in the life of a dispatcher" on a busy line?
Just going through 40+ year old issues may provide fodder for "then and now" articles, much as is done with the map feature.
I agree with Uncle Jake and Edblysard above. More technical description and explanation.
_____________
"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
A basic "How it Works" and a basic "How it's Made" section would work...
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My younger brother has begun his last year with Catalyst Pulp & Paper. It's an essentially moribund industry, and listening to all he went through the past 10 years as a senior comptroller trying to figure out how to avoid parting with a single dollar, or how to save another, was grounds for some prolonged head-shaking.
Railroads are generally in much better shape, and must (surely) have a solid future. My question is, if anyone in the industry can be persuaded to part with something more than generalities without giving too much away, what is that future likely to entail? What have the head offices been losing sleep over during the past decade, particularly with efficiencies, wages, and benefits?
One could be forgiven for learning late that this site is mostly about operations and the motive equipment that provides the fandom, but what about the back offices a few doors down from the CEO's? What have they been losing sleep over, coming in for many Saturdays, and so on?
How my dear brother survived his late 50's without a heart attack is beyond me. His experience was a horrible and protracted strain whose variety only came in its cyclic nature as each year passed.
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