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News Wire: Fire and derailment in southern Pennsylvania

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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Saturday, August 5, 2017 11:14 AM

BaltACD
blue streak 1
Are we to understand that the train only had 2 operating locos and 3 dead locos going down sand patch ?  Balt what is the equivalent axel limit for dynamics going down Sand Patch ?  If some of the dead could have been on line just for dynamics ? ? ?  Another penny wise pound foolish example ? 

Oh wait ---  Operator error ? Nuts.

I have read that EHH is intent on eliminating the use of helpers.  Based on the train data above -
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Posted by n012944 on Thursday, August 3, 2017 6:33 PM

MP173

Not sure about today, but at one time there were two Chicago - Selkirk trains so it would make sense that one would handle Selkirk blocks (Albany and Boston) while the other would be a long manifest with multiple drops and pickups and it ends in Selkirk with Cumberland, Philly, and other traffic.

 

Ed

 

Selkirk traffic runs on two trains out of Chicago.  Q392 carries the traffic out of the BRC, while Q368 carries it out of Barr.  Q388 does not pick up a Selkirk block until the train reaches Lordstown, Oh.

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Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, August 3, 2017 8:26 AM

blue streak 1
Are we to understand that the train only had 2 operating locos and 3 dead locos going down sand patch ?  Balt what is the equivalent axel limit for dynamics going down Sand Patch ?  If some of the dead could have been on line just for dynamics ? ? ?  Another penny wise pound foolish example ? 

Oh wait ---  Operator error ? Nuts.

Since EHH's operating practices pronouncements I don't know what is actually being done.  When I was working, if the head end power did not have sufficient Dynamic Braking ability - either the rear end helper that assisted the train from Connellsville to Sand Patch would stay on the train down to Hyndman for additional braking power; or a helper headuqarted at Cumberland, after assisting at train from Hyndman to Sand Patch would attach to the Eastbound train needing additional braking and assist the train back down the grade to Hyndman.  When necessary both the strategys could be used on the same train if necessary.

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Posted by MP173 on Thursday, August 3, 2017 8:07 AM

Not sure about today, but at one time there were two Chicago - Selkirk trains so it would make sense that one would handle Selkirk blocks (Albany and Boston) while the other would be a long manifest with multiple drops and pickups and it ends in Selkirk with Cumberland, Philly, and other traffic.

 

Ed

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Thursday, August 3, 2017 6:59 AM

Are we to understand that the train only had 2 operating locos and 3 dead locos going down sand patch ?  Balt what is the equivalent axel limit for dynamics going down Sand Patch ?  If some of the dead could have been on line just for dynamics ? ? ?  Another penny wise pound foolish example ? 

Oh wait ---  Operator error ? Nuts.

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Posted by n012944 on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 10:38 PM

slotracer

What is a Chicago to Selkirk train doing SE of Pittsburg on the old B&O ??????

 

Why not?  The train doesn't carry Selkirk blocks out of Chicago, so why is there an issue with the routing?

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Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 10:36 PM

MidlandMike
 
BaltACD
 
slotracer
What is a Chicago to Selkirk train doing SE of Pittsburg on the old B&O ?????? 

My sources indicate the train was Q388 - in my working days it was Chicago to Selkirk, via Willard, Cumberland, Baltimore & Philadelphia. 

I had heard that Mr. Harrison was studying running some NY trains on the ex-B&O to see if the Water Level Route could be single tracked, but you seem to be indicating that CSX was already running trains over Sand Patch to Selkirk.  Why would CSX have taken such a long and hilly route, when they already had the Water Level Route?

To allot more space for Intermodal's on the Water Level Route

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Posted by MidlandMike on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 9:19 PM

BaltACD

 

 
slotracer
What is a Chicago to Selkirk train doing SE of Pittsburg on the old B&O ??????

 

My sources indicate the train was Q388 - in my working days it was Chicago to Selkirk, via Willard, Cumberland, Baltimore & Philadelphia.

 

I had heard that Mr. Harrison was studying running some NY trains on the ex-B&O to see if the Water Level Route could be single tracked, but you seem to be indicating that CSX was already running trains over Sand Patch to Selkirk.  Why would CSX have taken such a long and hilly route, when they already had the Water Level Route?

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Posted by Euclid on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 7:32 PM
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Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 4:02 PM

slotracer
What is a Chicago to Selkirk train doing SE of Pittsburg on the old B&O ??????

My sources indicate the train was Q388 - in my working days it was Chicago to Selkirk, via Willard, Cumberland, Baltimore & Philadelphia.

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Posted by slotracer on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 1:41 PM

What is a Chicago to Selkirk train doing SE of Pittsburg on the old B&O ??????

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Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 11:37 AM

ruderunner
Was the train decending the g rade? Do Dynamics work even if the prime mover is shut down?

No - prime mover has to be running to provide cooling air to disapate the heat that gets generated by dynamic braking.

Hyndman is the bottom of the East slope of Sand Patch grade.

No assertions yet that this was a runaway.

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Posted by ruderunner on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 11:31 AM

Was the train decending the g rade? Do Dynamics work even if the prime mover is shut down?

Modeling the Cleveland and Pittsburgh during the PennCentral era starting on the Cleveland lakefront and ending in Mingo junction

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Posted by Shadow the Cats owner on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 10:51 AM

Probably trying to get a place to sort the cars out. 

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Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 10:26 AM

178 cars, 10,600 feet, 18,200 tons, 5 engines 3 dead in tow. key train...

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Posted by Brian Schmidt on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 9:33 AM

HYNDMAN, Pa. — Firefighters are battling a blaze from a derailed CSX Transportation freight train early Wednesday morning. An eastbound CSX Transportation freight train derailed just west Hyndman, between Bedford, Pa., and Cumberland, Md., ea...

http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2017/08/02-csx-derailment-and-fire

Brian Schmidt, Editor, Classic Trains magazine

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