Where would I find America's fastest freights? Once Covid is under control, we'd like to take a trip out west. Is there someplace I can see 79 mph (isn't that the max allowed?) freight trains, hopefully a line with lots of traffic?
Still in training.
You're best bet is BNSF's Southern Transcon. Needles Sub, Seligman Sub, Gallup Sub just to name a few. 70MPH Freights with Heavy traffic. If you want some of the best scenery BNSF's Seligman sub would be the best in my opinion. The Seligman sub runs between Needles, CA, and Winslow, AZ.
If UP is your fancy the Sunset Route between Colton, CA, and El Paso, TX host 70MPH Z trains as well. Though not as busy as BNSF but plenty of traffic to keep you on your toes.
UP from Grand Island, Nebraska to Green River, Wyoming.
Thanks.
I-40 between Gallup and west of Winslow is adjacent to BNSF in many locations. I have driven at just under 80 MPH (legal speed limit) and have been able (just) to pass some of the BNSF Z trains.
Doubt that any RR authorizes freights to do more than 70 mph. Isn't that the freight limit for Class 5 track? (Guess that limit started after Super C, which was allowed 79.)
timz Doubt that any RR authorizes freights to do more than 70 mph. Isn't that the freight limit for Class 5 track? (Guess that limit started after Super C, which was allowed 79.)
FRA 213.9 limit for Class 5 freight is 80, Class 4 60 mph.
bogie_engineerFRA 213.9 limit for Class 5 freight is 80, Class 4 60 mph.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/part-213/subpart-A
We're sure to get some besserwisser saying that number ought to be "79mph" and it is important to recognize why the figure Mr. Goding gave is correct.
The Esch Act language for train control, which was preserved in the 1947 order and still applies today, specified maximum speed slightly differently from part 213. Their language pertains to '80 and over'; 213's inherently to '80 and below'.
The 1mph difference is not particularly material other than that it defines where serious Federal penalties may apply -- which is certainly enough for me to respect it.
The Santa Fe side of BNSF is probably the only railroad that still powers freight trains well enough to maintain speeds like that without a gravity assist.
Interestingly, I've noticed that the pulling power of AC traction units really drops off once you get above 50 mph, DC units of equivalent horsepower seem to do better at very high speeds.
AC dynamic braking is far better at all speeds.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
BNSF Chillicothe sub (not quite out west but getting there).. whoa! Hold on to your hat and stand well back..
The UP's old CNW line still has a few Zs that still have enough power, or less train, to run 70. I've seen that number a time or two when the stars lined up just right.
A few months ago, for about a week they had a 69 mph temporary speed restriction on a spot about a 1/4 of a mile long. Maximum speed there is 70 mph. I have no idea why the 69 temporary. It was in a space where most 70 mph trains wouldn't be doing 70 anyway. It was about in the middle of a 4 mile stretch between a permanent 60 mph and a permanent 40 mph.
Jeff
jeffhergert The UP's old CNW line still has a few Zs that still have enough power, or less train, to run 70. I've seen that number a time or two when the stars lined up just right.
A year or so ago my grandson and I paced a westbound stacker from Mechanicsville to Cedar Rapids that was doing 67. Good thing there weren't any Iowa Troopers around, and light traffic on US 30...
Brian (IA) http://blhanel.rrpicturearchives.net.
SD70Dude The Santa Fe side of BNSF is probably the only railroad that still powers freight trains well enough to maintain speeds like that without a gravity assist.
If you've ever seen the operating profile of the Southern Transcon from Fort Sumner, NM to San Bernardino, CA. They have no other option if they want to maintain a 70MPH railroad where feasible.
If you've ever seen the operating profile of the Southern Transcon from Fort Sumner, NM to San Bernardino, CA. They have no other option if they want to maintain a 70MPH railroad were feasible.
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SD60MAC9500If you've ever seen the operating profile of the Southern Transcon from Fort Sumner, NM to San Bernardino, CA. They have no other option if they want to maintain a 70MPH railroad were feasible.
SD60MAC, there are locations between the sites you mention where the two tracks have been separated to aleviate the grade issues about which you allude. And the recently built flyover at Truxton, AZ allows trains to change tracks for a favorable grade without the need to utilize 50 MPH switch crossovers, some of which have been in place for 60 years to address grade and passenger train issues.
What is the track class for the northeast corridor trains where Amtrack trains do 125 MPH?
caldreamer What is the track class for the northeast corridor trains where Amtrack trains do 125 MPH?
FRA 213.307 shows Class 6 is required for 110 mph, class 7 for up to 125, class 8 for 160 and class 9 for 200.
You can see all the track standards in this document; it may not be the latest but the first to come up in google search:
https://railroads.dot.gov/sites/fra.dot.gov/files/2020-08/2008_Track_Safety_Standards%20%281%29.pdf
Ulrich BNSF Chillicothe sub (not quite out west but getting there).. whoa! Hold on to your hat and stand well back..
Im now considering a trip to Chicago in June, and want to rent a car and go see some of that action
If you have some suggestions for train-watching spots, I'd love to hear them. Also, any notable RR buildings and infrastructure worth seeing along the entire sub. Or just unique settings the route might pass through, even if something prevents a good photo there.
Thanks in advance.
Let's light that download up, shall we?
Strangely, the link to eCFR I provided no longer shows the 'addendum' to 49CFR213 that shows the higher-track-speed classes... only a tedious 'back' and 'next' that would take seemingly forever to step to it. If you Google "49 CFR 213" it will give you several alternatives that show the whole index, and you can get the higher speeds from that.
As here: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title49/49cfr213_main_02.tpl
The high-speed stuff is in subpart G, starting at 213.301.
Again, 125 and not "124" is the highest permitted speed in that class.
Lithonia Operator Im now considering a trip to Chicago in June, and want to rent a car and go see some of that action If you have some suggestions for train-watching spots, I'd love to hear them. Also, any notable RR buildings and infrastructure worth seeing along the entire sub. Or just unique settings the route might pass through, even if something prevents a good photo there. Thanks in advance.
Check out VRF's Fort Madison, IA webcam. They don't go through there very fast, but the action's almost non-stop. Also very picturesque.
EDIT: Although almost exclusively BNSF, you'll also see a few trackage-rights UP trains go through there, as well as numerous examples of borrowed power.
Don't forget Rochelle - it's only about an hour and a half west of Chicago.
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...
Lithonia Operator Ulrich BNSF Chillicothe sub (not quite out west but getting there).. whoa! Hold on to your hat and stand well back.. Im now considering a trip to Chicago in June, and want to rent a car and go see some of that action If you have some suggestions for train-watching spots, I'd love to hear them. Also, any notable RR buildings and infrastructure worth seeing along the entire sub. Or just unique settings the route might pass through, even if something prevents a good photo there. Thanks in advance.
Chillicothe, IL.. I went to Peoria, IL back in the fall of 2014 for a couple of days on business. Rented a car and drove up to Chillicothe in the evening.. very busy with lots of very fast intermodal and TOFC trains. Volumes have only gone up since then, so I doubt you'd be disappointed. As for other sites, I can't really say.. I was only in the area for a couple of days.. in and out.. meetings, plant tour, and one evening to myself and then back home.
Thanks, Ulrich.
Were there any manifest trains?
Lithonia Operator Thanks, Ulrich. Were there any manifest trains?
Yes, some manifest trains too as I recall..But not near as many as the intermodal. But either which many..very busy. I got there..parked my car near trackside and didn't have to wait more than ten minutes for the train parade to begin. Was sorry to leave but I had to catch a flight back.
Ulrich Lithonia Operator Thanks, Ulrich. Were there any manifest trains? Yes, some manifest trains too as I recall..But not near as many as the intermodal. But either which many..very busy. I got there..parked my car near trackside and didn't have to wait more than ten minutes for the train parade to begin. Was sorry to leave but I had to catch a flight back.
Thanks! Sounds great.
If Covid has been beaten back enough by June, we're going to take the trip I described over in the Passenger forum and spend some time there, and also find some UP trains to photograph.
Same here..once this covid stuff is behind us I might just head back there myself.. this time with no time limitation. Sure seemed like a nice area..likely alot of other stuff to see as well.
diningcar SD60MAC, there are locations between the sites you mention where the two tracks have been separated to aleviate the grade issues about which you allude. And the recently built flyover at Truxton, AZ allows trains to change tracks for a favorable grade without the need to utilize 50 MPH switch crossovers, some of which have been in place for 60 years to address grade and passenger train issues.
Indeed there have been and will continue to be, but there's still grades in excess of 1% both East and Westbound. Then you have the Arizona Divide, Cajon Pass, etc. BNSF can not operate a 70MPH railroad across the territory with a low HP/T ratio that has become prevelant in todays railroading.
P.S. Diningcar Not sure if you knew this or not Ashfork is a crew change point again.
Lithonia Operator you might enjoy this video and learn a lesson as well toward the end of it when railfanning in the desert. Enjoy!
Thanks, SD60MAC. If I'm out there, I'll be careful regarding the sand etc. I enjoyed the video.
Lithonia Operator Ulrich Lithonia Operator Thanks, Ulrich. Were there any manifest trains? Yes, some manifest trains too as I recall..But not near as many as the intermodal. But either which many..very busy. I got there..parked my car near trackside and didn't have to wait more than ten minutes for the train parade to begin. Was sorry to leave but I had to catch a flight back. Thanks! Sounds great. If Covid has been beaten back enough by June, we're going to take the trip I described over in the Passenger forum and spend some time there, and also find some UP trains to photograph.
Lithonia:
The Iowa Interstate's Bureau-Peoria line also runs thru Chillicothe, IL. Traffic is light compared to BNSF, but includes some Rock Island heritage units and Norfolk Southern haulage rights trains. There is also a very nice restored Rock Island depot in Chillicothe.
West of Chillicothe is the famous Edelstein Hill where the former AT&SF mainline climbs out of the Mississpippi River valley (so much for Illinois all being flat!). There's a lot of nice photo spots all the way up the grade to Edelstein, IL.
IMHO, though, the best place to go see the Chillicothe Sub is Galesburg, IL. Galesburg is a massive BNSF terminal with ex-BN lines coming in from Chicago, Peoria, Paducah, St.Louis/Kansas City, Lincoln, and the Twin Cities. The Chillicothe Sub passes under the ex-BN trackage near downtown, with a double wye connection between the AT&SF and BN lines east of Cameron, IL and a flyover in Cameron, IL. There is bridge right over the middle of the yard that you can park on, with great views of the locomotive servicing facility and the switchers working the trim end of the yard. Amtrak trains from 3 different routes converge in Galesburg (Illinois Zephyr, Southwest Chief, and California Zephyr). The Southwest Chief uses the Cameron connection to get on/off the ex-AT&SF trackage west of Galesburg.
In short, there's LOTS of stuff to see. I believe Virtual Railfan has a Galesburg camera now. Google it and take a look.
Ash Fork is not a great place to change crews. Poor Motels and eating establishments. But perhaps BNSF has found a way to make Ash Fork more desireable. I presume the unions signed off on this. Do you have infowhy the change?
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