cnwdonCShaveRR: I wanted to send a conversation request but it doesn't seem to be functioning, so replied to your most recent post here.
Sadly Carl passed away.
cnwdon P.S.: Understand West Chic to Nelson was CTC, but believe remainder was T&TO with ATC and automatic cab signal protection??
P.S.: Understand West Chic to Nelson was CTC, but believe remainder was T&TO with ATC and automatic cab signal protection??
cnwdon: you must've missed this topic-
https://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/t/291541.aspx
Brian (IA) http://blhanel.rrpicturearchives.net.
CShaveRR: I wanted to send a conversation request but it doesn't seem to be functioning, so replied to your most recent post here. I will start a thread if need be. I saw your discussion of the ATC portion of CNW Galena Division in a 2005 thread post about safe operation with cab signals and ATC but no lineside signals save interlockings, Chicago-Clinton. Looking for more information about that system for my 1955 Chicago to W. Chicago model railroad. Were there automatic blocks communicating with cab signals only, for instance, esp in 3 track zone from Proviso to West end of West Chicago yard? Grew up in Wheaton within a mile of CNW till leaving for college in 1967, see that you're retired in Lombard.
Don
Amtrak has a standard of replacing heaters every 40 years. Components every 10 years. Source the following link pages 17 - 18.
Infrastructure Asset Line Plan Appendix A FY21-26 (amtrak.com)
You can add rail grinders to that conversation...
Murphy SidingI live on the upper plains where we can have very bad winters, but I've never seen a switch heater. Are they there, and I'm just not seeing them?
From your description of your location, it sounds as if you are located on a secondary line, rather than a high traffic Main Line. As such, the carriers 'generally' only put switch heaters on their Main Line control point where the switches and signals are operated from a remote location. From your descriptions, I suspect the railroad in your specific area is operating under Track Warrent Control and in many if not most cases the crews will need to manually sweep out the switch to permit them to throw the switches necessary for their route.
Heaters are not required at railroad crossings at grade - only where switches need to be manipulated for the meeting and/or passing of trains.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Murphy SidingI'll have to look. Would they only be at interlockings where one railroad crosses another, or would they be used at switches where a train is just switched over to an adjacent track?
We have them mostly at control points - switches with signals.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
zugmann Murphy Siding I live on the upper plains where we can have very bad winters, but I've never seen a switch heater. Are they there, and I'm just not seeing them? Are there propane tanks and big silvery things near the switches at the interlockings?
Murphy Siding I live on the upper plains where we can have very bad winters, but I've never seen a switch heater. Are they there, and I'm just not seeing them?
Are there propane tanks and big silvery things near the switches at the interlockings?
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
I live on the upper plains where we can have very bad winters, but I've never seen a switch heater. Are they there, and I'm just not seeing them?
The heaters in view of the Deshler cam are flame, not forced air. Based on chat that accompanies the cam, they have to be manually lit. I've never observed that actually happening, but the regulars would know. And many of them know the local maintainer.
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...
Electroliner 1935 BaltACD Feature that there are MORE switch heaters in use now than in the past. In the past there were many MofW employees available to manually clean and sweep switches to keep them operating - those employees no longer exist. On the CB&Q (BNSF) Chicago raceway, the forced air switch heaters were installed (if my memory is correct) in the 80's or 90's. at the interlocings that are used daily by Metra such as Halsted, Cicero, Congress Park, East Hinsdale, West Hinsdale, Fairview, Lisle, etc.
BaltACD Feature that there are MORE switch heaters in use now than in the past. In the past there were many MofW employees available to manually clean and sweep switches to keep them operating - those employees no longer exist.
On the CB&Q (BNSF) Chicago raceway, the forced air switch heaters were installed (if my memory is correct) in the 80's or 90's. at the interlocings that are used daily by Metra such as Halsted, Cicero, Congress Park, East Hinsdale, West Hinsdale, Fairview, Lisle, etc.
As a kid, in the 1959-62 era I would go to Chicago from Garrett, IN every month to six weeks to visit All Nation Hobby Shop among other stops, going up and back on the Capitol Limited.
One time I went up with a friend (also a B&O kid) who had a friend out in Downers Grove - we rode one of the CB&Q scoots out to visit him - in the winter - in a snow storm - all the switches along the way had one form or another of flaming switch heaters.
BaltACDFeature that there are MORE switch heaters in use now than in the past. In the past there were many MofW employees available to manually clean and sweep switches to keep them operating - those employees no longer exist.
blue streak 1alt . I was considering those pots were seitch heaters as well. They certainly worked the few times needed. Those yards that now need pots will no longer get them when the switches may ice up only 4 or 5 days once every several years Look what happened on the RF&P last week among other things.
Look what happened on the RF&P last week among other things.
Mid-Atlantic snows of a foot or more of seriously wet snow is well beyond the capacity of most switch heaters - especially the kerosene fired 'smudge pots'.
To function, switch heaters must be maintained. Considering PSR, leaves me wondering how much MofW time (trackmen & signalmen) was allocated to having all the switch heaters up to spedifications at the start of the snow.
The other thing that is involved after it starts snowing, railroad personnel have to use the codlocked highway system to reach the control points that may be having snow issues.
Back in the olden days - each 'control point' was normally an interlocking with a Train Order Operator 24/7/365 and also had ITS OWN signal maintainer assigned to it and the automatic road crossings near the interlocking. Additionally there was generally a 8 to 10 man track force headquartered at the interlocking - between the signal and track forces, back then, many lived within walking distance of their headquarters. A different world.
alt . I was considering those pots were seitch heaters as well. They certainly worked the few times needed. Those yards that now need pots will no longer get them when the switches may ice up only 4 or 5 days once every several years
tree68 "OMG, the tracks are on fire!"
I wonder if Union Pacific has considered using this type heater in the LA section where looting has been such a problem? (debris management)
blue streak 1I can imagine that nation wide there are fewer switch heaters today than in the past. As a kid my little RR yard had kerosene pots heating the switches maybe 4 or 5 days a year. Now there is no one to place the pots there when needed. Multiply that by nationwide lack of track workers.
Feature that there are MORE switch heaters in use now than in the past. In the past there were many MofW employees available to manually clean and sweep switches to keep them operating - those employees no longer exist.
Today's switch heaters are such that they can automatically detect snow fall and turn on automatically or such that they can be turned on by whomever has control of the control point they are located at.
CShaveRR So they just drag out the old, worn articles and try and sucker someone into falling for them.
If it bleeds, it leads. "OMG, the tracks are on fire!"
CShaveRRI don't think that has sunken in with anyone from the media. So they just drag out the old, worn articles and try and sucker someone into falling for them.
I doubt much of the public really cares that much about wintertime track work.
I can imagine that nation wide there are fewer switch heaters today than in the past. As a kid my little RR yard had kerosene pots heating the switches maybe 4 or 5 days a year. Now there is no one to place the pots there when needed. Multiply that by nationwide lack of track workers.
darn double posts!. It strikes again
Pull-aparts and keeping switch-points clear are two different things entirely. I don't think that has sunken in with anyone from the media. So they just drag out the old, worn articles and try and sucker someone into falling for them.By the way, the switch-point ice-melters probably have bluer flames.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
Nah their not having fun until they're needing torches and flares to get the couplers to work. Around here winter can make our shop foreman one cranky person. Especially when we have a blower for a pneumatic truck eat a slug of ice. That tends to break a 5 to 6 grand piece of equipment fairly spectacularly.
Convicted One Murphy Siding . Aren't these just gas fired switch heaters they're showing
Murphy Siding
. Aren't these just gas fired switch heaters they're showing
It looks mostly blue in real life, and burns clean since I've never seen smoke from these things. No matter what switch heater tecnology is used, it will have a "carbon footprint". Still less of a footprint than if everyone drove instead of riding the trains!
- Ed Kkyle
I like how one of the comments on the Metro video asks "why don't they just make the tracks out of something that doesn't freeze?" I hope they're just kidding.
Dragons and firesnakes (yawn)
Murphy Siding CSSHEGEWISCH I've noticed that this story tends to make the national news every winter. Brought to us, I'm sure, by the folks that fry an egg on the sidewalk every summer.
CSSHEGEWISCH I've noticed that this story tends to make the national news every winter.
I've noticed that this story tends to make the national news every winter.
Brought to us, I'm sure, by the folks that fry an egg on the sidewalk every summer.
They'll never top that German footage of some Afrika Korps guys frying an egg on one of the tanks!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=294SBNdW5nI
This story hits the TV news every year and I have seen these (both fires and TV) from when I started ('60s) commuting on the C&NW, then UP, then Metra. Biggest show is at the Western Ave interlocking where the former Milwaukee Road crossed the C&NW. It has movable frogs in addition to the points and since trains come out of the C&NW station (Ogilvie Transportation Center) and Union Staion on three minute headways, snow could really mess up things. It is an amazing sight to see. This from 2019.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REhIqRa3zO4
The original posts link has Metra's chief explaining why they still use the gas burners. At other locations around Chicago, they use gas forced air heaters that are ducted around the moving parts of their switches. At Western ave and Ogilvie T.C. there is insufficient area to install that equipment.
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