Multiple units shut down

[billgail]

A friend asked me the other day when 3-4 locomotives were going down the track do they shut down some of the units when they are on a flat zero grade and then start up those units when they get to a grade increase or need to accelerate to higher speed. I told him I thought that they continue using all the locomotives all the time with the exception of perhaps deadheading a unit or two. Bill Laughland

[csxengineer98]

fuel conservation....
with the high price of fuel.... railroads have had but are strongly inforceing fuel conservation rules.... and one of the rules is...only keep units that are needed running..others must be shut down to save fuel...now when they got to the grade where they needed the extra power...they started them up....
csx engineer

[dippyracing]

BNSF Shuts down units when returning Empty Coal trains. They also have a speed limit of 60 MPH

[dippyracing]

Fuel is the Biggest single cost in Running a railroad. You bet they shut off everytime time a can get by

[Overmod]

There is also equipment that will shut down or depower trailing locomotives that are not needed for traction -- for example, Select-A-Power. See here:

http://www.railroad.net/articles/columns/hottimes/hottimes_20020827.php

for a discussion of some of the approaches that have been tried. (Note that these usually do NOT involve shutting the diesel engines in the trailing units down; rather, they either reduce to idle (which can be done via separate circuitry from MU control and such) or limit the amount of engine throttle advance. (A good reason for this is that most current locomotive diesel engines don't use antifreeze, and might quickly suffer freeze damage if shut down in cold weather...)

More modern systems of DPU control have a bit more control over how trailing units in a consist can be depowered.

[billgail]

60mph wow! I live in the southern tier of NY and many times I can run next to the train and beat them to the crossing. I appreciate your quick returns and this was my first contribution to the forum. Look forward to reading and learning
Bill

[dippyracing]

I might add that shut down Locos are in idle mode to keep from freezing up in cold wheather. The engines are just idling (saving fuel)

[billgail]

Has it always been this way or is this cutting down something they have started recently as a cost savings measure?

[csxengineer98]

QUOTE: Originally posted by billgail

Has it always been this way or is this cutting down something they have started recently as a cost savings measure?

the railroads have always been into saveing fuel..even in the steam days their is a right and a wrong way to fire a steam engin to get the most or the least out of the coal being burned... and in todays world.... fuel conservation is a big deal... they have all kinds of rules for fuel useage..such as useing dynmaic brakeing insted of strech brakeing..and the shuting down of units not needed for power... but when fuel hit its altime high....they have been on fuel conservation hard core...
csx engineer

[Anonymous]

Here is a nasty thought.. I wonder if the railroads run the foriegn power flat out inside a consist while home units idle along in the lead?

[csxengineer98]

QUOTE: Originally posted by HighIron2003ar

Here is a nasty thought.. I wonder if the railroads run the foriegn power flat out inside a consist while home units idle along in the lead?

umm...no....
csx engineer

[wabash1]

what csx forgot to tell you is that it dont matter what the company wants they wont shut the units down its the engineer who decides if he wants to shut units down or not. if i want i run all of them ( on line 24 axel) with GE power you need them. Save fuel is only a dream I dont have pitty on them when they bury you in the siding for 5-6 hrs waiting on trains that havent even made it to the relief point. It never fails have a good run going and then they punish you cause they cant make good train meets. so i wont suffer i have heat or air conditioning on my train for my crew.

[csxengineer98]

QUOTE: Originally posted by wabash1

what csx forgot to tell you is that it dont matter what the company wants they wont shut the units down its the engineer who decides if he wants to shut units down or not. if i want i run all of them ( on line 24 axel) with GE power you need them. Save fuel is only a dream I dont have pitty on them when they bury you in the siding for 5-6 hrs waiting on trains that havent even made it to the relief point. It never fails have a good run going and then they punish you cause they cant make good train meets. so i wont suffer i have heat or air conditioning on my train for my crew.

its true that it is up to the engineer to shut them down or leave them run..but the company can issue you a failer on your record for fuel rules compliance....
csx engineer

[wabash1]

yes they have something sinilar over here on the ns its called a start letter for not being fuel compliant. Oh boo hoo its like this put them on line get the job done believe it or not 3 loco pulling 10,000 tons do it with less fuel and less wear than the standard 2 units they give us . so if i got them put them on line let them work

[Anonymous]

Don't some engineers isolate the lead engine if it is not needed to reduce noise in the cab? I can think of few places noiser than a locomotive cab in run 8.

[csxengineer98]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JDQuigg

Don't some engineers isolate the lead engine if it is not needed to reduce noise in the cab? I can think of few places noiser than a locomotive cab in run 8.

thats what ear plugs are for
csx engineer

[Anonymous]

=)

"That's what ear plugs are for"

I like it.

I am sorry I raised the power question. I usually ran that cat 24/7 to provide hotel power to the truck I am in (Heat and air) simply because they are too cheap to put a genset in the frame to help with fuel consuption.

If it is under power and moving wheels making money, I dont care if you got one or four units running. Now if dispatch got you stuck in that siding by all means make your heat or airconditining. That way you are ready to move at a moment's notice.

Dont worry for the trangressions of those in power who likes to issue you start letters. They are just generating paperwork and forms as if it will justify the savings in fuel that will get consumed by the extra effort and resources chasing the ignition button.

[wabash1]

the lead unit is not allowed to be shut down or isolated . while train is moving . fra rules . I have not read this in the rules( and i didnt go looking either this is what old timers told me) it might not no longer apply or may have been modified some operating rule do get revised and or deleted and the engineers never told we are to read the book once a year or more . the heck with that i rather be fishing or hunting than reading rule books

[Anonymous]

In the mid 70's after Union pacific initiated the "Fail Free Program" on the DD40Ax's,
and then started sandwiching them with the SD40-2H's(Fast Forties). This being in,
the configuration of 6900-8000-6900 lash-ups, they initiated another program. It was
called the "FUEL SAVER", this was a probably 4 by 4 box mounted on the top of the
control stand with a spring loaded rotary switch and knob much like the headlight or
heater switch of EMD's. This would allow the engineer to shut trailing units down to
idle, when running on flat territory thereby saving fuel.....old technology huh?