The NEW and IMPROVED Question Thread (with Index and Page Links)

[edblysard]

It is a G12...should see four or five more in a while.
We get these, and a bunch for Argentina, Ferro Expresso railway, in and out of Houston a lot.

Have some photos of the last Ferro Expresso G12 on its way to Argentina after NRE rebuilt it.

Got a bunch of Korean G12s in here about two years ago.

Ed

[Murphy Siding]

Are locomotive trucks standardized? I've read about a lot of 2nd generation units that had *trade-in* trucks from FTs or PAs. Is it that simple to re-cycle them, even, if they came from another manufacturer?
Thanks

[CShaveRR]

Re: Jack Wheelihan

I don't know if he's been in on the forum as a participant, but I suspect that he could be made aware of this question if a moderator were to pick up on it. He is probably the closest thing to a "universal locomotive expert" that exists--besides being a steam operator he's also retired from EMD, management side.

[CShaveRR]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cpbloom

Did Chessie System ever own any SD40/SD40-2s or were they all GP40/GP40-2s?

C&O, B&O, and Western Maryland all operated SD40s; they were in Chessie System's 7500 series.

Only the B&O owned SD40-2s, numbered 7600-7619.

[CShaveRR]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

Are locomotive trucks standardized? I've read about a lot of 2nd generation units that had *trade-in* trucks from FTs or PAs. Is it that simple to re-cycle them, even, if they came from another manufacturer?

The only parts that would be re-used would be the side frames, brake rigging, and suspension system. Wheelsets are changed out regularly as a matter of course, and the traction motors were probably an integral part of the new locomotive model. The bearings could be upgraded as necessary, presumably.

Using the trucks of a different manufacturer may have brought on some "shoehorning" problems with the motors.

[UPTRAIN]

Hey you guys, turns out that unit in North Little Rock was the only G8 in the country! Here's a pic of it being loaded on a ship! That's the last thing I thought it was, but it has the tiny grille at the end of the long hood, and it still has the same hood door open, lol!

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=117295

[UPTRAIN]

Yeah, it was the only G8 in Israel, it says they were sold to NRE, will NRE they rebuild them and sell them back? Is there some kind of international stuff that requires this?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by UPTRAIN

Hey you guys, turns out that unit in North Little Rock was the only G8 in the country! Here's a pic of it being loaded on a ship! That's the last thing I thought it was, but it has the tiny grille at the end of the long hood, and it still has the same hood door open, lol!

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=117295

Zach [8D]

Thanks for the update and the photo. It is a much better photo than mine by a long shot, and in much better light. We can actually see the cab on it too. [;)]

Good work Zach. [:)]


Carl [:)]

Thanks for your answers on the wheelset question and the 40 and 45 question.


Hey Everyone [^]

Keep those questions and answers coming. I appreciate all your help. [:D]

[techguy57]

Thanks Jim for starting this "not-so-stupid" question thread. I recently have had some questions posed to me or that have come to mind I'm hoping to have answered. So here it goes:

Okay, as I said before I'm primarily a diesel fan and I don't know too much about steam. So, why does smoke "puff" out of the steam engines with a certain cadence, in rhythm so to speak rather than just pour out constantly. It is especially noticeable when the engine is first starting to move. Second question: What is the purpose of releasing steam out of the sides of the steam locos?

Thanks in advance!

Mike

[chad thomas]

I'm no steam expert either but I think I can answer.

Steam from the driving cylinders is exhausted into the smokebox to help draft air through from the cumbustion chamber. With each cylinders exhaust valve opening there is a coresponding "CHUF". As this blast of steam shoots out the stack it draws air (smoke) from the combustion chamber with it, in essence stoking the fire with vacume from the smokebox.

Steam is released from the cylinders after they have sat for any period of time because water will condense in the cylinder. If they tried to move with water in the cylinder things would break as water does not compress.

[techguy57]

Thanks Chad![:D] That makes sense to me. If anyone cares to expand on that or knows where I might find a good diagram please let me know.

These questions were posed to me by my grandfather who grew up in Lewis, IN on the Milwaukee Road Terre Haute to Bedford line. My great grandfather was a blacksmith who I beleive worked for the NYC in Terre Haute. Several of my great-uncles worked for the railroads in Terre Haute as well, many of them as their first jobs or their first jobs back after WWII. Of course I can't get enough of their stories about the railroads. They have also been a great source of information on my for-fun research of the ammunition train accident that happened in Lewis in the 1950's.

As for the steam from the side valves, that makes sense too. My grandfather had said that he and his brothers had often walked the rails and the trains would often release steam out of the sides as they went by (of course I don't advocate this ever, but this was during the 1930's and 40's, a different time). I guessed that it was a operational procedure that also was a bit amusing for the crews[}:)][:D] Sounds like there is some truth to that.

Thanks again.

Mike

[chad thomas]

Mike, One of my best steam pictures I ever took was of the 3985 in Gerlach,Nv. opening the "cylinder cocks" wide open after sitting for a water refill. The steam sprayed out over 100' feet on either side of her. I remember thinking to myself..Man that could really [censored] someone up good if they were standing near that. Although out there they really let it loose where the only thing in danger is sagebrush (the state tree I think [(-D]). Unfortunately it is a print so I can't post it.

[Anonymous]

What's the Difference between ABS and CTC?

[bobwilcox]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

Flange Lubricator (proper term)

Wheel plunger mechanically lets out the grease along the blades.

Usage determines maintenance/ refill schedule for the 5 gallons of grease in the pot. (Most grease now comes in a plastic sack that gets dropped in the holding pot - 30+% of the flange lubricant now used is not petroleum based)

Lubricators are quite common. Placed wherever rail wear/tonnage is a problem.

Even though train crews hate 'em, you GOTTA have them. There is a science to properly applying the grease beads in the proper amount.

Got "goop gage"? [:D]

Have flange lubricators been used on tangent track to impove fuel consumption?

[CShaveRR]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bobwilcox
Have flange lubricators been used on tangent track to impove fuel consumption?

Probably not intentionally. The way to go would be with something that provided a more consistent lubrication over longer stretches, such as locomotive-mounted systems. I saw a locomotive recently (CSX, maybe, or UP--didn't pay attention) that was equipped with brackets for applying lubricant in stick form to the wheels, but it was empty.

I haven't heard that much about wheel/rail lubrication lately. I think benefits were proven, but there may have been a downside that outweighed the advantages.

[Anonymous]

Okay, maybe some of the forum memebrs that are/ were railroad employees can answer this.

Well, I am 14 years old, and as a big time foamer, my favorite locomotives are F45s. My question is, is there anyone here that has ridden in/operated an F45? What are they like?

Thanks [:)]

[chad thomas]

Hey Chris, Check out this site:

http://krugtales.50megs.com/rrpictale/SDP40F/SDP40Fa.htm

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Chad, thats a great sight, added to my favorites![^]

[chad thomas]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rgroeling

Thanks, Chad, thats a great sight, added to my favorites![^]

Did you poke around the site? There are some great things in there like great explainations of signaling,air brakes,drawbar forces,fuel consumption,ect... and the photo essays are great. One of my favorites is the story of the time he got to run SP&S 700 in Montana check that one out:

http://krugtales.50megs.com/rrpictale/steam700/steam700a.htm

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by UPTRAIN

Jim spied this in North Little Rock UP Yard today, he wanted to know what it was. After some research by me, I know for sure it is an Israel Railways unit, I'm thinking G12, maybe a G16. Jim said it was 4 axle, but they sometimes switch trucks out en route. It's heading from Houston, Texas to Mount Vernon, IL, National Railway Equipment Company. It is loaded on flatcar OTTX 97030. Maybe somebody can confirm what model it is.

[img.nr]http://www.pbrail.org/Jimpix/eurounit.JPG[/img.nr]

[Anonymous]

the g8 is loco no. 251 from israel.
we got $20000 for it.
we took it from Sinai on 12.06.1967.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by UPTRAIN

Jim spied this in North Little Rock UP Yard today, he wanted to know what it was. After some research by me, I know for sure it is an Israel Railways unit, I'm thinking G12, maybe a G16. Jim said it was 4 axle, but they sometimes switch trucks out en route. It's heading from Houston, Texas to Mount Vernon, IL, National Railway Equipment Company. It is loaded on flatcar OTTX 97030. Maybe somebody can confirm what model it is.

Thank you!! This is great news. As an Israeli railfan I was looking for this loco for four months now, since it was shipped to the U.S.A. with five G12 engines.
Photos from Ashdod port, just before departure from Israel were published (by a friend railfan) in Railpictures.net.
See it here: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=117295
being lifted to the ship.

Have you spotted the G12's by any chance?

[Anonymous]

stop

[Anonymous]

G B

I have not seen the others as yet. They could have come through before I saw this one or after. Perhaps they have not come byt all, I just don't know.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

G B

I have not seen the others as yet. They could have come through before I saw this one or after. Perhaps they have not come byt all, I just don't know.

Thank you again. You can see all the 6 locos on RailPictures by searching "Israel". Some of them have very interesting histories, serving the Egyptian Railways before coming to Israel as spoils of war.

[Anonymous]

I have a sighting and a question. [:0] [8D]

The other day I was waiting for a train to pass and noticed several railcars painted for Dupont. It seems like one was a tank car and one was a boxcar. (I think there was at least one more car but not sure.) There were two odd things about them. One was, I noticed a sign on them that said something about responsibility which at the time struck me as odd. Then the last car paint in the Dupont scheme turned out to be a caboose. [:0] [:p] [:)] All the windows had been covered and it looked like the rear door was padlocked. That leads me to believe that it was unoccupied. Now my question is this--what would be in a caboose that a boxcar wouldn't carry? Of course, people comes to mind first. But like I said, I believe at least one door was padlocked and all the windows were blanked. I would think that would not make for a very pleasant ride or a safe one either.

At the time I was pretty busy and didn't have much time to think about it. Now I wish I would have called Zach and had him be on the look out for it. Then he could have gotten some photos and shared them with us. I didn't notice the caboose until it was too late to try and capture a photo of it. [:(!] [:(] [B)] [8] [V]

Has anybody ever seen this caboose or one like it? ? ? [?] [?] [?]

Anyone know what it might contain ? ? ? [?] [?] [?]

[CShaveRR]

Short answer: mobile classroom.

When I saw these cars, there was only the tank car and the caboose--no box car.

Tank car has a door in one end, and five manways or valves along the top, each one of a different variety. It carries number 911A (That's 911 as in the emergency number).

Caboose is 911B. It's a bay-window car, built in 7/75. Lots of cabooses immediately pre-EOT had the side windows plated over rather than replacing the panes with the FRA-required safety glass. Inside? Don't know, but I suspect it could be set up as a classroom. Or maybe that's the function of the box car now. But you get the general idea. These cars are for instruction of local emergency-response personnel.

Lots of other companies (BP, Chevron, Rohm and Haas, even UP) have tank cars set up similarly to this one for demonstration/instruction purposes. Many of them are even numbered 911.

[UPTRAIN]

Yeah, that tank training train. I've seen UP's car. http://uptrain.rrpicturearchives.net/rsPicture.aspx?id=5946

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by UPTRAIN

Yeah, that tank training train. I've seen UP's car. http://uptrain.rrpicturearchives.net/rsPicture.aspx?id=5946

I found this photo elsewhere. [;)]

The caboose I saw was like this one, not a bay window. So there are probally more than one training train. [:)]

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=81877

[tree68]

CSX has a similar "train," including the boxcar/classroom. there is lettering somewhere on it for a Massachussetts firefighters association.