Bad train pictures

[M636C]

mehrlich

What you saw was probably a locomotive with a defective turbocharger, so that the engine wasn't getting enough air to burn all the fuel being injected into the cylinders. Unlike automobile gasoline engines where the fuel is usually sucked in with the air (even in cars with Fuel injection engines), the air and fuel supplies in a diesel are separate, and the fuel doesn't know if the air supply gets affected.

Another possibility would be a failed fuel injector leaking too much fuel into a cylinder, but this would be a series of separate "puffs" which isn't what you described.

GE and Alco engines are blamed for this smoking, because when they are accelerating, the fuel supply gets ahead of the air supply for a short time, and they smoke badly for maybe a couple of seconds. If you're there with a camera, it looks good.

What you describe is that happening continuously, so a failed turbocharger, perhaps just running a bit too slow, is the likely cause.

Peter

[M636C]

mehrlich

What you saw was probably a locomotive with a defective turbocharger, so that the engine wasn't getting enough air to burn all the fuel being injected into the cylinders. Unlike automobile gasoline engines where the fuel is usually sucked in with the air (even in cars with Fuel injection engines), the air and fuel supplies in a diesel are separate, and the fuel doesn't know if the air supply gets affected.

Another possibility would be a failed fuel injector leaking too much fuel into a cylinder, but this would be a series of separate "puffs" which isn't what you described.

GE and Alco engines are blamed for this smoking, because when they are accelerating, the fuel supply gets ahead of the air supply for a short time, and they smoke badly for maybe a couple of seconds. If you're there with a camera, it looks good.

What you describe is that happening continuously, so a failed turbocharger, perhaps just running a bit too slow, is the likely cause.

Peter

[Mikeygaw]

well, if it was a lot of smoke, it could have been an ALCO [:D]

[Mikeygaw]

well, if it was a lot of smoke, it could have been an ALCO [:D]

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mehrlich

Coming into Flatonia yesterday and met one of those cool, loooonnnng rock trains heading towards San Antonio. For a long way before I met the train I could see a large billow of smoke. When I got to the train, the second locomotive was belching a lot of something in the air. When I went through the smoke it smelled like raw diesel. Was something wrong? I've never seen or smelled that before.

mike

Unfortunately I can't tell you what, but can tell you two things - it wasn't normal and there are some people on here who will tell you it had to be a GE....

Now I will stay out of the fray.

Mookie

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mehrlich

Coming into Flatonia yesterday and met one of those cool, loooonnnng rock trains heading towards San Antonio. For a long way before I met the train I could see a large billow of smoke. When I got to the train, the second locomotive was belching a lot of something in the air. When I went through the smoke it smelled like raw diesel. Was something wrong? I've never seen or smelled that before.

mike

Unfortunately I can't tell you what, but can tell you two things - it wasn't normal and there are some people on here who will tell you it had to be a GE....

Now I will stay out of the fray.

Mookie

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR

I know it, but I won't post it...

"Can you whisper it just between you and me?"

[:I]

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR

I know it, but I won't post it...

"Can you whisper it just between you and me?"

[:I]

[Anonymous]

Coming into Flatonia yesterday and met one of those cool, loooonnnng rock trains heading towards San Antonio. For a long way before I met the train I could see a large billow of smoke. When I got to the train, the second locomotive was belching a lot of something in the air. When I went through the smoke it smelled like raw diesel. Was something wrong? I've never seen or smelled that before.

mike

[Anonymous]

Coming into Flatonia yesterday and met one of those cool, loooonnnng rock trains heading towards San Antonio. For a long way before I met the train I could see a large billow of smoke. When I got to the train, the second locomotive was belching a lot of something in the air. When I went through the smoke it smelled like raw diesel. Was something wrong? I've never seen or smelled that before.

mike

[CShaveRR]

I know it, but I won't post it...

[CShaveRR]

I know it, but I won't post it...

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Red dwarfs protect yard leads, you have to stop, and then ask permission.
Flashing red over steady red means take diverging route, no stop required, in this case, the diverging route was the track he went into.

And there is another term of endearment for FRED, but I cant post it here....

Ed

well, that was easy! And that is exactly what he did - he diverged and never stopped! Just surprised me, cuz I hadn't seen the 2nd head before and had never seen it flashing. Thank you sir! Just what I was looking for!

Now you know somebody will pick up the gauntlet and post the endearment - just because it is there! [sigh]

Mook

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Red dwarfs protect yard leads, you have to stop, and then ask permission.
Flashing red over steady red means take diverging route, no stop required, in this case, the diverging route was the track he went into.

And there is another term of endearment for FRED, but I cant post it here....

Ed

well, that was easy! And that is exactly what he did - he diverged and never stopped! Just surprised me, cuz I hadn't seen the 2nd head before and had never seen it flashing. Thank you sir! Just what I was looking for!

Now you know somebody will pick up the gauntlet and post the endearment - just because it is there! [sigh]

Mook

[edblysard]

Red dwarfs protect yard leads, you have to stop, and then ask permission.
Flashing red over steady red means take diverging route, no stop required, in this case, the diverging route was the track he went into.

And there is another term of endearment for FRED, but I cant post it here....

Ed

[edblysard]

Red dwarfs protect yard leads, you have to stop, and then ask permission.
Flashing red over steady red means take diverging route, no stop required, in this case, the diverging route was the track he went into.

And there is another term of endearment for FRED, but I cant post it here....

Ed

[Mookie]

ok - one from Mook - dwarf lights at entrance to bridge into yard.

4 of them.

Facing East.

Always red.

Saw one on far left one morning - with a light above it flashing red. Lower one still solid red as usual.

About 10 min later, west bound freight goes down that track and past the dwarf. Flashing red goes out. Everything returns to normal - 4 red dwarfs.

1: I never realized there were two headed dwarfs.

2. Why would it flash red for that train, but not for others that come in on that track?

3. Of course there can be two headed dwarfs, just never saw them in that area - but then, this was the day I had the good seat and a decent pair of binoculars. But even w/o binocs, I can still see well enough to see the red color on the dwarfs and they just never change while I am watching them.

This is getting too complicated - disregard!

Mook

[Mookie]

ok - one from Mook - dwarf lights at entrance to bridge into yard.

4 of them.

Facing East.

Always red.

Saw one on far left one morning - with a light above it flashing red. Lower one still solid red as usual.

About 10 min later, west bound freight goes down that track and past the dwarf. Flashing red goes out. Everything returns to normal - 4 red dwarfs.

1: I never realized there were two headed dwarfs.

2. Why would it flash red for that train, but not for others that come in on that track?

3. Of course there can be two headed dwarfs, just never saw them in that area - but then, this was the day I had the good seat and a decent pair of binoculars. But even w/o binocs, I can still see well enough to see the red color on the dwarfs and they just never change while I am watching them.

This is getting too complicated - disregard!

Mook

[tree68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

QUOTE: Originally posted by UPTRAIN

Who invented the EOT device (FRED)?

Most people here in the forums know about the FRED. Maybe not who invented it but at least what it is and does. I have heard EOT used by UP employees but I bet there are some forum members who are wondering what EOT means. So to answer the question before someone asks here goes -- End Of Train. [:p] [8D]

And Flashing Rear End Device is not the true name - but a whole lot easier to remember!
Mook

I always hear the crews refer to it as the "marker."

[tree68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

QUOTE: Originally posted by UPTRAIN

Who invented the EOT device (FRED)?

Most people here in the forums know about the FRED. Maybe not who invented it but at least what it is and does. I have heard EOT used by UP employees but I bet there are some forum members who are wondering what EOT means. So to answer the question before someone asks here goes -- End Of Train. [:p] [8D]

And Flashing Rear End Device is not the true name - but a whole lot easier to remember!
Mook

I always hear the crews refer to it as the "marker."

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tree68

Our local paper had a picture the other day of a RR employee with what I would guess to be about the worst job in the road. Shovel in hand, he was scooping up the "animal based grease" from around a rail greaser, and apparently dumping it into the 5 gallon pails visible in the picture. What surprised me though was the large number of rail greasers they said existed on the Montreal Secondary (about 160 miles) - something like 80 or more (don't have the article in front of me).

So, in the spirit of asking questions, is this a common occupation? Would it be expected to have something like a rail greaser every few miles? And just how distasteful would this job be in mid-July?

ever work in a restaurant when the kitchen "guys" had to clean the grease trap and take it outside for recycle. I have a strong stomach, but that about did me in. Some people didn't mind doing it - they were the favored employees at that time!

Mook

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tree68

Our local paper had a picture the other day of a RR employee with what I would guess to be about the worst job in the road. Shovel in hand, he was scooping up the "animal based grease" from around a rail greaser, and apparently dumping it into the 5 gallon pails visible in the picture. What surprised me though was the large number of rail greasers they said existed on the Montreal Secondary (about 160 miles) - something like 80 or more (don't have the article in front of me).

So, in the spirit of asking questions, is this a common occupation? Would it be expected to have something like a rail greaser every few miles? And just how distasteful would this job be in mid-July?

ever work in a restaurant when the kitchen "guys" had to clean the grease trap and take it outside for recycle. I have a strong stomach, but that about did me in. Some people didn't mind doing it - they were the favored employees at that time!

Mook

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

QUOTE: Originally posted by UPTRAIN

Who invented the EOT device (FRED)?

Most people here in the forums know about the FRED. Maybe not who invented it but at least what it is and does. I have heard EOT used by UP employees but I bet there are some forum members who are wondering what EOT means. So to answer the question before someone asks here goes -- End Of Train. [:p] [8D]

And Flashing Rear End Device is not the true name - but a whole lot easier to remember!

Mook

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

QUOTE: Originally posted by UPTRAIN

Who invented the EOT device (FRED)?

Most people here in the forums know about the FRED. Maybe not who invented it but at least what it is and does. I have heard EOT used by UP employees but I bet there are some forum members who are wondering what EOT means. So to answer the question before someone asks here goes -- End Of Train. [:p] [8D]

And Flashing Rear End Device is not the true name - but a whole lot easier to remember!

Mook

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by UPTRAIN

Who invented the EOT device (FRED)?

Most people here in the forums know about the FRED. Maybe not who invented it but at least what it is and does. I have heard EOT used by UP employees but I bet there are some forum members who are wondering what EOT means. So to answer the question before someone asks here goes -- End Of Train. [:p] [8D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by UPTRAIN

Who invented the EOT device (FRED)?

Most people here in the forums know about the FRED. Maybe not who invented it but at least what it is and does. I have heard EOT used by UP employees but I bet there are some forum members who are wondering what EOT means. So to answer the question before someone asks here goes -- End Of Train. [:p] [8D]

[UPTRAIN]

Who invented the EOT device (FRED)?

[UPTRAIN]

Who invented the EOT device (FRED)?

[tree68]

Our local paper had a picture the other day of a RR employee with what I would guess to be about the worst job in the road. Shovel in hand, he was scooping up the "animal based grease" from around a rail greaser, and apparently dumping it into the 5 gallon pails visible in the picture. What surprised me though was the large number of rail greasers they said existed on the Montreal Secondary (about 160 miles) - something like 80 or more (don't have the article in front of me).

So, in the spirit of asking questions, is this a common occupation? Would it be expected to have something like a rail greaser every few miles? And just how distasteful would this job be in mid-July?

[tree68]

Our local paper had a picture the other day of a RR employee with what I would guess to be about the worst job in the road. Shovel in hand, he was scooping up the "animal based grease" from around a rail greaser, and apparently dumping it into the 5 gallon pails visible in the picture. What surprised me though was the large number of rail greasers they said existed on the Montreal Secondary (about 160 miles) - something like 80 or more (don't have the article in front of me).

So, in the spirit of asking questions, is this a common occupation? Would it be expected to have something like a rail greaser every few miles? And just how distasteful would this job be in mid-July?