Bad train pictures

[AntonioFP45]

Hello Zardoz,

Thanks a lot! That is one heck of an educational lesson. I had no idea of the factors involved in fast freight movements. You make a very good point regarding Revenue vs. Fuel Mileage, Signaling, and Gear Ratios. Compared to the 60s most Class One Railroads are now single tracked for long stretches and congested near terminals! ( I remember just a few years back reading the TRAINS article about UP's infamous "TEXAS MELTDOWN" after merging with Southern Pacific.- Traffic almost grinded to a halt.) Diesel engines, especially high reving EMDs, can suck up a lot of fuel at speed. Got to admit though, as a railfan, I'll miss seeing 3 or 4 locomotives "scream by" with 90 cars at 75mph, For those of you under 35 that can remember, WHAT A BREATHTAKING SIGHT THAT WAS! BTW Zardoz- it's obvious that you are a professional. Are you an engineer, conductor, Road Foreman?

[AntonioFP45]

Hello Zardoz,

Thanks a lot! That is one heck of an educational lesson. I had no idea of the factors involved in fast freight movements. You make a very good point regarding Revenue vs. Fuel Mileage, Signaling, and Gear Ratios. Compared to the 60s most Class One Railroads are now single tracked for long stretches and congested near terminals! ( I remember just a few years back reading the TRAINS article about UP's infamous "TEXAS MELTDOWN" after merging with Southern Pacific.- Traffic almost grinded to a halt.) Diesel engines, especially high reving EMDs, can suck up a lot of fuel at speed. Got to admit though, as a railfan, I'll miss seeing 3 or 4 locomotives "scream by" with 90 cars at 75mph, For those of you under 35 that can remember, WHAT A BREATHTAKING SIGHT THAT WAS! BTW Zardoz- it's obvious that you are a professional. Are you an engineer, conductor, Road Foreman?

[Anonymous]

While driving today I saw a UP Hirail truck on the mainline. It was a fairly large truck and had DC - 20 on the side. Does anyone know what this truck is and what its function is. The was also a Hirail pickup with it.

[Anonymous]

While driving today I saw a UP Hirail truck on the mainline. It was a fairly large truck and had DC - 20 on the side. Does anyone know what this truck is and what its function is. The was also a Hirail pickup with it.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

The various Federally mandated speed limits are based on an order issued by the ICC in about 1955 which ordered maximum speed limits based on the signal system in use on the track. Speeds were restricted to less than 80 MPH on tracks without cab signals or automatic train stop. Other limits were imposed on unsignalled trackage.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

The various Federally mandated speed limits are based on an order issued by the ICC in about 1955 which ordered maximum speed limits based on the signal system in use on the track. Speeds were restricted to less than 80 MPH on tracks without cab signals or automatic train stop. Other limits were imposed on unsignalled trackage.

[dharmon]

If I bang my head against the padding or start fighting with my straight jacket they let me go out into the yard.

It's been in the high 40s at night and up to the high sixties/low seventies in the day. comfortable. It was kinda windy this weekend so I had to shovel the snow...I mean dusty ash off the sidewalk.

[dharmon]

If I bang my head against the padding or start fighting with my straight jacket they let me go out into the yard.

It's been in the high 40s at night and up to the high sixties/low seventies in the day. comfortable. It was kinda windy this weekend so I had to shovel the snow...I mean dusty ash off the sidewalk.

[Anonymous]

Dan how's the weather in California...

or do they not let you outside often from your Cell?

[:D]

[Anonymous]

Dan how's the weather in California...

or do they not let you outside often from your Cell?

[:D]

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kevinstheRRman

So is there a HUGE difference between 79 and 80 MPH?


Oh last night here it went down to 04 degrees, and yes that's in F degrees .
today the high is about 31
it's exactly 23 here right now.

Well shaa....becasue in alot of states, 15 mph or more than the posted speed limit becomes reckless driving instead of just speeding. So if the speed limit is 65mph and the train is only doing 79 mph, the highway patrolman gives him a ticket for 14 mph over. Anything more and bam ...reckless driving. [:)]

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kevinstheRRman

So is there a HUGE difference between 79 and 80 MPH?


Oh last night here it went down to 04 degrees, and yes that's in F degrees .
today the high is about 31
it's exactly 23 here right now.

Well shaa....becasue in alot of states, 15 mph or more than the posted speed limit becomes reckless driving instead of just speeding. So if the speed limit is 65mph and the train is only doing 79 mph, the highway patrolman gives him a ticket for 14 mph over. Anything more and bam ...reckless driving. [:)]

[Anonymous]

So is there a HUGE difference between 79 and 80 MPH?


Oh last night here it went down to 04 degrees, and yes that's in F degrees .
today the high is about 31
it's exactly 23 here right now.

[Anonymous]

So is there a HUGE difference between 79 and 80 MPH?


Oh last night here it went down to 04 degrees, and yes that's in F degrees .
today the high is about 31
it's exactly 23 here right now.

[dehusman]

The UP had to adjust overspeed limits on its "Gold Streak" UPS service, but the locomotives have stock gear ratios, the same as any other engine of that .

Dave H.

[dehusman]

The UP had to adjust overspeed limits on its "Gold Streak" UPS service, but the locomotives have stock gear ratios, the same as any other engine of that .

Dave H.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Weight of rail can often be a factor in allowable speed for a given section of track. It is definitely a factor in weight restrictions. Lighter rail is more flexible and consequently easier to move around by the equipment running on it.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Weight of rail can often be a factor in allowable speed for a given section of track. It is definitely a factor in weight restrictions. Lighter rail is more flexible and consequently easier to move around by the equipment running on it.

[dehusman]

79 mph is the max the Federal governmment will allow without additional signal protection that freight RR's don't want to provide.

Many freight cars are unstable at high speeds so going faster than 60 mph is a moot point.

As someone else pointed out it takes a whole lot of gas and horsepower to get to higher speeds. For very little return in revenue.

Dave H.

[dehusman]

79 mph is the max the Federal governmment will allow without additional signal protection that freight RR's don't want to provide.

Many freight cars are unstable at high speeds so going faster than 60 mph is a moot point.

As someone else pointed out it takes a whole lot of gas and horsepower to get to higher speeds. For very little return in revenue.

Dave H.

[Anonymous]

While we are on the topic:
Why 79mph and not 80mph?

[Anonymous]

While we are on the topic:
Why 79mph and not 80mph?

[Granny74]

I heard that a certain section of track had a 79 mph limit. Does the track weight determine a restriction as to train speed limit? I understand that there are many other things involved, but is the track weight one of the considerations?
Bob from AZ

[Granny74]

I heard that a certain section of track had a 79 mph limit. Does the track weight determine a restriction as to train speed limit? I understand that there are many other things involved, but is the track weight one of the considerations?
Bob from AZ

[zardoz]

AntonioFP45-

When talking about the physical limits of a particular locomotive, it's all about gear ratios.

Some railroads have placed arbitrary speed limits on their trains, reasoning that the extra few minutes that would be gained by running at 60 or 70 mph compared to 50 are not worth the huge amounts of fuel needed to achieve those speeds, which due to normal operating conditions that exist on most railroads today (congestion and overburdoned system), the amount of time that a train could run at those speeds (considering acceleration and deceleration times) would be very minimal.

When the UP and BNSF were running test trains trying to attract the UPS business a few months ago, they used specially geared locomotives.

The government speed restrictions are placed in terrirory where passenger trains operate. The type of train control systems used (ATS, ATC, cab signals, PTC, etc) determins how fast (by government standards) a train can operate in a given territory.

On the CNW, we used two different systems: ATS on the suburban district's North line (to Kenosha, WI) and the Northwest Line (to Harvard, IL). The federal mandated speed limit for ATS was 79mph. ATC was used on the West Line (to Geneva, IL). I did not operate on the West line, and therefore am not certain as to the federal limitations of that system.

[zardoz]

AntonioFP45-

When talking about the physical limits of a particular locomotive, it's all about gear ratios.

Some railroads have placed arbitrary speed limits on their trains, reasoning that the extra few minutes that would be gained by running at 60 or 70 mph compared to 50 are not worth the huge amounts of fuel needed to achieve those speeds, which due to normal operating conditions that exist on most railroads today (congestion and overburdoned system), the amount of time that a train could run at those speeds (considering acceleration and deceleration times) would be very minimal.

When the UP and BNSF were running test trains trying to attract the UPS business a few months ago, they used specially geared locomotives.

The government speed restrictions are placed in terrirory where passenger trains operate. The type of train control systems used (ATS, ATC, cab signals, PTC, etc) determins how fast (by government standards) a train can operate in a given territory.

On the CNW, we used two different systems: ATS on the suburban district's North line (to Kenosha, WI) and the Northwest Line (to Harvard, IL). The federal mandated speed limit for ATS was 79mph. ATC was used on the West Line (to Geneva, IL). I did not operate on the West line, and therefore am not certain as to the federal limitations of that system.

[AntonioFP45]

Back when I was growing up in the 60s and 70s many railroads were in decline but I do remember seeing FREIGHT trains zipping by at about 75-80 mph in parts of New York and later Florida. I've been always a pretty good "visual" gauger of speed, even as a kid. Today, I've seen many "cab interior pictures of the modern EMD locomotives. Just above the engineer's seat are decal words: Maximum Speed 70 m.p.h. I was really surprised as I remember reading stories of Santa Fe cowls "ripping" at 90mph pulling the Super C years back. Is this 70 mph some type of restriction put on by: the government, the railroads, or EMD? Are the gear ratios lower than in the old -2 series? Seaboard Coast LIne freights pulled by SD45s and SD40-2s could push 80mph on some stretches back in the 70s. Thanks for your patience and anwers!

[AntonioFP45]

Back when I was growing up in the 60s and 70s many railroads were in decline but I do remember seeing FREIGHT trains zipping by at about 75-80 mph in parts of New York and later Florida. I've been always a pretty good "visual" gauger of speed, even as a kid. Today, I've seen many "cab interior pictures of the modern EMD locomotives. Just above the engineer's seat are decal words: Maximum Speed 70 m.p.h. I was really surprised as I remember reading stories of Santa Fe cowls "ripping" at 90mph pulling the Super C years back. Is this 70 mph some type of restriction put on by: the government, the railroads, or EMD? Are the gear ratios lower than in the old -2 series? Seaboard Coast LIne freights pulled by SD45s and SD40-2s could push 80mph on some stretches back in the 70s. Thanks for your patience and anwers!

[edblysard]

What, you mean no one in Maryland had gills?
Ed[:D]

[edblysard]

What, you mean no one in Maryland had gills?
Ed[:D]