Bad train pictures

[Anonymous]

Just saw a pic of a hi hood GP-38-2. It is a N S unit leading a train. The unit is # 5117.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NSReadingline/

I hope that if you are not a member of this group that you can still see the pic.

Seeing this pic made me wonder how many hi hood units are still operating on Class 1 railroads? As a railfan I know that they still do operate on N S. I also know that some shortlines and regionals operate them. But I was curious how many are still in use on a Class 1 railroad?

Have any of our current engineers in the forums operated one recently? If so, do you like to operate them? My guess is "No", because of safety reasons. But it would be interesting to know about them and maybe hear some stories from our current engineers about them.

[Anonymous]

Just saw a pic of a hi hood GP-38-2. It is a N S unit leading a train. The unit is # 5117.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NSReadingline/

I hope that if you are not a member of this group that you can still see the pic.

Seeing this pic made me wonder how many hi hood units are still operating on Class 1 railroads? As a railfan I know that they still do operate on N S. I also know that some shortlines and regionals operate them. But I was curious how many are still in use on a Class 1 railroad?

Have any of our current engineers in the forums operated one recently? If so, do you like to operate them? My guess is "No", because of safety reasons. But it would be interesting to know about them and maybe hear some stories from our current engineers about them.

[Anonymous]

Just got a scanner, and having it is a blast. When the dispatcher gives orders to the crew, how can they read them back to him so fast and so well?
What is a "flag" at milepost x to y, with a speed limit? Repairs, bad track?
What is a box, like go to milepost x and pick up two boxes marked 8 and 20.
thanks,

m

[Anonymous]

Just got a scanner, and having it is a blast. When the dispatcher gives orders to the crew, how can they read them back to him so fast and so well?
What is a "flag" at milepost x to y, with a speed limit? Repairs, bad track?
What is a box, like go to milepost x and pick up two boxes marked 8 and 20.
thanks,

m

[CShaveRR]

I'll let someone who routinely works with track warrants handle this one for definitive answers.

Are you sure he wasn't saying "Check Box 8 and Box 20"? Track warrants have numbered items (which may vary from railroad to railroad), and if they are to apply, wou make a check mark in the little boxes in front of them. In this case, once you got to Milepost x, you'd be expected to follow the instructions contained in Boxes 8 and 20.

[CShaveRR]

I'll let someone who routinely works with track warrants handle this one for definitive answers.

Are you sure he wasn't saying "Check Box 8 and Box 20"? Track warrants have numbered items (which may vary from railroad to railroad), and if they are to apply, wou make a check mark in the little boxes in front of them. In this case, once you got to Milepost x, you'd be expected to follow the instructions contained in Boxes 8 and 20.

[tree68]

m - Don't know where you are, but in the northeast, the NORAC "Form D" is in common use. I hear the CSX NE dispatcher issuing them all the time. Here's an example:
http://broadway.pennsyrr.com/Rail/Signal/norac_formd.html (Can't vouch for the rest of the site - found it on a search).

Some dispatchers will say something like "Circle Line 2", then fill in the blanks, usually reading the full line, though. Leading to something like "OPERATE IN NORTH DIRECTION ON SINGLE TRK BETWEEN BRAD AND RIVER. (They can add several more blocks to the same Form D as the track ahead clears.)

As you can see, it's a simple matter to fill in a few blanks. In fact, the regular crews probably all but have the Form D done before they call the dispatcher for it. Even if they don't, it's very easy to have it ready for the read-back as soon as the dispatcher gives his (or her) name or initials. Any field not needed is ignored. Many times the local crews ask for specific limits.

On the other hand, I've heard dispatchers that were obviously entering the info in their Form D (probably on a computer?) as they gave it to the crew.

I would have to imaging that most track warrant systems operate in a similar matter.

[tree68]

m - Don't know where you are, but in the northeast, the NORAC "Form D" is in common use. I hear the CSX NE dispatcher issuing them all the time. Here's an example:
http://broadway.pennsyrr.com/Rail/Signal/norac_formd.html (Can't vouch for the rest of the site - found it on a search).

Some dispatchers will say something like "Circle Line 2", then fill in the blanks, usually reading the full line, though. Leading to something like "OPERATE IN NORTH DIRECTION ON SINGLE TRK BETWEEN BRAD AND RIVER. (They can add several more blocks to the same Form D as the track ahead clears.)

As you can see, it's a simple matter to fill in a few blanks. In fact, the regular crews probably all but have the Form D done before they call the dispatcher for it. Even if they don't, it's very easy to have it ready for the read-back as soon as the dispatcher gives his (or her) name or initials. Any field not needed is ignored. Many times the local crews ask for specific limits.

On the other hand, I've heard dispatchers that were obviously entering the info in their Form D (probably on a computer?) as they gave it to the crew.

I would have to imaging that most track warrant systems operate in a similar matter.

[edblysard]

Most railroad provide their crews cheat sheets, pre printed pads with all the info printed out, with blanks for the info the dispatcher has to provide.
So the part that goes,
Train ______ , lead engine#_______, has authority to occupy main track for________________at mile post #____ to Milepost#______is pretty much the crew reading back from a form, they just fill in the blanks.

Sounds like the dispatcher was telling a crew to pick up a pair of boxcars on spots 2 and 8 somewhere.
As for the flag part, it may be that a signal system was out, or a crossing system down, track repair, whatever, and the dispatcher was telling the crew to provide flag themselves through the spot, from mile post X to mile post Y.

Ed

[edblysard]

Most railroad provide their crews cheat sheets, pre printed pads with all the info printed out, with blanks for the info the dispatcher has to provide.
So the part that goes,
Train ______ , lead engine#_______, has authority to occupy main track for________________at mile post #____ to Milepost#______is pretty much the crew reading back from a form, they just fill in the blanks.

Sounds like the dispatcher was telling a crew to pick up a pair of boxcars on spots 2 and 8 somewhere.
As for the flag part, it may be that a signal system was out, or a crossing system down, track repair, whatever, and the dispatcher was telling the crew to provide flag themselves through the spot, from mile post X to mile post Y.

Ed

[hogger42]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mehrlich

Just got a scanner, and having it is a blast. When the dispatcher gives orders to the crew, how can they read them back to him so fast and so well?
What is a "flag" at milepost x to y, with a speed limit? Repairs, bad track?
What is a box, like go to milepost x and pick up two boxes marked 8 and 20.
thanks,

m

True, you just have to fill in the blanks.
Flag at milepost.....Track flag...probably a yellow board slow order bad track and length
of restriction.

On our Track Warrant forms (BNSF) each numbered line of the track warrant has a BOX
preceeding the line number that the dispatcher will tell the train crew to check .
That almost sounds like the dispatcher was telling them to place an x in boxes 8 and 20. Marking an x in these boxes tell them which lines they have to comply with.

.

[hogger42]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mehrlich

Just got a scanner, and having it is a blast. When the dispatcher gives orders to the crew, how can they read them back to him so fast and so well?
What is a "flag" at milepost x to y, with a speed limit? Repairs, bad track?
What is a box, like go to milepost x and pick up two boxes marked 8 and 20.
thanks,

m

True, you just have to fill in the blanks.
Flag at milepost.....Track flag...probably a yellow board slow order bad track and length
of restriction.

On our Track Warrant forms (BNSF) each numbered line of the track warrant has a BOX
preceeding the line number that the dispatcher will tell the train crew to check .
That almost sounds like the dispatcher was telling them to place an x in boxes 8 and 20. Marking an x in these boxes tell them which lines they have to comply with.

.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

Just saw a pic of a hi hood GP-38-2. It is a N S unit leading a train. The unit is # 5117.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NSReadingline/

I hope that if you are not a member of this group that you can still see the pic.

Seeing this pic made me wonder how many hi hood units are still operating on Class 1 railroads? As a railfan I know that they still do operate on N S. I also know that some shortlines and regionals operate them. But I was curious how many are still in use on a Class 1 railroad?

Have any of our current engineers in the forums operated one recently? If so, do you like to operate them? My guess is "No", because of safety reasons. But it would be interesting to know about them and maybe hear some stories from our current engineers about them.

I was hoping at LC, CSX engineer, Wabash, etc., could give us some stories and examples of their operation of a hi hood unit.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

Just saw a pic of a hi hood GP-38-2. It is a N S unit leading a train. The unit is # 5117.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NSReadingline/

I hope that if you are not a member of this group that you can still see the pic.

Seeing this pic made me wonder how many hi hood units are still operating on Class 1 railroads? As a railfan I know that they still do operate on N S. I also know that some shortlines and regionals operate them. But I was curious how many are still in use on a Class 1 railroad?

Have any of our current engineers in the forums operated one recently? If so, do you like to operate them? My guess is "No", because of safety reasons. But it would be interesting to know about them and maybe hear some stories from our current engineers about them.

I was hoping at LC, CSX engineer, Wabash, etc., could give us some stories and examples of their operation of a hi hood unit.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your answers. It all makes a lot more sense now. I'll have to pay better attention to what they're saying, maybe they were saying check instead of pick up. Needless to say, it's a lot of fun listening and I've learned a lot. I suppose I'm lucky to live (South central Texas on the UP line between Houston and San Antonio) where I can listen to my scanner and there be something going on almost all the time. I thought I was right on what flags were, I saw one the other day.



My next question: To me, it would seem like working for the railroad would be the best job in the world. Is it? I'm a school teacher and love doing it, but I always wonder what if...

mike

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your answers. It all makes a lot more sense now. I'll have to pay better attention to what they're saying, maybe they were saying check instead of pick up. Needless to say, it's a lot of fun listening and I've learned a lot. I suppose I'm lucky to live (South central Texas on the UP line between Houston and San Antonio) where I can listen to my scanner and there be something going on almost all the time. I thought I was right on what flags were, I saw one the other day.



My next question: To me, it would seem like working for the railroad would be the best job in the world. Is it? I'm a school teacher and love doing it, but I always wonder what if...

mike

[tree68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mehrlich

My next question: To me, it would seem like working for the railroad would be the best job in the world. Is it? I'm a school teacher and love doing it, but I always wonder what if...

mike

Like any other job, you get good situations and love to go to work in the morning, or you get bad situations and wonder why you chose that career.

That said, there are not many fields, outside of sports, where there are fan bases as well. Being involved with both, railfanning and firebuffs easily come to my mind. In both cases, you will definitely find people who pursue as a hobby something related to their 9-5. Not to pick on accountants, but you don't usually expect to see people hanging around Price Waterhouse hoping to see a certain kind of ledger.... Bring on a train or a fire, though, and you'll hear the muffled roar of camera shutters (being replaced by the beep of digitals, now) and the appreciative faces of those who enjoy seeing the men (and women) and machinery do what they were intended to do.

As far as being a teacher - If you love doing it, stick with it! We need all the good teachers we can get!

[tree68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mehrlich

My next question: To me, it would seem like working for the railroad would be the best job in the world. Is it? I'm a school teacher and love doing it, but I always wonder what if...

mike

Like any other job, you get good situations and love to go to work in the morning, or you get bad situations and wonder why you chose that career.

That said, there are not many fields, outside of sports, where there are fan bases as well. Being involved with both, railfanning and firebuffs easily come to my mind. In both cases, you will definitely find people who pursue as a hobby something related to their 9-5. Not to pick on accountants, but you don't usually expect to see people hanging around Price Waterhouse hoping to see a certain kind of ledger.... Bring on a train or a fire, though, and you'll hear the muffled roar of camera shutters (being replaced by the beep of digitals, now) and the appreciative faces of those who enjoy seeing the men (and women) and machinery do what they were intended to do.

As far as being a teacher - If you love doing it, stick with it! We need all the good teachers we can get!

[rrnut282]

As far as NS hi-hoods go, the GP38's are still around as well as the GP50's. There are a few hi-hooded SD40-2's left, but they're getting rare. I haven't seen a hi-hooded B23-7 in almost a year, so they might be retired or just re-located. Has anybody seen anything else lately ?

[rrnut282]

As far as NS hi-hoods go, the GP38's are still around as well as the GP50's. There are a few hi-hooded SD40-2's left, but they're getting rare. I haven't seen a hi-hooded B23-7 in almost a year, so they might be retired or just re-located. Has anybody seen anything else lately ?

[Anonymous]

This thread seems to have been sidetracked. Let's just get it back on the mainline. [:D]

Who has the next question? [?] [;)]

[Anonymous]

This thread seems to have been sidetracked. Let's just get it back on the mainline. [:D]

Who has the next question? [?] [;)]

[Mookie]

Even Mookie is out of questions this morning!

[Mookie]

Even Mookie is out of questions this morning!

[tree68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

Even Mookie is out of questions this morning!

Mark this one on your calendars folks. Da Mook is out of questions (for now).[8D]

[tree68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

Even Mookie is out of questions this morning!

Mark this one on your calendars folks. Da Mook is out of questions (for now).[8D]

[Mikeygaw]

weird question to give the thread a jump start...

how long do signal lightbulbs last, say with whatever would be considered normal usage?

[Mikeygaw]

weird question to give the thread a jump start...

how long do signal lightbulbs last, say with whatever would be considered normal usage?

[tree68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mikeygaw

weird question to give the thread a jump start...

how long do signal lightbulbs last, say with whatever would be considered normal usage?

And as a corrollary question: The highway community has gone into LEDs in a big way for traffic lights. Are the railroads considering a similar move for signals?

[tree68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mikeygaw

weird question to give the thread a jump start...

how long do signal lightbulbs last, say with whatever would be considered normal usage?

And as a corrollary question: The highway community has gone into LEDs in a big way for traffic lights. Are the railroads considering a similar move for signals?