Bad train pictures

[kwboehm]

Back to my earlier question about Amtrak crews, do they refer to the same territories as the host railroad, and are they qualified uder the same criteria as the freight engineers? Does an Amtrak crew travel farther than a freight crew (hypothetically if both were to run end to end of their areas if they didn't have to worry about going dead) or is that similar?

[kwboehm]

Back to my earlier question about Amtrak crews, do they refer to the same territories as the host railroad, and are they qualified uder the same criteria as the freight engineers? Does an Amtrak crew travel farther than a freight crew (hypothetically if both were to run end to end of their areas if they didn't have to worry about going dead) or is that similar?

[dharmon]

YOU WIN!

You will be contacted by your local Chevy dealer to receive one on the new 2004 Suburban Convertables from the Chicago Autorack incident. Of coures you will be required to pay the CA auto tax on it. Unless Arnold keeps his promise and repeals it shortly.

I presumed it was run through (the first NS unit I've seen here though) and it was coupled with 2 BNSFs and a UP...you are again correct.

The port terminal here does have an auto facility, jammed packed this morning with Automax's. So as an addtional bonus, you will receive an authentic 9 page CA recall election ballot with all 123 candidates names on it complete with a dangling, pregnant chad.

[dharmon]

YOU WIN!

You will be contacted by your local Chevy dealer to receive one on the new 2004 Suburban Convertables from the Chicago Autorack incident. Of coures you will be required to pay the CA auto tax on it. Unless Arnold keeps his promise and repeals it shortly.

I presumed it was run through (the first NS unit I've seen here though) and it was coupled with 2 BNSFs and a UP...you are again correct.

The port terminal here does have an auto facility, jammed packed this morning with Automax's. So as an addtional bonus, you will receive an authentic 9 page CA recall election ballot with all 123 candidates names on it complete with a dangling, pregnant chad.

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ironhorseman

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

So why in the world was a NS unit in SoCal today?

I know the answer! I'll answer this one! (Plus it'll give me a chance to be part of the most popular thread on the web! (301 posts with this one))!

An NS loco in Southern California is part of what's called run-through power. I'll assume you saw it on a BNSF train? Or if not, if it was sitting around it's probably waiting for it's return east. Run through power is when railroads kinda loan their locos to other railroads. I've seen NS on BNSF trains a lot through here the last several months. The trains through here go from LA to KC to CHI and back again. I've been told it's possible the NS engine came from KC, since they have a line through there and they have an auto-carrier yard, which, by the way, I've seen.

That's about the jist of it. I reconstructed the answer from memory from what others have said on this forum. So someone correct me if I'm wrong or add it to it.

Congratulations! We have NS running through Lincoln a lot! I just happen to be kinda partial to the black and white and horse, so always have to stop and look!

Now y'all can throw rocks because I like the horse, but I am in absentia (that's like really gone Dude!)

Tomorrow

Mookie

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ironhorseman

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

So why in the world was a NS unit in SoCal today?

I know the answer! I'll answer this one! (Plus it'll give me a chance to be part of the most popular thread on the web! (301 posts with this one))!

An NS loco in Southern California is part of what's called run-through power. I'll assume you saw it on a BNSF train? Or if not, if it was sitting around it's probably waiting for it's return east. Run through power is when railroads kinda loan their locos to other railroads. I've seen NS on BNSF trains a lot through here the last several months. The trains through here go from LA to KC to CHI and back again. I've been told it's possible the NS engine came from KC, since they have a line through there and they have an auto-carrier yard, which, by the way, I've seen.

That's about the jist of it. I reconstructed the answer from memory from what others have said on this forum. So someone correct me if I'm wrong or add it to it.

Congratulations! We have NS running through Lincoln a lot! I just happen to be kinda partial to the black and white and horse, so always have to stop and look!

Now y'all can throw rocks because I like the horse, but I am in absentia (that's like really gone Dude!)

Tomorrow

Mookie

[ironhorseman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

So why in the world was a NS unit in SoCal today?

I know the answer! I'll answer this one! (Plus it'll give me a chance to be part of the most popular thread on the web! (301 posts with this one))!

An NS loco in Southern California is part of what's called run-through power. I'll assume you saw it on a BNSF train? Or if not, if it was sitting around it's probably waiting for it's return east. Run through power is when railroads kinda loan their locos to other railroads. I've seen NS on BNSF trains a lot through here the last several months. The trains through here go from LA to KC to CHI and back again. I've been told it's possible the NS engine came from KC, since they have a line through there and they have an auto-carrier yard, which, by the way, I've seen.

That's about the jist of it. I reconstructed the answer from memory from what others have said on this forum. So someone correct me if I'm wrong or add it to it.

[ironhorseman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

So why in the world was a NS unit in SoCal today?

I know the answer! I'll answer this one! (Plus it'll give me a chance to be part of the most popular thread on the web! (301 posts with this one))!

An NS loco in Southern California is part of what's called run-through power. I'll assume you saw it on a BNSF train? Or if not, if it was sitting around it's probably waiting for it's return east. Run through power is when railroads kinda loan their locos to other railroads. I've seen NS on BNSF trains a lot through here the last several months. The trains through here go from LA to KC to CHI and back again. I've been told it's possible the NS engine came from KC, since they have a line through there and they have an auto-carrier yard, which, by the way, I've seen.

That's about the jist of it. I reconstructed the answer from memory from what others have said on this forum. So someone correct me if I'm wrong or add it to it.

[techguy57]

Thanks Mookie!

techguy

[techguy57]

Thanks Mookie!

techguy

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by techguy57

My turn to post a question:

What does " kicking" a car mean?

It is a "knudge" with an engine....that is the technical splanation.

Mookie

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by techguy57

My turn to post a question:

What does " kicking" a car mean?

It is a "knudge" with an engine....that is the technical splanation.

Mookie

[dharmon]

So why in the world was a NS unit in SoCal today?

[dharmon]

So why in the world was a NS unit in SoCal today?

[dharmon]

I think was discussed in detail the Hump vs flat switching thread. I don't think I could do justice trying to splain it myself.

[dharmon]

I think was discussed in detail the Hump vs flat switching thread. I don't think I could do justice trying to splain it myself.

[techguy57]

My turn to post a question:

What does " kicking" a car mean?

[techguy57]

My turn to post a question:

What does " kicking" a car mean?

[edblysard]

Dan,
I think its every 92 days the FRA requires a railroad to shop the locomotive for the full court press.
Every 24 hours, the locomotive must be inspected by a qualified engineer and a inspection card is filled out.
This card remainds on the locomotive.
The engineer looks for things like flat spots on wheels, low coolant and oil, fuel status, headlights and ditch lights number boards working, windshield wipers wipping, brakes that work, things of that nature.
When taken in for fuel, most shop forces do the once over on major things like oils, lubes, brake shoes and such.
Like the aircraft you use, each locomotive has a scheduled maintaince, when its due for a oil and filter change, its shopped then.

Kwbohem,
Yes, they work for Amtrak.
On the rare occasion when a new engineer is running, or is new to the territory, the host railroad will put a pilot engineer on board to help guide the new guy, but again, thats rare.
Crew change point are the stations or stops along the way, although in instances where the crew dies on the hours of service, I am sure Amtrak cabs a new crew out to them where ever they may be.
This would not be too often, as crews know when they are short on time, and would have made arrangments to have a fresh crew standing by at the next stop.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[edblysard]

Dan,
I think its every 92 days the FRA requires a railroad to shop the locomotive for the full court press.
Every 24 hours, the locomotive must be inspected by a qualified engineer and a inspection card is filled out.
This card remainds on the locomotive.
The engineer looks for things like flat spots on wheels, low coolant and oil, fuel status, headlights and ditch lights number boards working, windshield wipers wipping, brakes that work, things of that nature.
When taken in for fuel, most shop forces do the once over on major things like oils, lubes, brake shoes and such.
Like the aircraft you use, each locomotive has a scheduled maintaince, when its due for a oil and filter change, its shopped then.

Kwbohem,
Yes, they work for Amtrak.
On the rare occasion when a new engineer is running, or is new to the territory, the host railroad will put a pilot engineer on board to help guide the new guy, but again, thats rare.
Crew change point are the stations or stops along the way, although in instances where the crew dies on the hours of service, I am sure Amtrak cabs a new crew out to them where ever they may be.
This would not be too often, as crews know when they are short on time, and would have made arrangments to have a fresh crew standing by at the next stop.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[kwboehm]

OK, I have a question, I just don't know who to direct it to...probably an engineer or someone on the inside.

Is the engineer of an Amtrak train an employee of the host railroad (BNSF, UP) or are they Amtrak employees only? Also, are their areas or crew change points the same as the host railroads? (OK, so I had 2 questions)

[kwboehm]

OK, I have a question, I just don't know who to direct it to...probably an engineer or someone on the inside.

Is the engineer of an Amtrak train an employee of the host railroad (BNSF, UP) or are they Amtrak employees only? Also, are their areas or crew change points the same as the host railroads? (OK, so I had 2 questions)

[dharmon]

What sort of schedule dictates locomotive and rolling stock maintenance other than unscheduled maint actions (bad order). Is it calendar, hour/mileage or event based. Aircraft have inspections based on all three?

[dharmon]

What sort of schedule dictates locomotive and rolling stock maintenance other than unscheduled maint actions (bad order). Is it calendar, hour/mileage or event based. Aircraft have inspections based on all three?

[Anonymous]

I am wonering some of the examples of the HP/tonnage ratios? ? ? I quite frequently see what I think are underpowered trains around this mountain grade. Pairs of SD40-2 helpers/pushers will help the train up and down, but it is still a sight to see, there will be a loaded freight train with 2 D9-40CWs leading and a pair of helpers pushing, and they are not going more than 10 mph. Then I will see an intermodal with sometimes 4+ units, of which only about 2 or 3 are operating. Maybe it is just the way NS runs things here, I don't know. I could use some of the HP/Tonnage ratios to help my understanding of this. Thanks..

[Anonymous]

I am wonering some of the examples of the HP/tonnage ratios? ? ? I quite frequently see what I think are underpowered trains around this mountain grade. Pairs of SD40-2 helpers/pushers will help the train up and down, but it is still a sight to see, there will be a loaded freight train with 2 D9-40CWs leading and a pair of helpers pushing, and they are not going more than 10 mph. Then I will see an intermodal with sometimes 4+ units, of which only about 2 or 3 are operating. Maybe it is just the way NS runs things here, I don't know. I could use some of the HP/Tonnage ratios to help my understanding of this. Thanks..

[JoeKoh]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

QUOTE: Originally posted by Nora

Hey, I have a star!

Yes Nora you have a star. (You always had a "star" in our hearts) [:)]

We must also award a "star" to your Stupid Question Thread it is also a winner. It is alive and well and growing most every day. As I said very early in the thread you did good starting this one.

Hey Jim look out nora will be catching up as soon as she gets settled in.Nora when you do I got pictures for you.[:)]
stay safe
Joe

[JoeKoh]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

QUOTE: Originally posted by Nora

Hey, I have a star!

Yes Nora you have a star. (You always had a "star" in our hearts) [:)]

We must also award a "star" to your Stupid Question Thread it is also a winner. It is alive and well and growing most every day. As I said very early in the thread you did good starting this one.

Hey Jim look out nora will be catching up as soon as she gets settled in.Nora when you do I got pictures for you.[:)]
stay safe
Joe

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

I'll vouch for the high-pitched squeal of retarders. I live about a mile from the crest of a bi-directional hump and I can hear the squeal quite clearly, especially at night.
Some yards have inert retarders toward the far end of the classification tracks. How do these work and how do pulldown engines move a cut of cars through these to the departure yard.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

I'll vouch for the high-pitched squeal of retarders. I live about a mile from the crest of a bi-directional hump and I can hear the squeal quite clearly, especially at night.
Some yards have inert retarders toward the far end of the classification tracks. How do these work and how do pulldown engines move a cut of cars through these to the departure yard.