Bad train pictures

[edblysard]

Hi Dan,
Yes, engineers have a license, they have to recertify every few years on rules, and have a hearing/eyesight test.
I dont run a motor, but all of the engineers on the PTRA learn on a MK1500D, with the old style EMD control stand like you find in a SD40, GP 38....
The newer locomotives have the desktop, or nintendo controls, but it never seem to bother any of our engineers.
I assume the same basic train handleing skills apply, just remembering the layout of the controls would be the only operational difference.
Beyond that, you will have to get some of the engineers,like wabash, to explain with more specific details.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[edblysard]

Hi Dan,
Yes, engineers have a license, they have to recertify every few years on rules, and have a hearing/eyesight test.
I dont run a motor, but all of the engineers on the PTRA learn on a MK1500D, with the old style EMD control stand like you find in a SD40, GP 38....
The newer locomotives have the desktop, or nintendo controls, but it never seem to bother any of our engineers.
I assume the same basic train handleing skills apply, just remembering the layout of the controls would be the only operational difference.
Beyond that, you will have to get some of the engineers,like wabash, to explain with more specific details.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

Thank you Nora for starting this thread. It may become one of the most read and most informative threads yet or ever posted.

Nora has started a good thing here. Now we can all get educated. Again, Thank You, Nora.

Have a great day. Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks? Arf, arf.


Ed for President

Nora, your thread has 12 pages now and still going strong. I don't know what the record is but I bet this thread will pass them all. This thread is timeless. The newer people may have missed an earlier post and ask the same question again. (Kinda like I did) So this is one thread that should never wear out (pun intended). [:p]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

Thank you Nora for starting this thread. It may become one of the most read and most informative threads yet or ever posted.

Nora has started a good thing here. Now we can all get educated. Again, Thank You, Nora.

Have a great day. Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks? Arf, arf.


Ed for President

Nora, your thread has 12 pages now and still going strong. I don't know what the record is but I bet this thread will pass them all. This thread is timeless. The newer people may have missed an earlier post and ask the same question again. (Kinda like I did) So this is one thread that should never wear out (pun intended). [:p]

[dharmon]

It's Dan by the way. I am a humble servant of the tax payer and frequent carrier outer of foriegn policy.

So the next question. Do engineers have to qualify per se in each locomotive? Do you have to be checked out in a SD40-2 with a qualified engineer before you can solo? Do you have a card or logbook that says Mr Jones is qualified to run the following engines.......x, y and z only. Is there any sort of annual review like pilots have...a check ride once a year or periodically to maintain qualification in a type loco? Does FRA, the road or union have any sort of licencing that occurs.

[dharmon]

It's Dan by the way. I am a humble servant of the tax payer and frequent carrier outer of foriegn policy.

So the next question. Do engineers have to qualify per se in each locomotive? Do you have to be checked out in a SD40-2 with a qualified engineer before you can solo? Do you have a card or logbook that says Mr Jones is qualified to run the following engines.......x, y and z only. Is there any sort of annual review like pilots have...a check ride once a year or periodically to maintain qualification in a type loco? Does FRA, the road or union have any sort of licencing that occurs.

[Anonymous]

Joekoh
Nora
Ed

Thanks for the info. I missed the thread or post Nora quoted from but I have posted in so many threads now that I have trouble even finding my own post little own someone else.

They were looking at the bearing area so Nora must have got it right. WAY TO GO NORA [^] [:X] [:I] [8)] [:)]

[Anonymous]

Joekoh
Nora
Ed

Thanks for the info. I missed the thread or post Nora quoted from but I have posted in so many threads now that I have trouble even finding my own post little own someone else.

They were looking at the bearing area so Nora must have got it right. WAY TO GO NORA [^] [:X] [:I] [8)] [:)]

[edblysard]

Hey dharmon,
It wouldnt make much difference, A/c or D/c, notch 8 is notch 8, no mater which traction motor the locomotive has.
But most roads, BNSF in paticular, purchased A/C for a specific purpose like
the unit coal or grain trains, so you would see all A/C power on them because the locomotives were assigned to that one use.
When they figured out it didnt make that much of a savings in operating expense, the motors were sent system wide.
You can see A/C D/C MUs all the time now.
We see UPs SD90MAC MUed to old SD40-2s on their grain trains down here all the time.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[edblysard]

Hey dharmon,
It wouldnt make much difference, A/c or D/c, notch 8 is notch 8, no mater which traction motor the locomotive has.
But most roads, BNSF in paticular, purchased A/C for a specific purpose like
the unit coal or grain trains, so you would see all A/C power on them because the locomotives were assigned to that one use.
When they figured out it didnt make that much of a savings in operating expense, the motors were sent system wide.
You can see A/C D/C MUs all the time now.
We see UPs SD90MAC MUed to old SD40-2s on their grain trains down here all the time.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

ATSF had six U30CG's, used them initially on the "Texas Chief" and went to freight service when Amtrak started up. Appearance is similar to P30CH.
I have seen CSX mix AC's with DC's, usually on intermodals or mixed freight.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

ATSF had six U30CG's, used them initially on the "Texas Chief" and went to freight service when Amtrak started up. Appearance is similar to P30CH.
I have seen CSX mix AC's with DC's, usually on intermodals or mixed freight.

[dharmon]

Thanks. Not a fan of P30CHs or even Amtrak for that matter, but it does interest me. Kinda strange sounding I know. Just curious to their fate..didn't ATSF use them also or were those the ones that became Amtrak's.

Next question, which came up in a couple of other threads about NS AC units (you might remember, they were during the mook-silvio war of "03) Do RRs not routinely mix AC and DC units? If not why? If I were an RR, unless I was going to go one way or the other ie all AC or all DC becasue of compatibility issues, I would make sure they worked together.

[dharmon]

Thanks. Not a fan of P30CHs or even Amtrak for that matter, but it does interest me. Kinda strange sounding I know. Just curious to their fate..didn't ATSF use them also or were those the ones that became Amtrak's.

Next question, which came up in a couple of other threads about NS AC units (you might remember, they were during the mook-silvio war of "03) Do RRs not routinely mix AC and DC units? If not why? If I were an RR, unless I was going to go one way or the other ie all AC or all DC becasue of compatibility issues, I would make sure they worked together.

[edblysard]

Hi Jim,
Think Nora nailed that one, sounds like they tripped a hot box detector, and were checking it out.
As for the P30CH, bet Amtrak has them stashed somewhere as reserve power, if not, traded in on a purchase.
Never worked for Amtrak, so I can really comment.
I would venture a guess that some parts of their contract are different, but basicly the same.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[edblysard]

Hi Jim,
Think Nora nailed that one, sounds like they tripped a hot box detector, and were checking it out.
As for the P30CH, bet Amtrak has them stashed somewhere as reserve power, if not, traded in on a purchase.
Never worked for Amtrak, so I can really comment.
I would venture a guess that some parts of their contract are different, but basicly the same.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[Nora]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

One of the crew walked around the train stopping at each wheel and had an object slight larger than an ink pen (kinda reminder me of a tire guage) and either marked or touched the wheel. Was he marking on the wheel or taking a temp reading of the wheel? Or was he doing something else? There was one that several crew members came over and checked out. They would even put a hand on it like they were feeling for a temp.

I hope ironken doesn't mind me quoting from a post of his from a couple weeks ago:

QUOTE: The "paint stick," is called a "tempilstick." I have a few of them in my grip. One end of the stick is used in cold weather and the other end is used in warm weather. You make a mark on the bearing cap with the appropriate end of the stick. If the crayon mark melts, then the bearing is overheated.

Does that sound like what you saw? That's what it made me think of.

--Nora

[Nora]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jhhtrainsplanes

One of the crew walked around the train stopping at each wheel and had an object slight larger than an ink pen (kinda reminder me of a tire guage) and either marked or touched the wheel. Was he marking on the wheel or taking a temp reading of the wheel? Or was he doing something else? There was one that several crew members came over and checked out. They would even put a hand on it like they were feeling for a temp.

I hope ironken doesn't mind me quoting from a post of his from a couple weeks ago:

QUOTE: The "paint stick," is called a "tempilstick." I have a few of them in my grip. One end of the stick is used in cold weather and the other end is used in warm weather. You make a mark on the bearing cap with the appropriate end of the stick. If the crayon mark melts, then the bearing is overheated.

Does that sound like what you saw? That's what it made me think of.

--Nora

[JoeKoh]

they might have been checking for flat spots on the wheels.
stay safe
joe

[JoeKoh]

they might have been checking for flat spots on the wheels.
stay safe
joe

[Anonymous]

Another question. Tonight/this morning I went down and saw Amtrak come in. They were running a little late. One of the crew walked around the train stopping at each wheel and had an object slight larger than an ink pen (kinda reminder me of a tire guage) and either marked or touched the wheel. Was he marking on the wheel or taking a temp reading of the wheel? Or was he doing something else? There was one that several crew members came over and checked out. They would even put a hand on it like they were feeling for a temp.

F Y I [:0] The engine had some damage. Guess someone cornered it. [B)]lol

[Anonymous]

Another question. Tonight/this morning I went down and saw Amtrak come in. They were running a little late. One of the crew walked around the train stopping at each wheel and had an object slight larger than an ink pen (kinda reminder me of a tire guage) and either marked or touched the wheel. Was he marking on the wheel or taking a temp reading of the wheel? Or was he doing something else? There was one that several crew members came over and checked out. They would even put a hand on it like they were feeling for a temp.

F Y I [:0] The engine had some damage. Guess someone cornered it. [B)]lol

[Anonymous]

Ed here is a question I have imported from another thread so the person can have an answer. (Isn't copy and paste a wonderful thing?) [;)]

Give him your best answer--we have to put our best foot forward. [;)] No hissing from the snake in the grass either. [:D]

Here is the imported question:


Okay back to serious railroad questions:

1. At what point did GE stop using the U30C/U23B....and adopt the C44-9W/AC4400 designations and why?

2. What became of the P30CHs that Amtrak used to run?

3. Have any of the railroad folks out there operated for Amtrak and if so were there any big differences in working for them vice a Class1, both in procedure and equipment?

I'm sure if I went to google or something I could probably find these answers, but it wouldn't be nearly as entertaining.

Humor and digressions are authorized in this thread, since I started it...Alot of good info usually results from it. (mook and followers)

Thanks in advance

[Anonymous]

Ed here is a question I have imported from another thread so the person can have an answer. (Isn't copy and paste a wonderful thing?) [;)]

Give him your best answer--we have to put our best foot forward. [;)] No hissing from the snake in the grass either. [:D]

Here is the imported question:


Okay back to serious railroad questions:

1. At what point did GE stop using the U30C/U23B....and adopt the C44-9W/AC4400 designations and why?

2. What became of the P30CHs that Amtrak used to run?

3. Have any of the railroad folks out there operated for Amtrak and if so were there any big differences in working for them vice a Class1, both in procedure and equipment?

I'm sure if I went to google or something I could probably find these answers, but it wouldn't be nearly as entertaining.

Humor and digressions are authorized in this thread, since I started it...Alot of good info usually results from it. (mook and followers)

Thanks in advance

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

[8] HISS

Mook

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

[8] HISS

Mook