Bad train pictures

[mudchicken]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

For the most part, engineers try hard to ease or eliminate curves on steep grades, but sometimes it cant be avoided.
A gentle or wide radi curve makes little difference to most trains, its the sharp, or tight radius cruves that cause problems.
Engineers avoid this combination whenever possible.
Take note of Horseshoe curve, and Tehachapi loop, both designed to gain elevation in as little space as possible, but both have releative gentle curves. You see trains stopped in the sideing at Tehachapi all the time.
Where a sharp curve on grade cant be avoided, and the curve is severe enough to affect operation beyond what the grade itself causes, then that curve becomes the ruling grade.

Thanx Ed! - Us mudchickens get credit for doing the steering!.[:D]....Now if we could get you to put a steering wheel borrowed from the local salvage yard on the control stand of the switch engine before the hogger goes on duty, that would be priceless to watch the reaction!

-MC

[mudchicken]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

For the most part, engineers try hard to ease or eliminate curves on steep grades, but sometimes it cant be avoided.
A gentle or wide radi curve makes little difference to most trains, its the sharp, or tight radius cruves that cause problems.
Engineers avoid this combination whenever possible.
Take note of Horseshoe curve, and Tehachapi loop, both designed to gain elevation in as little space as possible, but both have releative gentle curves. You see trains stopped in the sideing at Tehachapi all the time.
Where a sharp curve on grade cant be avoided, and the curve is severe enough to affect operation beyond what the grade itself causes, then that curve becomes the ruling grade.

Thanx Ed! - Us mudchickens get credit for doing the steering!.[:D]....Now if we could get you to put a steering wheel borrowed from the local salvage yard on the control stand of the switch engine before the hogger goes on duty, that would be priceless to watch the reaction!

-MC

[jamesedwbradley]

Didn't see this point raised - an engine, or group of engines, whether or not coupled to cars, is a TRAIN - IF, and ONLY IF, markers are displayed. If no markers, it's just engine(s), 'light', or pulling a 'cut' or 'draft' of cars, not a 'train' for dispatching purposes, and could only function within yard limits under most rulebooks.
With the advent of track warrants I think things have loosened up a little bit, but I believe the 'train' definition holds, and the warrants are still issued to a 'train', the engine or engine/cars being authorized as a train to 'run extra'. Any confirmation/correction from the active railroaders out there?
James E. Bradley Hawk Mountain Chapter N.R.H.S.

[jamesedwbradley]

Didn't see this point raised - an engine, or group of engines, whether or not coupled to cars, is a TRAIN - IF, and ONLY IF, markers are displayed. If no markers, it's just engine(s), 'light', or pulling a 'cut' or 'draft' of cars, not a 'train' for dispatching purposes, and could only function within yard limits under most rulebooks.
With the advent of track warrants I think things have loosened up a little bit, but I believe the 'train' definition holds, and the warrants are still issued to a 'train', the engine or engine/cars being authorized as a train to 'run extra'. Any confirmation/correction from the active railroaders out there?
James E. Bradley Hawk Mountain Chapter N.R.H.S.

[Anonymous]

Ed i wouldn't want to be caught DEAD with a victorias secret catalog within my possesion.. or anywhere within a radius of 2 miles from my current location.

[Anonymous]

Ed i wouldn't want to be caught DEAD with a victorias secret catalog within my possesion.. or anywhere within a radius of 2 miles from my current location.

[Anonymous]

I got a question! How does a bell work[?](on a locomotive). Where is that sound coming from and how is it made?

[Anonymous]

I got a question! How does a bell work[?](on a locomotive). Where is that sound coming from and how is it made?

[Nora]

A few days ago I was over checking out the house we're hoping to move to later this year. I saw a train that consisted entirely of truck trailers that were NOT (as best I could see -- I'm fairly certain) on train cars. I believe they sat right on sets of train wheels; the back end of one trailer and the front of the next one shared one of these sets of wheels.

I know train cars have their own brakes. Do these things have brakes? I hope so, but I couldn't see anything connecting the sets of wheels!

--Nora

[Nora]

A few days ago I was over checking out the house we're hoping to move to later this year. I saw a train that consisted entirely of truck trailers that were NOT (as best I could see -- I'm fairly certain) on train cars. I believe they sat right on sets of train wheels; the back end of one trailer and the front of the next one shared one of these sets of wheels.

I know train cars have their own brakes. Do these things have brakes? I hope so, but I couldn't see anything connecting the sets of wheels!

--Nora

[Nora]

I used to have a little snake; I don't remember what kind, something harmless. One day I was cleaning out its aquarium; I had it in a paper grocery bag while I did the cleaning. It got out & got loose and I looked all over my bedroom for it for two or three hours. I couldn't catch it. My mom finally came up and asked what I was doing and I had to tell her. That was the end of me having a snake. I did catch it and get it back in the aquarium eventually, but my mom was opposed to the thing from the start and that episode was the last straw. I had to give it away. I think I was about 14 or 15.

Now all I've got are two cats who live 3500 miles away with my in-laws.

[Nora]

I used to have a little snake; I don't remember what kind, something harmless. One day I was cleaning out its aquarium; I had it in a paper grocery bag while I did the cleaning. It got out & got loose and I looked all over my bedroom for it for two or three hours. I couldn't catch it. My mom finally came up and asked what I was doing and I had to tell her. That was the end of me having a snake. I did catch it and get it back in the aquarium eventually, but my mom was opposed to the thing from the start and that episode was the last straw. I had to give it away. I think I was about 14 or 15.

Now all I've got are two cats who live 3500 miles away with my in-laws.

[Modelcar]

Nora....We have a train that travels through our city each day as you describe and it is the RoadRailer train. And engine or two and a long string of special road / rail trailers riding on wheel sets as you describe. These units would have to have the air brake equipment to operate the brakes on the wheel sets...[Piping and hose to make connections]. The train traveling through here is on Norfolk Southern and I believe runs from Ft. Wayne to Jacksonville, Fl.and I believe it hauls mostly auto parts.

[Modelcar]

Nora....We have a train that travels through our city each day as you describe and it is the RoadRailer train. And engine or two and a long string of special road / rail trailers riding on wheel sets as you describe. These units would have to have the air brake equipment to operate the brakes on the wheel sets...[Piping and hose to make connections]. The train traveling through here is on Norfolk Southern and I believe runs from Ft. Wayne to Jacksonville, Fl.and I believe it hauls mostly auto parts.

[edblysard]

Hi Nora,
Wabash can answer this a little better than me, I am sure he has run a few of them, but it sounds like you saw a RoadRailer train. Your right, its made up of trailers, riding on bogies, or speical trucks or wheelsets designed just for that purpose.
They have brakes, just like a regular train, the trailers have air lines and hoses built into them, the bogies have brakes.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

QUOTE: Originally posted by Nora

A few days ago I was over checking out the house we're hoping to move to later this year. I saw a train that consisted entirely of truck trailers that were NOT (as best I could see -- I'm fairly certain) on train cars. I believe they sat right on sets of train wheels; the back end of one trailer and the front of the next one shared one of these sets of wheels.

I know train cars have their own brakes. Do these things have brakes? I hope so, but I couldn't see anything connecting the sets of wheels!

--Nora

[edblysard]

Hi Nora,
Wabash can answer this a little better than me, I am sure he has run a few of them, but it sounds like you saw a RoadRailer train. Your right, its made up of trailers, riding on bogies, or speical trucks or wheelsets designed just for that purpose.
They have brakes, just like a regular train, the trailers have air lines and hoses built into them, the bogies have brakes.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

QUOTE: Originally posted by Nora

A few days ago I was over checking out the house we're hoping to move to later this year. I saw a train that consisted entirely of truck trailers that were NOT (as best I could see -- I'm fairly certain) on train cars. I believe they sat right on sets of train wheels; the back end of one trailer and the front of the next one shared one of these sets of wheels.

I know train cars have their own brakes. Do these things have brakes? I hope so, but I couldn't see anything connecting the sets of wheels!

--Nora

[edblysard]

Right!
Uh huh...I know a jewler who can poli***hat halo for you, at a good price.
Stay Frosty,
Ed[:D]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kevinstheRRman

Ed i wouldn't want to be caught DEAD with a victorias secret catalog within my possesion.. or anywhere within a radius of 2 miles from my current location.

[edblysard]

Right!
Uh huh...I know a jewler who can poli***hat halo for you, at a good price.
Stay Frosty,
Ed[:D]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kevinstheRRman

Ed i wouldn't want to be caught DEAD with a victorias secret catalog within my possesion.. or anywhere within a radius of 2 miles from my current location.

[edblysard]

By defination from the current GCOR, a train is,
"One or more engines coupled, with or with out cars, displaying a marker, and authorized to operate on a main track.
A term that when used in connection with speed restrictions, flag protection, and the observance of all signals and signal rules also applies to engines"

Because a headlight, on full or dim, is considered a marker, and all locomotives are required to display a headlight, regardless of time of day, any multiply unit or single unit locomotives is considered a train for dispatching purposes.
When we switch, our engineer runs from the rear unit for safety reasons, and when we run light over any crossing, one of us has to be on the lead motor, flagging the crossing for the engineer, because we are a train, and are providing protection on the point of a shoving movement.
By definition, any locomotive, in MU or alone, is considered a train, regardless if it is running in CTC, ACS, ATS, or TWC and DTC or Dark territory.
Stay Frosty,
and keep up the good work,
Ed

QUOTE: Originally posted by jamesedwbradley

Didn't see this point raised - an engine, or group of engines, whether or not coupled to cars, is a TRAIN - IF, and ONLY IF, markers are displayed. If no markers, it's just engine(s), 'light', or pulling a 'cut' or 'draft' of cars, not a 'train' for dispatching purposes, and could only function within yard limits under most rulebooks.
With the advent of track warrants I think things have loosened up a little bit, but I believe the 'train' definition holds, and the warrants are still issued to a 'train', the engine or engine/cars being authorized as a train to 'run extra'. Any confirmation/correction from the active railroaders out there?
James E. Bradley Hawk Mountain Chapter N.R.H.S.

[edblysard]

By defination from the current GCOR, a train is,
"One or more engines coupled, with or with out cars, displaying a marker, and authorized to operate on a main track.
A term that when used in connection with speed restrictions, flag protection, and the observance of all signals and signal rules also applies to engines"

Because a headlight, on full or dim, is considered a marker, and all locomotives are required to display a headlight, regardless of time of day, any multiply unit or single unit locomotives is considered a train for dispatching purposes.
When we switch, our engineer runs from the rear unit for safety reasons, and when we run light over any crossing, one of us has to be on the lead motor, flagging the crossing for the engineer, because we are a train, and are providing protection on the point of a shoving movement.
By definition, any locomotive, in MU or alone, is considered a train, regardless if it is running in CTC, ACS, ATS, or TWC and DTC or Dark territory.
Stay Frosty,
and keep up the good work,
Ed

QUOTE: Originally posted by jamesedwbradley

Didn't see this point raised - an engine, or group of engines, whether or not coupled to cars, is a TRAIN - IF, and ONLY IF, markers are displayed. If no markers, it's just engine(s), 'light', or pulling a 'cut' or 'draft' of cars, not a 'train' for dispatching purposes, and could only function within yard limits under most rulebooks.
With the advent of track warrants I think things have loosened up a little bit, but I believe the 'train' definition holds, and the warrants are still issued to a 'train', the engine or engine/cars being authorized as a train to 'run extra'. Any confirmation/correction from the active railroaders out there?
James E. Bradley Hawk Mountain Chapter N.R.H.S.

[edblysard]

Uh, the sound is made by a bell?
No, in all seriousness, its really a bell, just like what you see on the old steam locomotives. Often, but not always, its hung under the side of the frame, where maintainance is easy. Its clapper is run by vacume via a vacume valve just like the windshield wipers.
On some NS units, you can still see it hanging on the front, in a bracket above the headlight.
Look close at the next diesel you see, the bell will be located near the front of the fuel tank on the firemans side in the case of our units, but it varies by road.
They still use a real bell, instead of eletronic reproduction, because the rules say it has to be a bell, its cheaper, (they dont wear out or blow a fuse) and because you really can hear them over a lot of other noise.
Even the brand new units, SD90Macs, have a real bell, run on vacume, because the technology is easy to repair when it does fail, a few o rings and rubber tubing is about all you need.
Stay Frosty,
(no, not a pun)
Ed

QUOTE: Originally posted by Alaskaman

I got a question! How does a bell work[?](on a locomotive). Where is that sound coming from and how is it made?

[edblysard]

Uh, the sound is made by a bell?
No, in all seriousness, its really a bell, just like what you see on the old steam locomotives. Often, but not always, its hung under the side of the frame, where maintainance is easy. Its clapper is run by vacume via a vacume valve just like the windshield wipers.
On some NS units, you can still see it hanging on the front, in a bracket above the headlight.
Look close at the next diesel you see, the bell will be located near the front of the fuel tank on the firemans side in the case of our units, but it varies by road.
They still use a real bell, instead of eletronic reproduction, because the rules say it has to be a bell, its cheaper, (they dont wear out or blow a fuse) and because you really can hear them over a lot of other noise.
Even the brand new units, SD90Macs, have a real bell, run on vacume, because the technology is easy to repair when it does fail, a few o rings and rubber tubing is about all you need.
Stay Frosty,
(no, not a pun)
Ed

QUOTE: Originally posted by Alaskaman

I got a question! How does a bell work[?](on a locomotive). Where is that sound coming from and how is it made?

[Mookie]

Thanx Ed - I was questioning what a marker was when you answered it for me. Reading my mind again, I guess. Wish you would quit that!

Nora - I got all excited on the forum one day flapping my arms and hooting because I found the bell. If you are in a car, it will be about eye level - depending on which side it and you are on. BNSF runs with theirs on the left - just behind the first set of wheels and they are a nice size, so you can see them!

Jen

[Mookie]

Thanx Ed - I was questioning what a marker was when you answered it for me. Reading my mind again, I guess. Wish you would quit that!

Nora - I got all excited on the forum one day flapping my arms and hooting because I found the bell. If you are in a car, it will be about eye level - depending on which side it and you are on. BNSF runs with theirs on the left - just behind the first set of wheels and they are a nice size, so you can see them!

Jen

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

Thanx Ed - I was questioning what a marker was when you answered it for me. Reading my mind again, I guess. Wish you would quit that!

Nora - I got all excited on the forum one day flapping my arms and hooting because I found the bell. If you are in a car, it will be about eye level - depending on which side it and you are on. BNSF runs with theirs on the left - just behind the first set of wheels and they are a nice size, so you can see them!

Jen

This may sound kinda silly but, I have always wanted to see two bells on the locos. One up front and one behind. They should be mounted on opposite sides of the loco and should alternate their rings. This way you get better coverage and more bells. Something us railfans would like. [;)]

Hi Nora, everyone ok now? Hope so. [:)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

Thanx Ed - I was questioning what a marker was when you answered it for me. Reading my mind again, I guess. Wish you would quit that!

Nora - I got all excited on the forum one day flapping my arms and hooting because I found the bell. If you are in a car, it will be about eye level - depending on which side it and you are on. BNSF runs with theirs on the left - just behind the first set of wheels and they are a nice size, so you can see them!

Jen

This may sound kinda silly but, I have always wanted to see two bells on the locos. One up front and one behind. They should be mounted on opposite sides of the loco and should alternate their rings. This way you get better coverage and more bells. Something us railfans would like. [;)]

Hi Nora, everyone ok now? Hope so. [:)]

[wabash1]

Well ed you are right , right and almost right.

I will answer the engine question first, a train is a train if it is one or more engines with or with out cars with a marker. the light engines will be a train but the rear engine must have head light on dim. that signals the rear of train. in yard operation ( around here anyways) the lights will be on dim in the direction of movement. only. by rights not both ends can be lit.. as far as the bell goes, Ed i think ( and i will check when i get a 9600 series engine) these engines had electronic bells. they didnt sound like our other units and shut off faster also. other wise they are mechanical. and if you saw them mounted on the long hood end abouve the head light these was are older emd units.

as far as the raod/rail triple crown train yes each set of trucks under those trailers have brakes and operate just like a boxcar would. there is no coupler. this will be difficult for me to exsplain but ill try. imagine a boat trailer or camper . how it hooks to the towing vehicle. same type of system . a lip on the front trailer ( flat with a hole in it big enough for a pin to be dropped in) these are nose to tail this is how they are joined together. the engine is the only car that has a coupler they have just one they lift and couple the lead trailer to.. this actually makes this one big ( usually 1.5 miles) articulate car. alot of auto parts are shipped this way but other freight goes by this method also.. i hope this helped. answer the questions.

[wabash1]

Well ed you are right , right and almost right.

I will answer the engine question first, a train is a train if it is one or more engines with or with out cars with a marker. the light engines will be a train but the rear engine must have head light on dim. that signals the rear of train. in yard operation ( around here anyways) the lights will be on dim in the direction of movement. only. by rights not both ends can be lit.. as far as the bell goes, Ed i think ( and i will check when i get a 9600 series engine) these engines had electronic bells. they didnt sound like our other units and shut off faster also. other wise they are mechanical. and if you saw them mounted on the long hood end abouve the head light these was are older emd units.

as far as the raod/rail triple crown train yes each set of trucks under those trailers have brakes and operate just like a boxcar would. there is no coupler. this will be difficult for me to exsplain but ill try. imagine a boat trailer or camper . how it hooks to the towing vehicle. same type of system . a lip on the front trailer ( flat with a hole in it big enough for a pin to be dropped in) these are nose to tail this is how they are joined together. the engine is the only car that has a coupler they have just one they lift and couple the lead trailer to.. this actually makes this one big ( usually 1.5 miles) articulate car. alot of auto parts are shipped this way but other freight goes by this method also.. i hope this helped. answer the questions.

[jchnhtfd]

an additional comment on slugs... the reason they are used in yard service (and now and again in road service) is that at low speed the prime mover in an engine can develop a lot more power than the traction motors can absorb for any length of time without frying -- so you hook up a slug with four or six more powered axles, and you can really use the power of that prime mover. Handy in yards... and on drags up mountains.

AC traction helps.

On multiple units -- usually all the engines are running. If there is a dead one in there, though, it can be hard to tell.

As someone said, no stupid questions -- just stupid answers. Hope the above helps!

[jchnhtfd]

an additional comment on slugs... the reason they are used in yard service (and now and again in road service) is that at low speed the prime mover in an engine can develop a lot more power than the traction motors can absorb for any length of time without frying -- so you hook up a slug with four or six more powered axles, and you can really use the power of that prime mover. Handy in yards... and on drags up mountains.

AC traction helps.

On multiple units -- usually all the engines are running. If there is a dead one in there, though, it can be hard to tell.

As someone said, no stupid questions -- just stupid answers. Hope the above helps!