Bad train pictures

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

Moral of story: DO NOT ASSUME how the system works, take nothing for granted and ALWAYS be aware and alert around railroads. Complacency Kills!

E X C E L L E N T A D V I C E AND W E L L W O R T H R E P E A T I N G

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

Moral of story: DO NOT ASSUME how the system works, take nothing for granted and ALWAYS be aware and alert around railroads. Complacency Kills!

E X C E L L E N T A D V I C E AND W E L L W O R T H R E P E A T I N G

[mudchicken]

It's not always an electrical circuit. Could be a PMD motion detector (sonic) and a computer logic ciruit/chip gauging speed. Depends what's inside the signal bungalow and how it's hooked-up.

Moral of story: DO NOT ASSUME how the system works, take nothing for granted and ALWAYS be aware and alert around railroads. Complacency Kills!

[mudchicken]

It's not always an electrical circuit. Could be a PMD motion detector (sonic) and a computer logic ciruit/chip gauging speed. Depends what's inside the signal bungalow and how it's hooked-up.

Moral of story: DO NOT ASSUME how the system works, take nothing for granted and ALWAYS be aware and alert around railroads. Complacency Kills!

[Anonymous]

Ok, here's question concerning crossing gates. I know that the track circuit activates the gates. What is it that causes them to activate when the train is at different distances, based on the trains speed. If we have a fast train coming, the gates lower when the train is still about 1/8 of a mile away. If the train is gowing real slow, like maybe 5mph, the gates don't lower until it is about 100 feet away. Why is that? Does it have something to do with the "logic box" I saw refered to in a different posting?

Admiral.

[Anonymous]

Ok, here's question concerning crossing gates. I know that the track circuit activates the gates. What is it that causes them to activate when the train is at different distances, based on the trains speed. If we have a fast train coming, the gates lower when the train is still about 1/8 of a mile away. If the train is gowing real slow, like maybe 5mph, the gates don't lower until it is about 100 feet away. Why is that? Does it have something to do with the "logic box" I saw refered to in a different posting?

Admiral.

[wabash1]

Ed

You forgot the one where you are going along and the darn train goes into emergency. ( never mind that its the weekend and your 15 min from being in and getting off.) and the conductor walks all the way to the 102 car and because the strap was broken the air hose has been rubbed thru. . Nora what you found was a wrench made for changing out air hoses these go bad from simple wear and tear. or from failer. the wrench was left there in some cases so mow people will pick it up and haul it in.( at least that is what happens on our railroad if the conductor dont feel like dragging it up to the head end again) no big deal if you dont put it back there is plenty of these around.

[wabash1]

Ed

You forgot the one where you are going along and the darn train goes into emergency. ( never mind that its the weekend and your 15 min from being in and getting off.) and the conductor walks all the way to the 102 car and because the strap was broken the air hose has been rubbed thru. . Nora what you found was a wrench made for changing out air hoses these go bad from simple wear and tear. or from failer. the wrench was left there in some cases so mow people will pick it up and haul it in.( at least that is what happens on our railroad if the conductor dont feel like dragging it up to the head end again) no big deal if you dont put it back there is plenty of these around.

[edblysard]

Hi Nora,
The wrench is stored in the engine, it is used to losen or tighten the main air hose where it comes out of the cars and the locomotive.
Most locomotives carry a spare air hose and wrench just in case one of the fittings or hoses break.
One end of the hose has the glad hand, or the piece that couples the hoses between the cars together, the other end has a threaded hex head fitting that screws into the main or train line(main air brake hose).
On occasion, these need to be replaced "on the road" due to the glad hand being damaged when the strap that holds it up off the ground breaks, and the hand end of the hose drags the ground, or thethreaded fitting itself may break or fail due to age and rust.
Eitehr someone forgot to put the wrench back, or left it on a walkway and it fell off where you found it.
You will find a bunch of odd pieces of junk laying around yards and main lines.
Stay Frosty,
and have you figured out what Mookie's yellow thingies are?
I wont tell and spoil her surprise!
Ed[:D]

[edblysard]

Hi Nora,
The wrench is stored in the engine, it is used to losen or tighten the main air hose where it comes out of the cars and the locomotive.
Most locomotives carry a spare air hose and wrench just in case one of the fittings or hoses break.
One end of the hose has the glad hand, or the piece that couples the hoses between the cars together, the other end has a threaded hex head fitting that screws into the main or train line(main air brake hose).
On occasion, these need to be replaced "on the road" due to the glad hand being damaged when the strap that holds it up off the ground breaks, and the hand end of the hose drags the ground, or thethreaded fitting itself may break or fail due to age and rust.
Eitehr someone forgot to put the wrench back, or left it on a walkway and it fell off where you found it.
You will find a bunch of odd pieces of junk laying around yards and main lines.
Stay Frosty,
and have you figured out what Mookie's yellow thingies are?
I wont tell and spoil her surprise!
Ed[:D]

[Nora]

We went on our usual morning walk near the train tracks today. I saw lots and lots of the gray blocks, no yellow thingies, found a huge wrench about two feet long, and observed an overzealous conductor trying to throw himself out the window of the train in an attempt to wave at my kids. [:D] I think I will look for the yellow things a while longer before I break down and ask what they are. But does anyone know whether the giant wrench would have some use in relation to the trains? I threw it back in the weeds so I am not exactly sure, but
it looked like it might have been used for tightening/loosening something about 2" wide. Any ideas?

--Nora

[Nora]

We went on our usual morning walk near the train tracks today. I saw lots and lots of the gray blocks, no yellow thingies, found a huge wrench about two feet long, and observed an overzealous conductor trying to throw himself out the window of the train in an attempt to wave at my kids. [:D] I think I will look for the yellow things a while longer before I break down and ask what they are. But does anyone know whether the giant wrench would have some use in relation to the trains? I threw it back in the weeds so I am not exactly sure, but
it looked like it might have been used for tightening/loosening something about 2" wide. Any ideas?

--Nora

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

On the passive responders (2x8 plastic data reflectors for wayside scanners) You find them on anything that is a locomotive or a railcar (not likely to be found on yellow work equipment or a railcar). Located usually on the side sill of a locomotive (walkway level) or at car floor height on the outside of a railcar.

One of the manufacturers of the passive responders is a company called Signal Computer Consultants. They also make a very interesting game called Train Dispatcher. It was originally developed as a dispatching system for a major railroad, (they won't name names[;)]), but they turned it into a game that is real cool. I've played it, and it has really given me new respect for what a dispatcher has to live through. They also have a simulator called Trainmaster. Check out their web site for more info. http://www.softrail.com/ [:)]

Admiral.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

On the passive responders (2x8 plastic data reflectors for wayside scanners) You find them on anything that is a locomotive or a railcar (not likely to be found on yellow work equipment or a railcar). Located usually on the side sill of a locomotive (walkway level) or at car floor height on the outside of a railcar.

One of the manufacturers of the passive responders is a company called Signal Computer Consultants. They also make a very interesting game called Train Dispatcher. It was originally developed as a dispatching system for a major railroad, (they won't name names[;)]), but they turned it into a game that is real cool. I've played it, and it has really given me new respect for what a dispatcher has to live through. They also have a simulator called Trainmaster. Check out their web site for more info. http://www.softrail.com/ [:)]

Admiral.

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by wabash1

the grey 2x6 thing is a little box about eye high. it is the little bar code box that keeps track of where the cars are.( in laymans terms) these are read by scanners and recorded. if you have a shippment and it gets lost . the railroad can take the number of the car and see where its last location is by scanner and then track it down from there.

[^] ok I have seen those - they sometimes have pretty colored things in them. To go with the yellow thingies.

Nora - start a thread about what are the yellow thingies on the side of the engines about wheel high. The old heads on here know what I am talking about, but the younger ones won't and you will have them out there watching the engines for yellow thingies. Some are newly painted and bright yellow, but most are dull yellow and dirty. And....not all engines have them and only one one side. But if you are diligent you will see where they are. You can e-mail me and I will tell you what they are, but it really is a hoot to see some of the answers and a lot of the guesses. Plus, I finally learned what they really are! [:o)]

Mookie

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by wabash1

the grey 2x6 thing is a little box about eye high. it is the little bar code box that keeps track of where the cars are.( in laymans terms) these are read by scanners and recorded. if you have a shippment and it gets lost . the railroad can take the number of the car and see where its last location is by scanner and then track it down from there.

[^] ok I have seen those - they sometimes have pretty colored things in them. To go with the yellow thingies.

Nora - start a thread about what are the yellow thingies on the side of the engines about wheel high. The old heads on here know what I am talking about, but the younger ones won't and you will have them out there watching the engines for yellow thingies. Some are newly painted and bright yellow, but most are dull yellow and dirty. And....not all engines have them and only one one side. But if you are diligent you will see where they are. You can e-mail me and I will tell you what they are, but it really is a hoot to see some of the answers and a lot of the guesses. Plus, I finally learned what they really are! [:o)]

Mookie

[Modelcar]

.....The speakers at Horseshoe Curve have the data one would pull up on a portable scanner. Tower chatter, info from the engine crew in the area and perhaps some detector talk....[I say tower talk, but not sure if any remain]. Maybe a dispatcher as well.

[Modelcar]

.....The speakers at Horseshoe Curve have the data one would pull up on a portable scanner. Tower chatter, info from the engine crew in the area and perhaps some detector talk....[I say tower talk, but not sure if any remain]. Maybe a dispatcher as well.

[Nora]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

A talker is a detector that talks back to the train via radio in "servo-talk". [...] there is one that cracks me up. It's the one that sounds like Teddy Ruxpin on an acid trip. The mental picture presented with that servo-talk on the air is priceless.

OK, yes, I've heard of these, and actually heard one when I visited Horseshoe Curve; they had speakers with (largely indecipherable) radio stuff coming over them.

QUOTE:
On the passive responders (2x8 plastic data reflectors for wayside scanners) You find them on anything that is a locomotive or a railcar (not likely to be found on yellow work equipment or a railcar). Located usually on the side sill of a locomotive (walkway level) or at car floor height on the outside of a railcar.

I looked for them on the train that went by here a while ago. Could not see them, but the train was a massive two cars long and moving a lot faster than usual, so not much time to look.

--Nora

(edited to fix the spelling of my own name [:I])

[Nora]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

A talker is a detector that talks back to the train via radio in "servo-talk". [...] there is one that cracks me up. It's the one that sounds like Teddy Ruxpin on an acid trip. The mental picture presented with that servo-talk on the air is priceless.

OK, yes, I've heard of these, and actually heard one when I visited Horseshoe Curve; they had speakers with (largely indecipherable) radio stuff coming over them.

QUOTE:
On the passive responders (2x8 plastic data reflectors for wayside scanners) You find them on anything that is a locomotive or a railcar (not likely to be found on yellow work equipment or a railcar). Located usually on the side sill of a locomotive (walkway level) or at car floor height on the outside of a railcar.

I looked for them on the train that went by here a while ago. Could not see them, but the train was a massive two cars long and moving a lot faster than usual, so not much time to look.

--Nora

(edited to fix the spelling of my own name [:I])

[mudchicken]

A talker is a detector that talks back to the train via radio in "servo-talk". It identifies itself by railroad, milepost or control point, and states location of the defect as so many axles from the front/rear of the train and then identifies itself again followed by "out". The servo-talk voices are varied, computer generated, male & female, but there is one that cracks me up. It's the one that sounds like Teddy Ruxpin on an acid trip. The mental picture presented with that servo-talk on the air is priceless.

On the passive responders (2x8 plastic data reflectors for wayside scanners) You find them on anything that is a locomotive or a railcar (not likely to be found on yellow work equipment or a railcar). Located usually on the side sill of a locomotive (walkway level) or at car floor height on the outside of a railcar.

I think the yellow thingies were re-railing frogs hung on the truck or side sill of a switching locomotive. (Or skates, derails, wheel stops or other track OTM) - which one mookie? (don't remember what post that was fom!)

Mudchicken

[mudchicken]

A talker is a detector that talks back to the train via radio in "servo-talk". It identifies itself by railroad, milepost or control point, and states location of the defect as so many axles from the front/rear of the train and then identifies itself again followed by "out". The servo-talk voices are varied, computer generated, male & female, but there is one that cracks me up. It's the one that sounds like Teddy Ruxpin on an acid trip. The mental picture presented with that servo-talk on the air is priceless.

On the passive responders (2x8 plastic data reflectors for wayside scanners) You find them on anything that is a locomotive or a railcar (not likely to be found on yellow work equipment or a railcar). Located usually on the side sill of a locomotive (walkway level) or at car floor height on the outside of a railcar.

I think the yellow thingies were re-railing frogs hung on the truck or side sill of a switching locomotive. (Or skates, derails, wheel stops or other track OTM) - which one mookie? (don't remember what post that was fom!)

Mudchicken

[wabash1]

the grey 2x6 thing is a little box about eye high. it is the little bar code box that keeps track of where the cars are.( in laymans terms) these are read by scanners and recorded. if you have a shippment and it gets lost . the railroad can take the number of the car and see where its last location is by scanner and then track it down from there.

[wabash1]

the grey 2x6 thing is a little box about eye high. it is the little bar code box that keeps track of where the cars are.( in laymans terms) these are read by scanners and recorded. if you have a shippment and it gets lost . the railroad can take the number of the car and see where its last location is by scanner and then track it down from there.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Nora

I've never noticed the gray blocks either, OR yellow thingies (what yellow thingies?). But I have encountered many "talkers," the most notorious among them being my sister. [:D] Seriously, what is a "talker" as referred to here?

--Nora

Hi Nora, [:)] lol [:D]

Maybe your sister and Ed's California cousin should get together. lol

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Nora

I've never noticed the gray blocks either, OR yellow thingies (what yellow thingies?). But I have encountered many "talkers," the most notorious among them being my sister. [:D] Seriously, what is a "talker" as referred to here?

--Nora

Hi Nora, [:)] lol [:D]

Maybe your sister and Ed's California cousin should get together. lol

[Nora]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

Wait till you encounter a "talker" or the EFI scanners taking inventory of everything that leaves town. (Ever wonder what those little grey plastic 2" x 8" blocks on the side of every railcar and locomotive do?)

Now I have something else I have to go looking for! Gray and 2X8 - that isn't very big. Are they on all railcars and locomotives? Any particular place - like the yellow thingies?

I've never noticed the gray blocks either, OR yellow thingies (what yellow thingies?). But I have encountered many "talkers," the most notorious among them being my sister. [:D] Seriously, what is a "talker" as referred to here?

--Nora

[Nora]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

Wait till you encounter a "talker" or the EFI scanners taking inventory of everything that leaves town. (Ever wonder what those little grey plastic 2" x 8" blocks on the side of every railcar and locomotive do?)

Now I have something else I have to go looking for! Gray and 2X8 - that isn't very big. Are they on all railcars and locomotives? Any particular place - like the yellow thingies?

I've never noticed the gray blocks either, OR yellow thingies (what yellow thingies?). But I have encountered many "talkers," the most notorious among them being my sister. [:D] Seriously, what is a "talker" as referred to here?

--Nora

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

Nora:

On the spacing of the hot box detectors and dragging equipment detectors. Both of the big western railroads initially wanted one of each at 60 mile intervals and are now shortening that to 20 miles (Only on the heavy haul corridors ). Secondary branches are lucky to have any. Wait till you encounter a "talker" or the EFI scanners taking inventory of everything that leaves town. (Ever wonder what those little grey plastic 2" x 8" blocks on the side of every railcar and locomotive do?)

Now I have something else I have to go looking for! Gray and 2X8 - that isn't very big. Are they on all railcars and locomotives? Any particular place - like the yellow thingies?

Mookie

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

Nora:

On the spacing of the hot box detectors and dragging equipment detectors. Both of the big western railroads initially wanted one of each at 60 mile intervals and are now shortening that to 20 miles (Only on the heavy haul corridors ). Secondary branches are lucky to have any. Wait till you encounter a "talker" or the EFI scanners taking inventory of everything that leaves town. (Ever wonder what those little grey plastic 2" x 8" blocks on the side of every railcar and locomotive do?)

Now I have something else I have to go looking for! Gray and 2X8 - that isn't very big. Are they on all railcars and locomotives? Any particular place - like the yellow thingies?

Mookie