Why are engines being towed idling?

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32 replies

Anonymous

Member since
April 2003
305,205 posts

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 1, 2007 11:24 AM

Thanks guys. Makes more sense now.

If you do have to jump start due to a low battery is it a big deal with the AAA () or can you just connect to another engine through the regular cables and do a normal start?

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csxengineer98

Member since
October 2002
From: US
2,358 posts

Posted by csxengineer98 on Sunday, April 1, 2007 5:11 AM

depending on the time of year.. they are left running but not online to keep them from freezing up..in warm and cold weather...the batteries might be low and if the unit is shut down..it might not be able to be restarted without haveing to jump start it... and also there are restrictions as part of the opporating rules that state now many axles you may have in power/dynmaic brake... to comply with the rules some of the engins in a large consist cant be online and have to be isolated... also keep in mind that just becouse a locomotive has 6 axles under it donst mean it is a 6 axle locomotive as far as figering out the number of axles alowed on line.... each class of locomotive is given an axle value based on the amout of tractive effort it can generate.. for example a AC locomotive such as a sd-70mac might only have 6 axles under it but if memory serves me correct..on csx they are valued as haveing 9 axles... so when an engineer is figering out how many axles he can have online..he has to look at the whole consist and total up the axle vaules for all the engines.. and if the total number is more then he is alowed..he has to isolate some units..

csx engineer

"I AM the higher source" Keep the wheels on steel

Namerifrats

Member since
January 2007
137 posts

Posted by Namerifrats on Sunday, April 1, 2007 2:28 AM

Same reason we leave them idling when standing. When it's cold it keeps the water plugs from dumping the water in the engine. Also helps to have the extra air compressors running to charge the trainline quicker after stopping.

Anonymous

Member since
April 2003
305,205 posts

Why are engines being towed idling?

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 1, 2007 1:07 AM

I have noticed when a large number of engines (say a dozen) are being moved as part of a larger train they are usually on and idling. Other times they appear to be on line and pulling. This doesn't seem to make obvious sense as their additional power is certainly not needed, nor can it even be fully used. Why burn that extra fuel just to be towed along? Thanks.