Here is a basic primer from Indian Railways with a couple of good illustrations of how DPUs affect power at the drawbar, and force against rail on a curve.
https://irimee.indianrailways.gov.in/instt/uploads/files/1434535190830-DPCS.pdf
(1) spread the drawbar forces as evenly as you can.
(2) then be concerned about the delivery of the air.
I worked with an old head Trainmaster/RFE/Asst. Supt. who could accurately figure out where the coupler/drawbar pull apart failure was simply by looking at the trains makeup printout at departure.
2/3rds of the way back is by tonnage, not by car count or length.
TerryDeirdreThe only thing I know, is that you can't just place it randomly where you want, from what a guy working with the locomotives told me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M9pErSaElk
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
If you don't respect the rules, it might end up getting messy, so it's better to ask a professional for it. It reminds of my last trip by train, the last year, when me and a few friends of mine started a journey across the country with https://www.dbfahrplan.com/de/, and looking at this image, those memories come to my mind, what a beautiful adventure it was, wanna repeat it again!
The only thing I know, is that you can't just place it randomly where you want, from what a guy working with the locomotives told me.
Spent the last couple of weekends in the Emerson, GA area at baseball tournaments and saw a few trains on the W&A Sub. Everything was 2 x 0 x 0 except for in that look like it had a couple of GPs DiT behind the AC's
On Montana Rail Link I have seen block coal and oil trains operated by BNSF with 2 BNSF locos leading, 4 MRL helpers (manned) mid train, plus 1 BNSF DPU trailing at the end of the train. How does this mix of manned helpers and DPU work? These trains operate in mountainous country where radio communication must be poor. The trains I describe can be seen on You Tube.
Here on the CSX A&WP subdivision there has been some changes. At first it was a 1x1x0. The mid train loco was almost always at full throttle or full dynamic. North of here going northbound is the ruling grade for the subdivision with a sag just south of the ruling grade. Now most times except for much shorter trains it is 2 x 1 x 0. Still DPU still operatig as posted above. Did have one observed as 1 x 2 x 0 with the mid train duo operating the same.
Pure speculation maybe the extra loco to make PSR metrics ? Do notice the DPU trains have a lot less wheel - rail squeal .
Have only observed a 1 x 1 train twice .
Lately, they've tried to put the large set outs on the rear of the train, behind the DPs. If the train also picks up at the same yard, they may pick up behind the DPs. It depends on where the cars picked up are going and further work scheduled down the road.
They've gone to trying to do the work off the rear end because the set outs and pick ups are, more often than not, very large. It's just easier (and safer) to pull through a yard track, cut off as much as will fit and double over what doesn't to another track. The idea of doing that is the conductor doesn't have to ride the side of a car for a long shove when holding onto 50/75/100 or even more cars. (It defeats the purpose when the yard decides it's easier for them if you pull by and shove in. Then you're holding onto the entire train and shoving that in, the conductor riding the side of a car at the end of that 100 car set out on the rear plus the 100 cars going through.
Jeff
One or two more wrinkles on the placement of the DPU.
Does the train change directions requiring the crew to change ends of the train? Does the train work enroute with a large set-off or pick-up and does that go in front or behind the DPU?
caldreamerWhat happens if you get caught without the new timetable,etc? Would we do not have them in yet work as an excuse?
At the very least a e-test failure. Just like ignorance of the law is no excuse, unavilability is also not an excuse. Railroad Justice! [/sarcasm]
What happens if you get caught without the new timetable,etc? Would we do not have them in yet work as an excuse?
Even if I memorized them, I'd still have to carry them. Or their electronic equivalent. (Ain't gonna happen. I prefer paper since it doesn't require batteries.) We have two paper versions available. One is the standard size, bound like a normal book. The other is smaller and spiral bound. I prefer the smaller, spiral bound version as it stays open easier.
My home terminal won't get the spiral bound versions. They cost the local manager's budget too much. So we only get the standard sized one. (It took about 10 days after they took effect before they actually had them. It's becoming normal to have some new publication, SSI, time table, rule book, etc to take effect and not have any available until a few days later.) Other terminals, however... I snagged a copy at the Council Bluffs yard office.
jeffhergert https://www.up.com/ert/ssi.pdf If the link doesn't work properly, try Google (it's where I found it on the internet) and use "Union Pacific system special instructions". Neither way asks me to log in so I'm hoping it will work for everyone. Either way, if you can get it to open up, go to Item 5 and go down to Item 5-C. Have fun. Jeff
https://www.up.com/ert/ssi.pdf
If the link doesn't work properly, try Google (it's where I found it on the internet) and use "Union Pacific system special instructions". Neither way asks me to log in so I'm hoping it will work for everyone.
Either way, if you can get it to open up, go to Item 5 and go down to Item 5-C.
Have fun.
Jeff, do you have to carry these instructions in your grip, or have you memorized them already?
BaltACD:
I have been programming for over 54 years, both for the governemt and for myself. I could easily take their chart and make one of my own for my model railroad.
BaltACDWould love to see one of todays railroad CEO's run - let alone on the tops of boxcars.
caldreamerI would love tto see that chart. How does the track profile affect where dpu locomotives are placed? I model the BNSF Pikes Peak Subdivision, there is a sag after Palmer Lake southbound then up hill again..
I suspect - the chart would only be germain for the territory for which it was created. One thing that is frequently overlooked by many when creating 'train handling' rules - the physical characteristics of each territory creates situations that are not in place on other territories. (Length of grade, curvature within the grade, superelevation of the various curves, vertical curve in transitioning from one grade situation to the next - both positive and negative)
I would love tto see that chart. How does the track profile affect where dpu locomotives are placed? I model the BNSF Pikes Peak Subdivision, there is a sag after Palmer Lake southbound then up hill again..
I recall an article in TRAINS some years back which mentioned the problems that KCS was having with midtrain power causing a bunch of derailments. At the time, midtrain power was usually placed two thirds of the way back from the front end, primarily to equalize brake response time. After another derailment, a mid-level manager crunched the numbers and developed a chart for the best positioning of midtrain power under a variety of circumstances.
caldreamer I do not understand what you mean by "As discussed, with trains of sufficient length or grades/profiles of the wrong character"?
Specific reference to the thread about the stringline derailment on Horse Shoe a few days ago. If the train is of sufficient length (or trailing resistance) it becomes impossible to take all the tractive effort through the first few draft gears or couplers, or (as Don calculated) the overturning moment becomes too great and you get a lateral derailment or tipover. The same 'tractive effort' distributed between pull and push can keep the stresses safely minimized for much heavier overall train weight.
Overmod:
I understand what you are saying about using dpu's to spread the push/pull of a train, but I do not understand what you mean by "As discussed, with trains of sufficient length or grades/profiles of the wrong character"?
Paul_D_North_JrBack in the 1960's or so David P. Morgan wrote an essay on the background of Santa Fe's then-President (before the CEO title became all the rage) - John Reed, I believe it was. Reed had a story that when he was with Santa Fe's Test or Operations Dept., they would locate the 'nodes' by running back and forth on the tops of the boxcars and looking down at the couplers. Couldn't do that today . . . - PDN.
Couldn't do that today . . .
- PDN.
Would love to see one of todays railroad CEO's run - let alone on the tops of boxcars.
Back in the 1960's or so David P. Morgan wrote an essay on the background of Santa Fe's then-President (before the CEO title became all the rage) - John Reed, I believe it was. Reed had a story that when he was with Santa Fe's Test or Operations Dept., they would locate the 'nodes' by running back and forth on the tops of the boxcars and looking down at the couplers.
caldreamerI am trying to figure where DPU locomotives are placed in a train. Do you use the trailing tonnage, weight no matter how long the train is, and/or both of the above?
The 'better' answer to this is 'node management' vs. setup complexity.
Of course the power is apportioned in tons per equivalent axle (at the 'ruling' maximum train resistance). As discussed, with trains of sufficient length or grades/profiles of the wrong character, putting all the power on the head end leads to risk of stringlining, slack run-in and -out, and other issues.
DPU gets around these by supplying the 'tractive effort' as a combination of pull and push. You will quickly recognize that this means there will be some point in the intervening consist where the pull from the front exactly balances the push from the rear; there is zero buff or draft at this point and it is called the 'node'. Note that it can freely move forward or backward in the consist, sometimes very quickly, and you can occasionally hear this as a sharp, fast 'slack action' within part of the train. Why this is important is that the maximum tension in any draft gear forward of the node is then limited to what an equivalent train of that length would be, and the maximum buff force limited to that of an equivalent cut from the node back..
My understanding is that you want some bias of the node toward the rear, with the 'tensile' force set to a reasonable maximum as the vehicle dynamics of a train are better with the couplings stretched than when in buff. If you have the power distributed within the consist as well as 'top and tail' there is effectively a node in each cut between locomotives, and the buff and draft in each section can be less (for a given number of locomotive units) or the train can be much longer -- this is how the 'world-record' trains were made up and handled, otherwise it'd be Big Liz and the Triplex on steroids.
Of course there are implications for programming and running more complex DPU arrangements, so the added 'advantages' of best distribution may not outweigh the issues involved in setup and running. If anyone hasn't read Don Oltmann's story about railroading on the ex-PRR in the 2040s (in which the concept of multiple 'blocks' with dedicated power to each factors significantly) you should find and read it now. It would be a significant gain for a number of actual PSR operating models if DPU could be reliably implemented as Don indicates.
I think the answer is more how you handle them then where you stick them in the train. As long as you can give the engineer good information about where his train is on the road, he should be able to get the train over the terrain.
You see lots of big unit trains with the DPU on the rear. You see lots of CSX merchandise trains with DPUs mid train (I saw a train with two units, 17 cars, then a single unit, then 75 cars. Headed from Atlanta to Hamlet - or beyond.)
I'd like to see multiple DPUs employed with a locomotive at the head of each block in the train. Maybe that was what CSX was doing?
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
I am trying to figure where DPU locomotives are placed in a train. Do you use the trailing tonnage, weight no matter how long the train is, and/or both of the above? How would car lenght fit into the equation of determing DPU placement? Is there an algorthym that is used to help in the placement of the locomotives?
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