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Posted: 4/22/2013 6:44:29 PM EDT
[#1]
did alot of small jobs on train bridges, shooflys & other misc. rail stuff, but never got to
ride cross country in a real train; that'd be cool. is there a website that I can look up ID's of various types of gondolas, boxcars & other rolling stock? best RR joke I evar heard is when SF & SP were going to merge, they painted some equipment with SPSF; guys said it stood for "Shouldn't Paint So Fast",,,,,,,, I was doing a project at the north end of the Oakland SP track yard when they merged with UP; now I know how the south felt like when the north sent all the carpetbaggers down to take over,,,,,,,  
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Posted: 4/22/2013 6:47:43 PM EDT
[#2]
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For a new conductor on a class 1 rr (KCSR), how long will he probably be on a extra board? After he gets assigned to a pool, what's a typical schedule look like? Days out/scheduled days off/etc...? If your 29 years old, and haven't started a family yet, would you recommend a conductor job? on most C1 RR's I don't imagine that there are 'scheduled' days off unless you are working a regular yard job or a local. you can work every 10hrs (federal rest period) for up to 5 starts (jobs) in a row, then if you have not had a 24hr rest period w/o a start to break up those 5 starts you hit another mandated federal rest where you get 48-72 off... Thanks! Is it typical to get 5 consecutive starts? I've read the personal/home life of a train crew member is basically non-existent. I see why if you only get a random 24hr rest period (maybe not even at home) One of the reasons I eventually quit was I found myself doing nothing but watching the board rotation on the computer, or checking the board on my phone during my off time. I was consumed with what people were trying to get one over o the me by sharpshooting the board. My last summer I worked every 6.5 hours, called off of my rest at home for about a month straight, dog catching, locals, and pull turns. |
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Posted: 4/22/2013 6:57:25 PM EDT
[#3]
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Have you ever had to make any emergency stops while pulling tanker cars containing methylamine? Walter is that you? |
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Posted: 4/22/2013 7:04:07 PM EDT
[#4]
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For a new conductor on a class 1 rr (KCSR), how long will he probably be on a extra board? After he gets assigned to a pool, what's a typical schedule look like? Days out/scheduled days off/etc...? If your 29 years old, and haven't started a family yet, would you recommend a conductor job? on most C1 RR's I don't imagine that there are 'scheduled' days off unless you are working a regular yard job or a local. you can work every 10hrs (federal rest period) for up to 5 starts (jobs) in a row, then if you have not had a 24hr rest period w/o a start to break up those 5 starts you hit another mandated federal rest where you get 48-72 off... Thanks! Is it typical to get 5 consecutive starts? I've read the personal/home life of a train crew member is basically non-existent. I see why if you only get a random 24hr rest period (maybe not even at home) if you work the xtra board it is not uncommon, pool jobs with long miles, never. some pool jobs can has as much as 72hrs off between calls.....part time job.... |
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Posted: 4/22/2013 7:08:36 PM EDT
[#5]
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My last summer I worked every 6.5 hours, called off of my rest at home for about a month straight, dog catching, locals, and pull turns. and just for the sake of those reading this and not in the know I'll add, that was before the new mandated federal rest guidelines. |
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Posted: 4/22/2013 7:14:35 PM EDT
[#6]
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where do the engineers sleep and piss? There's got to be a space in the nose for that? They sleep in hotels and piss off of the walkway behind the locomotive cab. what about the urgent trains that have important materials? do they switch people every shift to keep it going? Almost all trains keep going with a fresh crew every so often at a terminal, such as North Platte, Cheyenne, Rawlins, etc. Some hot shots change crews less often due to priority and a higher average speed. DOD training s often have guards in a caboose, or require a walk around every so often if sitting. Thanks for the info, also other thing is that you say almost all keep going. in my area the track from Saint Paul to Fargo, I see some sitting idling on the track at night with lights off but only the tag number lights on and sometimes the head light dimmed down. Are those waiting for passing trains or taking a rest? i think I saw the track signals were green not red. I might be wrong on that. |
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Posted: 4/22/2013 7:24:15 PM EDT
[#7]
Since this is a train thread, I'll relay a brief description of the story.
A family friend is a conductor on the ARR, a woman was passed out drunk in her car, on the tracks, at a particular intersection. The train couldn't stop, struck the vehicle, killing the woman. About one week later, her funeral procession was passing through that particular intersection and the wagon that her coffin was being transported in became stuck on the tracks... As the same train, and same conductor were on a collision course with the woman, once again. They barely managed to clear the tracks before the train passed by. I don't know if it's true, or a locomotive urban legend. |
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Posted: 4/22/2013 7:31:23 PM EDT
[#8]
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where do the engineers sleep and piss? There's got to be a space in the nose for that? They sleep in hotels and piss off of the walkway behind the locomotive cab. what about the urgent trains that have important materials? do they switch people every shift to keep it going? Almost all trains keep going with a fresh crew every so often at a terminal, such as North Platte, Cheyenne, Rawlins, etc. Some hot shots change crews less often due to priority and a higher average speed. DOD training s often have guards in a caboose, or require a walk around every so often if sitting. Thanks for the info, also other thing is that you say almost all keep going. in my area the track from Saint Paul to Fargo, I see some sitting idling on the track at night with lights off but only the tag number lights on and sometimes the head light dimmed down. Are those waiting for passing trains or taking a rest? i think I saw the track signals were green not red. I might be wrong on that. Usually in the hole waiting for a train to pass, if it in on the main line. You may see locals idling for long periods of time. It could have been a local train sitting for the night or until the next local job. Through freight doesn't usually sit without a crew on it. |
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Posted: 4/22/2013 7:43:32 PM EDT
[#9]
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How many Hobo's have you killed?  One more and I'm an Ace! Actually none. That I know of. 
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Posted: 4/22/2013 7:45:50 PM EDT
[#10]
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Have you ever had to make any emergency stops while pulling tanker cars containing methylamine? 
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Posted: 4/22/2013 10:09:42 PM EDT
[#11]
For the current engineers.
What is the oldest locomotive you have operated? |
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Posted: 4/22/2013 10:18:42 PM EDT
[#12]
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For the current engineers. What is the oldest locomotive you have operated? Not current since 2007,but Ups historic fleet is in Cheyenne, and I have operated the old E9s, Centennial Double Diesel, and piloted as a Conductor on the Challenger Steam Engine.... On real jobs probably an old SD40. |
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Posted: 4/22/2013 11:00:46 PM EDT
[#13]
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Do you work for a short line? Since you don't have DPU. Yes. In North Texas, although I am looking elsewhere already. |
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Posted: 4/22/2013 11:11:09 PM EDT
[#14]
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For the current engineers. What is the oldest locomotive you have operated? First thought that comes to mind is a GP-40, probably a GP-38 in there somewhere too |
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Posted: 4/22/2013 11:11:38 PM EDT
[#15]
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Do you work for a short line? Since you don't have DPU. Yes. In North Texas, although I am looking elsewhere already. Don't mind him, he's just fixated on the DP in DPU. |
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Posted: 4/22/2013 11:12:08 PM EDT
[#16]
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For the current engineers. What is the oldest locomotive you have operated? First thought that comes to mind is a GP-40, probably a GP-38 in there somewhere too Seriously? You guys never been on a butthead? |
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Posted: 4/22/2013 11:13:07 PM EDT
[#17]
Quoted: Quoted: Why aren't most railroad ties made out of concrete or plastic/rubber instead of wood? I hear the concrete can last up to 50 years, not sure how long the plastic ties will work. I once saw a "How It's Made" episode on how they make them, but they didn't say how long they last; I believe most of them made out of recycled tires. Interesting thread, thanks! Concrete ties are very expensive compared to wood, especially in the US. Also, installation is more costly because most tie gang equipment is designed for wood ties. The steel and tie gangs I've been on have 1:1 of both tie-specific equipment (which sits on a back track until the gang changes from one to the other), unless the gang itself was specifically wood or concrete. Concrete ties aren't really any more expensive, either. It's just that concrete ties are more durable in some conditions and wood ties on others, which is while you'll find experimental ties occasionally. On one section of track near where I am now there are multiple wood and concrete ties with a variety of different fasteners as an experiment to see which is better in the local environmental conditions. Concrete ties suffer from rail seat abrasion, too, and wood ties do not. I think wood ties are better in the long run, personally, as they can be adzed and don't require shoulder repair or new tie pads every decade or so. As far as plastic ties go, the AAR did a big experiment with a variety of ties and fasteners which was published in RT&S this month (my copy's at home so I'm going off of memory) and the conclusion was that plastic ties are shit. I've never personally seen plastic ties in the track myself and I work on some of the highest traffic track by tonnage in the world... |
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Posted: 4/22/2013 11:17:40 PM EDT
[#18]
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For the current engineers. What is the oldest locomotive you have operated? The oldest thing I've run was a straight SD40. I think it was built in 1969. It was 2007 or so when I ran it. I'm sure it's been cut up since then. |
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Posted: 4/22/2013 11:33:24 PM EDT
[#19]
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For the current engineers. What is the oldest locomotive you have operated? The oldest thing I've run was a straight SD40. I think it was built in 1969. It was 2007 or so when I ran it. I'm sure it's been cut up since then. Why would it had been cut up? We still have tons of them we use for switchers. Those nice new shiny engines don't kick cars worth a shit. |
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Posted: 4/22/2013 11:34:40 PM EDT
[#20]
Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: For the current engineers. What is the oldest locomotive you have operated? The oldest thing I've run was a straight SD40. I think it was built in 1969. It was 2007 or so when I ran it. I'm sure it's been cut up since then. Why would it had been cut up? We still have tons of them we use for switchers. Those nice new shiny engines don't kick cars worth a shit. They auction off the old shit engines for shortlines these days too, they don't just scrap 'em. |
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Posted: 4/22/2013 11:37:15 PM EDT
[#21]
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For the current engineers. What is the oldest locomotive you have operated? The oldest thing I've run was a straight SD40. I think it was built in 1969. It was 2007 or so when I ran it. I'm sure it's been cut up since then. Why would it had been cut up? We still have tons of them we use for switchers. Those nice new shiny engines don't kick cars worth a shit. They auction off the old shit engines for shortlines these days too, they don't just scrap 'em. Yup. There's a short line that interchanges with us and they have a handful of our old switchers. |
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Posted: 4/22/2013 11:48:27 PM EDT
[#22]
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There are steel ties in other parts of the world. Were Alco diesels really that bad? Both the 244s and the 251s? Where's a good place to get a three or five chime horn without dropping a grand? How much freight does it take to make serving a customer "worthwhile"? Are there any GE DASH-7s or U-boats still operating on major railroads? Dunno about alcos. Off the top of an engine as long as you don't get caught. Dunno, I just run the engine. I know CSX (my former employer) got rid of the last of theirs a few years back. |
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Posted: 4/22/2013 11:50:45 PM EDT
[#23]
How do you guys time it so that you hold me up whenever I'm in a hurry, but not when I have plenty of time?
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Posted: 4/23/2013 12:01:21 AM EDT
[#24]
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1. So why shouldn't you take a dump in the lead unit? 2. Tell us more about those rail snakes that are used to heat the tracks up. Who does that job? How does it work actually? Any links? #1 smell #2: rail snakes are basically cellophane tubes of alcohol gel packed in a 5 gallon pail that you lay out on either side of a broken rail. After you lay them out, you break off all of the rail anchors and light the snakes on fire, to cause the rail to heat up and therefore, expand. Beating on the web (side) of the rail helps. Eventually, the rails will heat and press together close enough to drill holes and install a set of joint bars. Most of my rr years predated rail snakes; we used burn ropes. They were asbestos ropes soaked in kerosene to do the same job, only they could be re-used...mesothelioma be damned |
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Posted: 4/23/2013 12:02:12 AM EDT
[#25]
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For the current engineers. What is the oldest locomotive you have operated? The oldest thing I've run was a straight SD40. I think it was built in 1969. It was 2007 or so when I ran it. I'm sure it's been cut up since then. Why would it had been cut up? We still have tons of them we use for switchers. Those nice new shiny engines don't kick cars worth a shit. Cause it was CSX, and they didn't make sense. With that said, engine CSXT 4609 was pretty beat up when I ran it. Inoperative dynamic brakes, didn't pull worth a shit, etc. |
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Posted: 4/23/2013 12:22:35 AM EDT
[#26]
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How do you guys time it so that you hold me up whenever I'm in a hurry, but not when I have plenty of time? It's magical powers given out after you get your foremans rights. |
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Posted: 4/23/2013 12:23:58 AM EDT
[#27]
Quoted: Quoted: How do you guys time it so that you hold me up whenever I'm in a hurry, but not when I have plenty of time? It's magical powers given out after you get your foremans rights. Fuck, I got those magical powers when I started as a Sectionman. Also, fuck dispatchers, and fuck Fridays. |
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Posted: 4/23/2013 12:28:03 AM EDT
[#28]
Train porn and exotic cars.
Spot the "Royal Hudson". If you ever go to Vancouver BC, this is a must ride. |
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Posted: 4/23/2013 12:45:15 AM EDT
[#29]
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How do you guys time it so that you hold me up whenever I'm in a hurry, but not when I have plenty of time? It's magical powers given out after you get your foremans rights. Fuck, I got those magical powers when I started as a Sectionman. Also, fuck dispatchers, and fuck Fridays. What's this mythical friday you speak of? |
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Posted: 4/23/2013 12:48:21 AM EDT
[#30]
Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: How do you guys time it so that you hold me up whenever I'm in a hurry, but not when I have plenty of time? It's magical powers given out after you get your foremans rights. Fuck, I got those magical powers when I started as a Sectionman. Also, fuck dispatchers, and fuck Fridays. What's this mythical friday you speak of?  It's the day they don't run any trains at all and you can have as much track time as you want even though you have a 1200 mile drive home. |
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Posted: 4/23/2013 1:13:59 AM EDT
[#31]
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For the current engineers. What is the oldest locomotive you have operated? The oldest thing I've run was a straight SD40. I think it was built in 1969. It was 2007 or so when I ran it. I'm sure it's been cut up since then. Why would it had been cut up? We still have tons of them wuse for swchers. Those nice new shiny engines don't kick cars worth a shit. I'm still a railfan. It depends. A straight SD40, while good locomotive, is not an SD40-2. A straight SD40 has more complicated wiring and cards are starting to get more difficult to find. After testing my railroads 3GS21Cs in the BNSF Cherokee Yard in Tulsa, OK, BNSF sent some SD40s to NRE for conversion. On the other hand an SD40-2 is still an SD40-2. The things just work. BNSF took many of their SD40-2 and derated them to 2300hp, making them SD39-2s. UP rebuilt a few and gave them UPY numbers. They are now SD38-2s, rated at 2,000hp. UP also cherry picked 500 of their best SD40-2s and did a complete overhaul in them and added a few extras (EMD Tier 0 kits) and nowcalls them SD40Ns because they were done up at North Little Rock shoos. |
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Posted: 4/23/2013 1:18:28 AM EDT
[#32]
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For the current engineers. What is the oldest locomotive you have operated? The oldest thing I've run was a straight SD40. I think it was built in 1969. It was 2007 or so when I ran it. I'm sure it's been cut up since then. Why would it had been cut up? We still have tons of them wuse for swchers. Those nice new shiny engines don't kick cars worth a shit. I'm still a railfan. It depends. A straight SD40, while good locomotive, is not an SD40-2. A straight SD40 has more complicated wiring and cards are starting to get more difficult to find. After testing my railroads 3GS21Cs in the BNSF Cherokee Yard in Tulsa, OK, BNSF sent some SD40s to NRE for conversion. On the other hand an SD40-2 is still an SD40-2. The things just work. BNSF took many of their SD40-2 and derated them to 2300hp, making them SD39-2s. UP rebuilt a few and gave them UPY numbers. They are now SD38-2s, rated at 2,000hp. UP also cherry picked 500 of their best SD40-2s and did a complete overhaul in them and added a few extras (EMD Tier 0 kits) and nowcalls them SD40Ns because they were done up at North Little Rock shoos. Actually I'd say you're just a cunt hair shy of being a foamer
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Posted: 4/23/2013 1:38:30 AM EDT
[#33]
I love locomotives. I do. I'm a locomotive fan.
I have dozens of books on them, and I have manuals for just about every EMD since the GP7 either at home or in storage. It started when I was in Cub Scouts, our trip to a small Cotton Belt outlying point. I got a GP9 manual and an SW1500 manual. I even did a book report on them. I'm learning to work on locomotives in my free time. It's fun. I also write power updates for Trains Magazine. I'm kind of a big deal. |
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Posted: 4/23/2013 2:50:23 AM EDT
[#34]
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For the current engineers. What is the oldest locomotive you have operated? The oldest thing I've run was a straight SD40. I think it was built in 1969. It was 2007 or so when I ran it. I'm sure it's been cut up since then. Why would it had been cut up? We still have tons of them wuse for swchers. Those nice new shiny engines don't kick cars worth a shit. I'm still a railfan. It depends. A straight SD40, while good locomotive, is not an SD40-2. A straight SD40 has more complicated wiring and cards are starting to get more difficult to find. After testing my railroads 3GS21Cs in the BNSF Cherokee Yard in Tulsa, OK, BNSF sent some SD40s to NRE for conversion. On the other hand an SD40-2 is still an SD40-2. The things just work. BNSF took many of their SD40-2 and derated them to 2300hp, making them SD39-2s. UP rebuilt a few and gave them UPY numbers. They are now SD38-2s, rated at 2,000hp. UP also cherry picked 500 of their best SD40-2s and did a complete overhaul in them and added a few extras (EMD Tier 0 kits) and nowcalls them SD40Ns because they were done up at North Little Rock shoos. I always wondered if there was some kind of locomotive salvage yard somewhere where old locomotives went. Maybe it's like old trucks. They all end up in Mexico where our worn out crap that we wouldn't trust for 100 miles gets used for ten more years. |
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Posted: 4/23/2013 4:10:54 AM EDT
[#35]
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For the current engineers. What is the oldest locomotive you have operated? The oldest thing I've run was a straight SD40. I think it was built in 1969. It was 2007 or so when I ran it. I'm sure it's been cut up since then. Why would it had been cut up? We still have tons of them wuse for swchers. Those nice new shiny engines don't kick cars worth a shit. I'm still a railfan. It depends. A straight SD40, while good locomotive, is not an SD40-2. A straight SD40 has more complicated wiring and cards are starting to get more difficult to find. After testing my railroads 3GS21Cs in the BNSF Cherokee Yard in Tulsa, OK, BNSF sent some SD40s to NRE for conversion. On the other hand an SD40-2 is still an SD40-2. The things just work. BNSF took many of their SD40-2 and derated them to 2300hp, making them SD39-2s. UP rebuilt a few and gave them UPY numbers. They are now SD38-2s, rated at 2,000hp. UP also cherry picked 500 of their best SD40-2s and did a complete overhaul in them and added a few extras (EMD Tier 0 kits) and nowcalls them SD40Ns because they were done up at North Little Rock shoos. I always wondered if there was some kind of locomotive salvage yard somewhere where old locomotives went. Maybe it's like old trucks. They all end up in Mexico where our worn out crap that we wouldn't trust for 100 miles gets used for ten more years. That's funny, because when I first started we had a 15 locomotive consist with old worn out locomotives destined for Mexico. I believe smaller railroads also buy them, and leading companies to lease out to other railroads. After that, they are usually scrapped or updated. |
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Posted: 4/23/2013 4:33:24 AM EDT
[#36]
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what is the strangest thing you've seen out there on the tracks? Back in 1999 when I was qualifying for promotion from Trainman to Conductor, I was riding the head end from Washington, DC to Florence, SC on Amtrak train number 89. Going through the town of Enfield, NC we saw a guy driving real fast on the road parallel to the track, going southbound alongside us. He drove as fast as he could until he got a couple of hundred yards ahead of us, then slammed on the brakes, bailed out of the car, and dove in front of our train. Killed him dead. |
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Posted: 4/23/2013 4:34:48 AM EDT
[#37]
Speaking of old engines, at least last year CN was running a GP9 with a chopped nose and a slug for switching duty at home (Central WI.) Crazy that it's still in service.
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Posted: 4/23/2013 5:09:15 AM EDT
[#38]
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I love locomotives. I do. I'm a locomotive fan. I have dozens of books on them, and I have manuals for just about every EMD since the GP7 either at home or in storage. It started when I was in Cub Scouts, our trip to a small Cotton Belt outlying point. I got a GP9 manual and an SW1500 manual. I even did a book report on them. I'm learning to work on locomotives in my free time. It's fun. I also write power updates for Trains Magazine. I'm kind of a big deal. here is an old salemans book for power 
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Posted: 4/23/2013 6:03:43 AM EDT
[#39]
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A straight SD40, while good locomotive, is not an SD40-2. A straight SD40 has more complicated wiring and cards are starting to get more difficult to find.. WAT? No. SD40, GP38 = Use old school electro-mechanical relays in the electrical panel to control the locomotive power. No cards. SD40-2, GP38-2 = Use a modularized electrical panel with individual electronic modules to control locomotive power. Cards. The beauty of the original pre -2 SD40s and GP38s is that they load lightning fast. Noticeably quicker than the subsequent -2 variants. They are AWESOME to flat switch with. They will rip the pin lifter right out of your hand. On the other hand, talk to any old school railroader and you are bound to hear stories about having to manually operate those relays during transition to keep the locomotive from dropping it's load. The -2s were a huge improvement in this regard. |
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Posted: 4/23/2013 6:09:40 AM EDT
[#40]
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For the current engineers. What is the oldest locomotive you have operated? Not an engineer, but I have worked with SW10s and SD9s that were built in the mid 1950s. |
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Posted: 4/23/2013 6:14:27 AM EDT
[#41]
More towards rail mechanics I guess..
When your driving in one of those pickup trucks with the little rail wheels.. How fast can you safely go? On long straights, in curves? Can you just hit the cruse control sit back and surf ARFCOM? Ya, you have to watch the rails but do you have to do anything? To the guys in the power.. Can you be outside on the catwalk when under full breaking and the heat exchangers are cooking? Don't know why you would but will it cook you if you got near? You guys do a great job that most people don't realize. I used to work on the docks and watched how many cans went on the rails and it was by far the most efficient way of moving shit fast. Good work |
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Posted: 4/23/2013 6:23:10 AM EDT
[#42]
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I always wondered if there was some kind of locomotive salvage yard somewhere where old locomotives went. It wouldn't surprise me if leasing companies like National Rail Equipment (NREX) and First Union Rail (FURX) have locomotive boneyards from which they pick parts to keep their fleets going and recycle other parts for resale. |
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Posted: 4/23/2013 6:28:43 AM EDT
[#43]
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To the guys in the power.. Can you be outside on the catwalk when under full breaking and the heat exchangers are cooking? Don't know why you would but will it cook you if you got near? No, you won't get cooked by the dynamic brake grids. They also have giant fans to cool them. |
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Posted: 4/23/2013 9:58:40 AM EDT
[#44]
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A straight SD40, while good locomotive, is not an SD40-2. A straight SD40 has more complicated wiring and cards are starting to get more difficult to find.. WAT? No. SD40, GP38 = Use old school electro-mechanical relays in the electrical panel to control the locomotive power. No cards. SD40-2, GP38-2 = Use a modularized electrical panel with individual electronic modules to control locomotive power. Cards. The beauty of the original pre -2 SD40s and GP38s is that they load lightning fast. Noticeably quicker than the subsequent -2 variants. They are AWESOME to flat switch with. They will rip the pin lifter right out of your hand. On the other hand, talk to any old school railroader and you are bound to hear stories about having to manually operate those relays during transition to keep the locomotive from dropping it's load. The -2s were a huge improvement in this regard. I'm not an engineer or old school. But an old school engineer has told me tales of jamming something in those relays after it blew a fuse. Basically like jumping it. And it caught fire one day lol. |
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Posted: 4/23/2013 10:10:18 AM EDT
[#45]
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I bet I'm the only guy in this thread who ever worked for Penn Central.  Check your PMs. |
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Posted: 4/23/2013 10:16:24 AM EDT
[#46]
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Are there standards on how long you have to sound your horn at crossings? And does it matter if they are signed, lit, or gated? I live near a crossing with only a sign and they seem to lay on the horn. two longs, a short, and a long....until you occupy the crossing is there a siding near the crossing? if they are going slow in or out of the siding it may make the horn time longer... The one closest to my house love to sound it for over a minute continuously- I've timed it. WTF is up with that? |
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Posted: 4/23/2013 11:16:36 AM EDT
[#47]
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Quoted:
Quoted:
A straight SD40, while good locomotive, is not an SD40-2. A straight SD40 has more complicated wiring and cards are starting to get more difficult to find.. WAT? No. SD40, GP38 = Use old school electro-mechanical relays in the electrical panel to control the locomotive power. No cards. SD40-2, GP38-2 = Use a modularized electrical panel with individual electronic modules to control locomotive power. Cards. The beauty of the original pre -2 SD40s and GP38s is that they load lightning fast. Noticeably quicker than the subsequent -2 variants. They are AWESOME to flat switch with. They will rip the pin lifter right out of your hand. On the other hand, talk to any old school railroader and you are bound to hear stories about having to manually operate those relays during transition to keep the locomotive from dropping it's load. The -2s were a huge improvement in this regard. I'm not an engineer or old school. But an old school engineer has told me tales of jamming something in those relays after it blew a fuse. Basically like jumping it. And it caught fire one day lol. Yes, the old rule of thumb was that it took an entire broom handle to get from Seattle to Wenatchee.
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Posted: 4/23/2013 1:15:41 PM EDT
[#48]
Quoted:
Quoted:
A straight SD40, while good locomotive, is not an SD40-2. A straight SD40 has more complicated wiring and cards are starting to get more difficult to find.. WAT? No. SD40, GP38 = Use old school electro-mechanical relays in the electrical panel to control the locomotive power. No cards. SD40-2, GP38-2 = Use a modularized electrical panel with individual electronic modules to control locomotive pow The beauty of the original pre -2 SD40s and GP38s is that they load lightning fast. Noticeably quicker than the subsequent -2 variants. They are AWESOME to flat switch with. They will rip the pin lifter right out of your hand. On the other hand, talk to any old school railroader and you are bound to hear stories about having to manually operate those relays during transition to keep the locomotive from dropping it's load. The -2s were a huge improvement in this regard. My mistake. I got confused with the uber stupid Dash-1, which is not straight or Dash-2. We have four Dash-1s, four straights, and two Dash-2s. The Dash-1s have 3 cards, the Dash-2s have 20, and the straight do not have cards (just a shit load of rotted, brittle assed wiring). We ditched all the Dash-3s (Qtron, Wabtec, etc.) |
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Posted: 4/23/2013 1:30:58 PM EDT
[#49]
How much effect does the wind have on a train?
I have seen long trains out west with gale strength winds and I wondered. Is the wind a realistic concern? |
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Posted: 4/23/2013 1:33:06 PM EDT
[#50]
Has anybody ever been caught jerking off in public to a train?
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