Rocky Smolin
rockysmolin at bchacc.com
Sun Feb 7 13:57:41 CST 2010
Our train expert from OT -----Original Message----- From: dba-ot-bounces at databaseadvisors.com [mailto:dba-ot-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of dickford1 at aol.com Sent: Sunday, February 07, 2010 11:26 AM To: dba-ot at databaseadvisors.com Subject: Re: [dba-OT] For Dickford -- FW: [AccessD] Friday OT: Looong train Poetry in motion, eh Rocky? That's the way an efficiently-run railroad should look. A mighty impressive sight...a 3 mile-long train powered by nine locomotives! Wow! And...all run by ONE guy who...if he has adequate seniority, makes about $27/hour + bennies. A model of efficiency... But, appearances can be deceiving. Let me explain: 1.) Train 7454 West is running extra...westbound, on single track under authority of track warrant, in dark (unsignaled) territory. The significance of that? Simple. That train owns the track...there can be no opposing trains, because there isn't a long enough passing siding. That means that up to a dozen eastbound trains can (and usually are) backed up, idling...with full crews...waiting to run. 2.) This train is running with mostly empty containers. The loads would be the Maersk and possibly the free-running Evergreens. The two mid-train sets are running in high idle, but offline, not as slaves...to maintain trainline air pressure for braking purposes. IOW, they're "brake sleds". They also serve double-duty as part of a common power-balancing maneuver: More freight tonnage moves east...much more...than moves west, hence the need for power to be returned...running "light". The rear end power is running radio-controlled, from the head end...and IS pushing...to keep the slack bunched in this train. Running a "tight" train is critical in these circumstances...but, can also magnify dangers exponentially. One li'l hitch in the gitalong...emphasis on "little"...and the whole picture goes kaflooey! In a heartbeat. I noted at least four distinct flat wheel sets...and three of those piercing screeches. Know what those are? I do! Nothing but trouble! Flagrantly out-of-spec "sharp flanges" and/or "squared flange fillets"...IOW, an open invitation to derailment. Shit happens...all to regularly for my taste. Conclusion? Any dispatcher who put this nightmarish mostrosity together should be shot (and probably was) at sunrise. After a proper trial, of course.<g> Anyway, Rocky...thank you very much or sharing this! The photog definitely knows his shit. It was a pleasure! Dickford -----Original Message----- From: Rocky Smolin <rockysmolin at bchacc.com> To: 'Off Topic' <dba-ot at databaseadvisors.com> Sent: Sun, Feb 7, 2010 12:05 pm Subject: [dba-OT] For Dickford -- FW: [AccessD] Friday OT: Looong train -----Original Message----- rom: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Gustav Brock ent: Sunday, February 07, 2010 8:41 AM o: accessd at databaseadvisors.com ubject: [AccessD] Friday OT: Looong train Hi all Well, not Friday but still weekend, and if you need a 10½ minutes break uring the weekend duties, relax here and count: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFCAtf6exS8 It's a footage of a drive-by of presumable the longest train ever recorded - 8.000 feet or about 5.5 km long driven by 3+2+2+2 engines and counting bout 300 cars. he location is the Yuma Subdivision at Fingal in sunny California. The guy behind, Joe Perry, is a true enthusiast and also a splendid hotographer as his site demonstrates: http://www.chasingsteel.com /gustav PS: If wish more here's a similar, though from 1982 and only about 9 inutes: ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B67vrhp2Xog& -- ccessD mailing list ccessD at databaseadvisors.com ttp://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd ebsite: http://www.databaseadvisors.com ______________________________________________ ba-OT mailing list ba-OT at databaseadvisors.com ttp://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-ot ebsite: http://www.databaseadvisors.com _______________________________________________ dba-OT mailing list dba-OT at databaseadvisors.com http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-ot Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com