Stuart McLachlan
stuart at lexacorp.com.pg
Sun Feb 7 16:00:05 CST 2010
An LA Times article with more info on the train: bit.ly/8QTpGp -- Stuart On 7 Feb 2010 at 11:57, Rocky Smolin wrote: > 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 > > > -- > AccessD mailing list > AccessD at databaseadvisors.com > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com >