Railroad Thread

[elaw]

Of possible amusement, Jay Leno takes a spin on the 4-8-8-4 Big Boy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YMAqqCYe00

Basically the railroad version of the Super Constellation.

[3WE]

Good show.

A lot of whiners (there are plenty of those in rail just as in aviation) have complained that this locomotive is the world's largest tea pot as it is only pushed around by a diesel locomotive located behind the water cars. My understanding is the diesel is there to assist with occasional grades including braking to protect the steam locomotive's tires from brake heating. (Yes, the driving wheels have tires that are installed by heating them and sliding them on the center disc where they cool and contract.)
Did you sense the locomotive was working as it rolled by?

In this photo speeds were lowering as they approach a yard and town, it was not WORKING (at least not hard) in my photo. Two years ago, I saw it running more wide open. PM me with your e-mail and I can send this and the 2 year ago video if you are curious. It WAS working then and the diesel engine was not_.

One other point- sure, the diesel is there for backup…BUT I HAVE HEARD THAT BIG BOY FUNCTIONS BEST WIDE OPEN, AND THE DIESEL OPERATES ITS DYNAMIC BRAKES “FULL TIME” TO KEEP THE SPEED IN CHECK ON THE MODEST CONSIST NOT_IN THE MOUNTAINS.

One other bit of trivia, The route went on some tracks that didn’t have the correct turnouts, so they got two GP-35s to drag the whole thing backwards from Popular Bluff to Dexter, MO.

[elaw]

https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/gre ... idge-mbta/

"If I've told you once I've told you 100 times: never turn the steering wheel!"

[ocelot]

That looks like they were very lucky to end up where they were and not run head-on into any of the numerous objects around them. Or they were steering.

[elaw]

Heh... you've never ridden the green line in Boston! There have been several instances where people have tried to "outrun" the train over several stops on foot, and I'm pretty sure they all succeeded. Let's just say of the two terms often used, it may be appropriate to call that line "mass transit" but definitely not "rapid transit".

[3WE]

A skipped checklist item. (Boarding gate ropes, down…selected…and indicated.)

https://www.foxnews.com/travel/amtrak-a ... passengers

…and ironing in the passengers ASSuming that the train is late as usual.

Of course, have we considered too many PSI to the brakes?

[elaw]

https://www.theautopian.com/a-mining-co ... -downhill/

[3WE]

1. Cool

[Geek/snarcasm mode on]

2. There is no such thing as a free lunch. In fact, it is powered by geothermal heat- which raised the iron ore millions of years ago.

Soy diesel will eventually be needed. You’re welcome.

[J]

While the article says the locomotive was built by Fortescu and Downer, i wonder if there was any collaboration with WABTEC (formerly Westinghouse Air Brake) who purchased the locomotive business from GE when it spun off a number of its divisions to raise money.

Wabtec's tested a unit several years ago on BNSF in Southern California between Barstow and Stockton where there is a stiff grade in the middle. Trains were dispatched with sufficient diesel-electric locomotives to handle the trains but their power was held back to put the Battery Electric Locomotive through some heavy duty cycles. The unit charged its batteries when providing braking power on descending grades and a heavy cable at both ends of the runs was available for extra power. While the battery capacity at that time was insufficient for the locomotive to handle its share of the train all the way on the trip, it did show promise. The next generation of locomotives now has additional battery capacity. For now these electric locomotives will be accompanied by diesels.

https://www.wabteccorp.com/media/466/download?inline

[3WE]

IMG_3534.jpeg (277.36 KiB) Viewed 2355 times

Ex-Us people, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern are trying to merge.

[J]

These types of mergers are debated for maybe 18 months so nothing will happen right away, if at all. Union Pacific has a history of merging with many other railroads including Southern Pacific, Western Pacific, Missouri Pacific (who itself merged years ago with Texas Pacific). Jokesters have noted that Union Pacific graciously honors these predecessor railroads by including "Pacific" in its corporate name. A rather minor gesture considering Union Pacific has been around with the same name since the 1860's.

Now the fun part, Union Pacific's major current rival is BNSF which happens to be owned by Warren Buffett. If the UP / NS acquisition goes forward, BNSF cannot sit by and loose a large portion of its transcontinental business since it would no longer be sharing any more business than it must with the former NS portion of the merged railroad. What to do? Merge with NS's current rival CSX? What about the two other major railroads that happen to be headquartered in Canada - CN and CPKC? BNSF and CN had proposed a merger a number of years ago but stepped back after a lot of criticism and challenges.

To put things in perspective, the UP offer to buy NS totals $85 Billion in cash and stock. That is about 25% of the money Warren Buffet's company currently has in cash. How about Buffet tops UP's offer for NS and forces UP to match or beat it? This adds to UP's debt and weakens them as a competitor if they decide to fight and stay in the game. Then Buffett says, oh never mind. I guess you can have it (at the new higher price.) I just merge with someone else.

[3WE]

Short answer: Yes.

Medium answer:

Another chapter in the Wal-Mart merger, etc trend with much discussion and haggling yet to be had.

Mild humor in the proposed livery.

And I do sort of like my long-gone Flyover liveries: MP, SLSF, SSW, and others.

https://youtu.be/wCyBOTuUp24?si=7KuAfRte8tUXQ25Q

[J]

Remember that A340 that was wrecked at the factory during an engine test?

Such things happen to locomotives too. Here is a short video of a new one being unloaded from a ship when something bad happens.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvyIrsZ7Zhs

And another.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9Uv1mM89a0

And another - here it has already been loaded up ready to be sent back for repairs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Mu9jT2DUpQ

[3WE]

A demonstration of quality metallic construction and cheap, carbon-fiber straps.

[J]

Here is a video of UP's 4014 steam locomotive assisting a train ahead that had stalled on a grade a few years ago. The video is a bit long so here are some key points.


2:15 Setting up the front coupler to join the train ahead.
4:20 Slowly pulling ahead to couple
6:50 Coupling in and then pulling back to stretch the coupler to ensure it is locked in position.
13:15 Shoving starts - you can see the locomotive compresses the slack in the train ahead and then wait for the diesel locomotives at the front of the train to start pulling before applying more power at around 14:35
15:45 The front engine slips for a moment before power is reduced
16:11 Diesel helper passes - you can hear that it is providing a little power too.

The 4014 is perfectly capable of operating on its own but regularly includes a diesel helper that is controlled from the steam locomotive's cab. This reduces wear and tear on its braking system as well as probably gives the steam engine a longer life. The fact that the steam engine slipped as it was starting the load shows it was not just going along for the ride and letting the diesel do all the work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vLWBP-ehOo