For all of You Train Lovers

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[Coronet_Arch]

The Black Diamond inspection locomotive. It is the last surviving inspection locomotive.

 

[Photon440]

CN's new Sutton-Spaulding double track extension in the Chicago area.

 

[j-c-c-62]

Are there hard and fast rules as to which track goes which way here in the US or around the world?

 

[Photon440]

Are there hard and fast rules as to which track goes which way here in the US or around the world?

In the past, it was usual for traffic on double track areas to stick to the right in North America, although there were a few exceptions on some railroads such as the former CNW. With constant communication via Rail Traffic Control and red and green signals at switch points, it is possible to use either track safely but that is not generally the case.

Because industrial sidings and spur lines are still usually placed on the right, or the need to sideline a defective rail car on a siding, past practices remain in place for the most part.

Also, in the case of passenger service, the stations were often located on the right which would decrease passenger safety if the train arrived on the other track.

 

[j-c-c-62]

So then the pic above my question above is the exception to the norm in the US for likely some of the reasons you mention, correct?
Being it's a "double track" vs a siding?

 

[YY1]

Do we know if the trains are traveling in the same direction?

 

[j-c-c-62]

Do we know if the trains are traveling in the same direction?

We do not, nor do know if one train is backing up with an engine at the rear of the train.

 

[Coronet_Arch]

B&O museum begins cosmetic restoration of American Freedom Train locomotive (updated) - Trains

 

[YY1]

AFT 1 (Reading 2101) is an old friend.

I was in the cab, under steam at age 8, in 1976.

I need to go ride 2102 while she is operational.

 

[YY1]

 

[YY1]

Here we are in 2007-

My mom took pics of everything back in the 1970's.
I simply can not understand why we have no pics of the Freedom Train event.
Zero.
I do have the program and the patch, removed from a hat that didn't age well.

 

[YY1]

Looks like the bullet holes are not yet there on the placard.


I am looking at my camera. sitting on a parking block like those in front of the loco.
On the other side of the block, is a chain link fence and the outside world.

Baltimore is very "railroad-y".
The B&O museum is kind of on the border of a shadier side of town.

 

[Photon440]

It has become standard practice these days to run trains with "distributed power", locomotives that are at the center or end of a train consist rather than just at the head end. These play a couple of roles; they minimize stress on long trains on curves and hills, and also ensure that extra long trains have a good flow of pressurized air for the brakes, particularly in very cold weather.

However, sometimes an extra engine isn't really required at those locations for tractive effort, but the need for auxiliary air is still there. In those cases, these special boxcars are inserted, called 'Distributed Braking Cars'.

Looking quite normal, other than a bright orange colour, they contain a large diesel engine, fuel tank and air compressor. They are connected via radio control to the head end locomotive for seamless air brake operation. Flashing red lights on the roof ends make it easy for ground crews to differentiate them from the normal consist.

CN has about 100 of these cars, other railroads (such as BNSF) use the idea as well.

 

[j-c-c-62]

It has become standard practice these days to run trains with "distributed power", locomotives that are at the center or end of a train consist rather than just at the head end. These play a couple of roles; they minimize stress on long trains on curves and hills, and also ensure that extra long trains have a good flow of pressurized air for the brakes, particularly in very cold weather.

However, sometimes an extra engine isn't really required at those locations for tractive effort, but the need for auxiliary air is still there. In those cases, these special boxcars are inserted, called 'Distributed Braking Cars'.
View attachment 1800272
Looking quite normal, other than a bright orange colour, they contain a large diesel engine, fuel tank and air compressor. They are connected via radio control to the head end locomotive for seamless air brake operation. Flashing red lights on the roof ends make it easy for ground crews to differentiate them from the normal consist.

CN has about 100 of these cars, other railroads (such as BNSF) use the idea as well.
View attachment 1800275

Interesting.
Two things do the airlines start anew rearward at this car's location in the train, or does it just supplement the main locomotives air impulses?
Secondly why the "Do Not Hump" and what exactly does that mean in this context?

 

[Photon440]

Interesting.
Two things do the airlines start anew rearward at this car's location in the train, or does it just supplement the main locomotives air impulses?
Secondly why the "Do Not Hump" and what exactly does that mean in this context?

1. I'm not sure if all railroads use the same principles, but I think the usual way is for the distributed braking car (some railroads call them 'repeater cars') is to take the signal from the brake hose in front and use it as a relay to send the same signal to the next cars. There are pipes and valves inside these air cars to direct the flow where needed:

Train brakes are fairly rudimentary, in that they don't have variable pressure applications like you're used to in a car. They have only four positions - fully charged (fully released), partial application, full set-up, and emergency. So it's easy to send these simple types of applications through a relay.

The air cars have the added benefit of not only keeping up pressure, but also hastening brake release after an application by building up full pressure again more quickly.


2. "Do Not Hump" is in reference to special switching yards known as 'Hump Yards'. These switching yards start with a ramp or hill, so when a car is pushed into a track, it continues to roll by itself. It will be switched from track to track as it rolls, until it couples up with the cars in its intended final track, meaning the switch engine doesn't have to be connected the whole time it is being switched.

These cars can be slammed together fairly hard, creating a lot of shock, so certain cars are labeled "Do Not Hump" to ensure they aren't treated to this stress. A load of grain or coal doesn't care if it crashes into another car, but more delicate loads need to be switched slowly in more conventional methods. Automobile racks are usually labelled this way, for example.