One shy of 40 - 'locomotive train'

Wholly flange squeal! Neat video Sam!

I got 39 too.  What is that flange squeal from?  I know stupid question, the flanges.  What the heck is a flange and can't someone put a spot of grease on them?  It just doesn't sound healthy.  Awesome Lashup! 

Wow - a lotta power there in one train.  Fantastic.

I saw that yesterday and came up with 39 also I love that squeal! Always felt one of the O gauge manufacturers should put that into their sound system. Music to the ears of rail fans.

Hmmmm....wonder how many gallons to the mile and no ETD! Bet the ground shook when that went by!

The inside of the wheel that keeps the train on the rails, when it scrapes the inside edge of the rail it squeals.

 

I'm no railroad expert but I believe there are instances where certain turns have automatic flange greasers on the rails. I think Rich may even have mentioned one for the horseshoe curve.

 

 

I believe this shows a flange greaser.

 

Lionel did that years ago with their Railsounds 5.0 diesels, and its on legacy diesels as well.

 

Here's video from Norm Charbonnaeu's legacy GP7s squealing flanges.

 

Looks like they are headed to the shops for a little new makeup and tuneup!

Wow

 

How many of those units were fired up and running to pull that many locomotives?

c. sam,

    Holy cow, even with the big active yard here in Pitcaran, Pa I have never seen that may engines together at one time, fantastic video!  Most I have ever seen at one time is 10.

PCRR/Dave

Three were running.  Two at the front and one in the rear.

 

"Always felt one of the O gauge manufacturers should put that into their sound system. Music to the ears of rail fans."

 

My MTH Rail King B&O RDC's do have that sound.

Cool video, thanks for sharing!  I have a video of a train consisting of 100 Chessie, B&O, and C&O Geeps being hauled to a scrap yard, kind of sad!  I have a PS1 SD9 that has real nice flange squeal effects.  I run it just for that reason.

 

Stack

All 29 UP units in that train are old SP tunnel motors, I think they are this group:

 

Originally rebuilt from SD45T-2 to SD45T-2R by SP in 1987-1989; renumbered out of original SP sequence; rebuilt to 3000 hp SD40-2T by VMV in 1998-1999; renumbered to 2826-2863

 

http://utahrails.net/all-time/late-merger-index.php

who owns the UPs now?

To the best of my memory, most all of those former Southern Pacific "Tunnel Motors", where rebuilt/remanufactured with 16 cylinder engines (replacing the 20 cylinder), and may have gone back to the UP. Others, just went into the leasing market or smaller railroads.

More than likely, those 39 locomotives are dead-in-tow, basically each a boxcar. If I remember, only 9 locomotives can be 'on-line' under power in a mu'ed consist. These 39 locomotives also had their UP etc. logos blackened out. If they are enroute to Silvis, IL, there is a locomotive rebuilder there that is the probable destination.

 

Thanks.

 

Walter M. Matuch

Not really from an electrical stand point. Each railroad may have operating restrictions as to the number of units "on line", but there is no technical limit.

The last unit was the ETD.  Only the two lead units and two trailing units were under power.

 

Rusty

That's a pretty big cab hop. I think they're either headed for a rebuilder or reseller.

Sam...thanks for the video.  I counted 39 too....wow...what a train!!

 

Alan

 I just got a SD70MAC BNSF in G scale. Looks like it'll need some weathering to match that end unit. Funny how old these units are getting. Oh Boy!

Another way to count the years!

Hot Water...My comment was based upon information in 'northeastern' RR General Orders from my era...1960s to late 1970s. New technology may indeed have altered those rules and procedures.

 

Your input is always appreciated.

 

Thanks.

 

Walter M. Matuch

Thanks!

The Susquehanna acquired some "Tunnel Motors":

 

 

Bob

Nice catch Sam! I'll bet there were more than a few surprised motorists sitting at crossings along the way!

No technical limit? There are definite reliability problems with MU'ing too many units due to voltage drops through all the connections, after locos have been out in the real world with wear and tear and dirt, MU cables connected and disconnected umpteen times. Maybe there is no "technical limit" when everything is brand new straight out of EMD.

 

Anyhow, there is no point in MU'ing more power than drawbars can handle.

I took out my Conrail Central Region Employee Timetable Number 1 dated October 1, 1976 and looked up the restrictions which were in place on the railroad at the time. The maximum number of units coupled together in multiple, including dead or idling units was 12 with train and 15 running engine light or with a caboose. Furthermore, the maximum permissible number of traction motors under power was 24. In the event pushers were required, the maximum permissible number for the hind end not including the power on the head end ranged from 12 to 24 depending upon the type of train. Light movements had no such restrictions imposed and were subject only to the total maximum number of units provision.

 

Bob     

Bob...There was also a restriction (on CR at least) that coupler stops needed to be used on all coupled locomotives on mainline and also a horsepower restriction for pushers coupling onto a caboose.

 

Had to get a pusher one night on an eastbound Sand Train stalled at Middletown. Even though we had a former PRR caboose, with 3000+hp on LE-2 (our pusher) myself and flagman rode LE-2's engine cab to South Amboy.  

 

NOTE: I caught the caboose when the hind end passed the Tower. (As conductor, I rode the engine from Lakewood to Red Bank on this trip.)

 

Thanks.

 

Walter M. Matuch

Walter:

 

Thanks for sharing your sand train memories. I recall sitting on the deck in the evening after most of the passenger traffic had quieted down and listening to eastbound sand trains working their way up the grade in Middletown. They sure made a lot of noise, particularly if there were GEs in the consist.

 

That's a great picture you took from BANK.

 

Bob   

flange squeal-you will notice on the drawing of the axle that there is no differential between the two wheels-only a straight axle. So, when going around a curve the two wheels are traveling at the same speed.  The outside wheel travels further than the inside wheel.  The curve of the profile of the flange is such that the outside wheel should "ride up" a little to provide a slightly larger diameter so it can "keep up" with the inside wheel.  But it doesn't always work so there can be some "slip" causing squeal along with the friction between the wheel and the rail as the rail "turns" the wheels and the truck.