Went Down To See The Shiny NKP 765 & California Zephyr Cars through Boston Mills - 9/21/18

Always a pleasure

Some great pix!

Have often wondered in real trains are ever in danger of tipping over in curves at speed?  With the track so narrow compared to width of a locomotive, (see below as an example where you almost cannot see the wheels!) what are the concerns to engineers while heading into a curve?

Thanks to Brian for this borrowed image. The locomotive almost seems precariously perched on the rails

I lucked out yesterday morning and saw the NKP 765 with its passenger cars, including (I think) the California Zephyr cars, on my way to work. I was heading north on I71 and got off to take the I480 West exit which runs you right by the Norfolk Southern rail yard that runs parallel to I480 near the airport.  As I headed off I71, I saw plumes of steam that didn't look like they'd be coming from a diesel and, sure enough, there was the 765.  I was doing 50mph, so I couldn't take a long look let alone snap a photo, but I'm pretty sure the Zephyr cars were in tow.

I was surprised to see the train facing west since, I'm guessing, it had just arrived from Indiana and would be heading east to the CVSR.  Would love to know its local course.

Exciting sight yesterday morning followed by a great Browns win last night.

c.sam posted:

...what are the concerns to engineers while heading into a curve?

In a word...none.

Every curve on every railroad everywhere has a posted speed limit. It may simply be listed as “Track Speed” or it may posted at some lesser speed. If an engineer is operating his train at the correct speed for the track he is on, he has zero concerns about curves.

raising4daughters posted:

I lucked out yesterday morning and saw the NKP 765 with its passenger cars, including (I think) the California Zephyr cars, on my way to work. I was heading north on I71 and got off to take the I480 West exit which runs you right by the Norfolk Southern rail yard that runs parallel to I480 near the airport.  As I headed off I71, I saw plumes of steam that didn't look like they'd be coming from a diesel and, sure enough, there was the 765.  I was doing 50mph, so I couldn't take a long look let alone snap a photo, but I'm pretty sure the Zephyr cars were in tow.

I was surprised to see the train facing west since, I'm guessing, it had just arrived from Indiana and would be heading east to the CVSR.  Would love to know its local course.

Exciting sight yesterday morning followed by a great Browns win last night.

Read this thread Video of 765 & new CVSR Zephyr cars 9/20/2018

Everything you need to know about the move from Rockport Yard to the CVSR is explained there.

always impressed by her power. fourteen full length cars.

PRR Man posted:

always impressed by her power. fourteen full length cars.

 

That's NOTHING for her.  Try 34 cars on the New River trip at full authorized speeds (60+ mph at times).   She got a workout then, but nothing that she couldn't handle.  

Standard Gauge posted:

PRR Man posted:

always impressed by her power. fourteen full length cars.

 

That's NOTHING for her.  Try 34 cars on the New River trip at full authorized speeds (60+ mph at times).   She got a workout then, but nothing that she couldn't handle.  

Right! Not to mention the 80+ car refer blocks and manifest freight train she handled at 60+ MPH, back when she was in regular service. Those 14 passenger cars would be like a local freight assignment.

Well said!  As John Rehor noted in his lengthy article on the NKP 700's, in Oct 1962 "Trains", in the last month of operation, the 700's handled trains of "whopping tonnage and length".  On 06-06-58, #747 worked a 185 car Time Freight 37 west out of Bellevue; two days later it handled the same train with 212  cars !!!   "It was not uncommon for a single 700 to work 8000 to 10,000 tons over the road".

Can't wait to get a ride on her tomorrow morning with my grandson. Totally looking forward to it! Wish it was a ride in the cab!