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Who is out busting rear end on the major work next to I-80 in Nevada? I know some of you guys were bidding on those jobs. Poor fuckers are going to get snowed on.
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May 6, 2014 08:57
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| # ? May 11, 2024 23:30 |
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Just chiming in to say how muuch I've enjoyed Axeman Jim's posts onn excreable British trains. Back in the day I used to travel on the EPB stock and they were unredeemable shitboxes. Having said that they did have very comfy horsehair sttuffed seats - and BR branded antimacassars in the first class compartments.
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May 6, 2014 19:29
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I'm on SunRail right now, will post pictures later. Interestingly there were some Tri-Rail DMUs parked outside of DeBary station on a siding...guessing they're looking into those for the fleet. EDIT: Photos!    And here's a video of a southbound train departing as a northbound enters! (apologies for crappy phone camera quality) https://www.dropbox.com/s/eskg9mf46osftr8/2014-05-07%2008.09.32.mp4 Zeether fucked around with this message at 14:03 on May 7, 2014 |
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May 7, 2014 12:45
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~Coxy posted:Can't you just use normal earbuds underneath full size earpro? Maybe if I was like 100 years old
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May 7, 2014 15:31
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Okay guys the big boy is coming through my district. Even though I'm from Cheyenne, and I'll be able to go look at it anytime I want to, I think it would be cool to be part of its history.. They are moving it from Green River to Laramie today. And then maybe from Laramie over to Cheyenne its final destination tomorrow. Its the closest train right now, and I'm second out so it looks like I'm gonna miss it. 
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May 7, 2014 15:36
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Apparently the Tri-Rail DMUs are awful at accelerating and they're not really fit for Sunrail because of some grades. Whoops. Dunno if they're gonna look into ordering any from US Railcar unless they improve on that.
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May 7, 2014 21:21
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There are grades in florida?
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May 8, 2014 03:18
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Not really noticeable enough but I think there are.
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May 8, 2014 04:20
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Sooo I transported the Bigboy 4014 118 miles to its overnight resting spot in Laramie yesterday/last night. By transported I mean I was at the controls. 25 MPH the whole way. There are two locomotives. The locomotive on the front, UP4014 (a newish SD-70M) is used only to pull the draft gear "straight" on the front trucks. Since the front draft gear/truck has no travel limiting installed on them yet, the front locomotive is put into the 3rd notch of power and left there. At absolutely no time is it allowed to exceed notch 3 or EVER EVER use dynamic. It was essentially left there in the 3rd notch of power the entire trip without moving the throttle to keep pressure on the equipment to prevent it from taking an inadvertent and unexpected right or left turn off the track. Since the front locomotive has so little to do, they are in charge of the automatic brakes through all of the cars and only their own driver brakes. The locomotive behind the steam engine and tender is the UP4884 (another newish SD-70M). Behind that are the UP Steam Program machine shop cars and on-the-road living quarters made out of passenger cars. Behind those were the 5 flat cars you saw used to help make everything run smoothly. The Steam Program guys are riding on the Bigboy and will apply it's driver brakes, but only when everything stops. They are also feeling for any scary imbalances or unnatural sounds, just in case. They will also blow its eerie old whistle from time to time. The man running the UP4884 has the automatics cut out but still has emergency capability and driver brakes to use when stopped. The man running the UP4884 uses power and dynamic normally but gently to operate the train and keep it running right at 25 mph the entire time. Needless to say the man on the UP4884 is a busy mofo. That man was me. We started our day by changing out the crew on the front locomotive, and my conductor and I changed crews with the rear locomotive. We were already located on the main line. We did so through a crowd of about 500 people. Most of the moves of the Bigboy are done on the main line. Any absolutely unnecessary crossovers or switch moves as you could imagine, are all avoided. Our first move was to re-spot the Bigboy so that they could hard grease the pins on the it that could not be reached during the second re-spot done by the previous crew. We did this by simply moving forward about 6 to 8 feet. Once that was done we pulled up from the photo op/public appearance spot at the old depot to spot the whole thing on the fuel rack only 500 feet away. They topped off the diesels and we departed, leaving town and using the only crossover we made which was from #1 main to #2 main (CTC). It made it right through the #20 crossover at 25 MPH without any problem. I had a momentary feeling of panic rise in me when I realized that if it derailed, there we were, staring into the dead rear lights of the massive tender, ahead of us 1 million pounds of steel that would stop pretty quickly. Director of the whole move Ed Dickenson had told us earlier in the job briefing, "we have to keep it on the rails because there is not a hook big enough to lift this thing up". That in mind, I found it mildly humorous when various local managers questioned his decision to use a specific track to park in the yard because he had decided none of the others were suitable for the loading. All along the way there were hundreds of cars and trucks mirroring our movement on a nearby highway. You could tell that they were made up of both long haul rail buffs and locals who were just following along the way. I saw many people in work and local company vehicles who's bosses were going to wonder what the hell they had done all day. There were others, serious videophiles and photogs that would leapfrog us. Setting up and breaking down equipment to record us at the best spots for composition and conditions. About half the day it rained mixed with sleet and snow. The Steam Program guys riding in the rickety old Bigboy were getting soaked and frozen. When we stopped at another flyspeck roadside burg there were about 300 people made partially of long haulers and and partially of townspeople. The saddest part was that we are not allowed to use our phones to do anything while on a train anymore. When I pulled my little Nikon Coolpix L24 out of its bag, the display had received a fatal insult. I was able to get it to work, but with no composition, or ability to change settings. When we stopped this time we didn't have to hard grease or re-spot. Just a basic refilling of some on-board flange oiling equipment hastily installed on the Bigboy. After they made everyone back away from the train as best they could, and when everyone was in the clear and we were just sitting. I snapped the only pics I had any safe time to take.   When we finally arrived in Laramie, right at 8pm, it was bedlam. There were probably 1000 people on the 100 year old footbridge downtown alone. I feared it might collapse. As we spotted the bigboy in the "steam track" next to the ancient depot, people crowded the tracks themselves. They were not completely unruly, but the dispatcher had blocked traffic on all tracks to protect the public. We got everything spotted and tied down. Just before we climbed into a van, one of the Steam Program guys took the only picture of me that they had time for.  In 45 minutes, the Bigboy is scheduled to arrive at its final destination in Cheyenne to much fanfare, but I am too tired to go see it, and I am scheduled to work again in a few hours and cannot afford to miss the trip.
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May 8, 2014 19:15
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B4Ctom1 posted:In 45 minutes, the Bigboy is scheduled to arrive at its final destination in Cheyenne to much fanfare, but I am too tired to go see it, and I am scheduled to work again in a few hours and cannot afford to miss the trip. Was the move easier to do because they are holding all traffic in Nevada at night?
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May 8, 2014 19:32
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I wasn't in Nevada. We got passed by trains on other tracks while tooling along (double mainline CTC, triple main CTC from Laramie to Cheyenne).
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May 8, 2014 20:36
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sincx fucked around with this message at 05:55 on Mar 23, 2021 |
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May 8, 2014 23:15
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Awesome story about moving the Big Boy. In other news, sometimes in Kansas it's so windy that trains get blown right off the tracks. http://www.kmbc.com/news/strong-win...campaign=buffer
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May 8, 2014 23:24
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Used Sunlight sales posted:In other news, sometimes in Kansas it's so windy that trains get blown right off the tracks. 
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May 9, 2014 00:45
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Awesome post about the Big Boy. I completely understand the reason to not want to run that thing through switches, it must tear poo poo up. Frogs take a beating anyway, I can't imagine what that engine would to to it, much less something simple as going around curves.
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May 9, 2014 01:35
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Yeah, you'd think there'd be a few inspections scheduled for the track after it's been through!
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May 9, 2014 01:56
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I would imagine (after moving the big boy) that's one of those days where you get home and feel pretty loving good about your life.
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May 9, 2014 03:10
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wilfredmerriweathr posted:I would imagine (after moving the big boy) that's one of those days where you get home and feel pretty loving good about your life. Along with a massive unclenching and thanking your deity of choice that you're not going to go down in history as the guy who crashed the Big Boy.
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May 9, 2014 03:50
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Yes to both above posters.
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May 9, 2014 03:55
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Neddy Seagoon posted:Along with a massive unclenching and thanking your deity of choice that you're not going to go down in history as the guy who crashed the Big Boy. After a day like that I'd say a tall glass of ale and a fine cigar would be in order.
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May 9, 2014 14:16
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I put it up with my memorable experiences from the first gulf war as far as historical significance. My problem now is.. I have a lot of career years left. A lot of years of life. Can I top this?
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May 9, 2014 14:36
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B4Ctom1 posted:I put it up with my memorable experiences from the first gulf war as far as historical significance. Getting into the steam program and driving it around is the obvious answer, here.
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May 9, 2014 14:53
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MrYenko posted:Getting into the steam program and driving it around is the obvious answer, here. Isn't it going to be about 5 years until the Big Boy's drivable? That sounds like plenty of time to get into the steam program to me.
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May 9, 2014 15:42
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MrYenko posted:Getting into the steam program and driving it around is the obvious answer, here. You heard the man. Choo Choo, motherfucker.
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May 9, 2014 19:11
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How far is the big boy going to be able to run on its own, considering how many considerations have to be made for its weight? Will it basically only to be able to travel as far as the main line takes it from Cheyenne?
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May 10, 2014 00:14
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B4Ctom1 posted:I put it up with my memorable experiences from the first gulf war as far as historical significance. The only way that you're going to be able to top this is by driving a humongous steam engine through Iraq in wartime. That said, if these huge steam engines thrash modern trackage so much, what was done in years past when locomotives like the Big Boy and the Allegheny were really prevalent? Did the railroads use super-heavy construction, track, and accessories? Did they do more maintenance? Any ideas?
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May 10, 2014 13:34
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Pigsfeet on Rye posted:The only way that you're going to be able to top this is by driving a humongous steam engine through Iraq in wartime. I feel like that's the point at which this becomes relevant https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcB43bQl5gI
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May 10, 2014 20:08
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Pigsfeet on Rye posted:The only way that you're going to be able to top this is by driving a humongous steam engine through Iraq in wartime. That said, if these huge steam engines thrash modern trackage so much, what was done in years past when locomotives like the Big Boy and the Allegheny were really prevalent? Did the railroads use super-heavy construction, track, and accessories? Did they do more maintenance? Any ideas? My guess is that they had a lot more section gangs way back in the day, and they were constantly working on the track. I'm talking section houses at drat near every station and siding. Today a section gang covers a much larger distance. My home section usually covers about 50 rail miles in each direction.
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May 10, 2014 22:47
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Well the section houses were also because it was less mechanized back then as well. Hammers are much more inefficient then modern pneumatic spike drivers.
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May 12, 2014 00:56
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I grew up in that valley. Surprised no one has posted about the Big Boy arriving at UP in Cheyenne this week for the start of its restoration to working order. 
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May 12, 2014 01:06
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Boomerjinks posted:I grew up in that valley. Did you see the posts on this page about how B4Ctom1 was part of the crew that got it much of the way there?
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May 12, 2014 01:22
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MiamiKid posted:Did you see the posts on this page about how B4Ctom1 was part of the crew that got it much of the way there? Sorry. I missed it. edit: fuuuuuuck that is awesome. Boomerjinks fucked around with this message at 01:39 on May 12, 2014 |
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May 12, 2014 01:32
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Axeman Jim, I hate to drag up a post from a few months back but I saw this:Axeman Jim posted:
and I just want to tell you that ain't Hull! I don't care that you care more about trains than you do about random landmarks in lovely midland towns but this has sparked my  up something rotten and you are baring the brunt of it, Mr! 
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May 13, 2014 12:52
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MyFaceBeHi posted:and I just want to tell you that ain't Hull! I don't care that you care more about trains than you do about random landmarks in lovely midland towns but this has sparked my The answer is.... 
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May 13, 2014 14:12
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It sure is! The one thing it has going for it is that it isn't Walsall. The sooner I earn enough to afford to rent the sooner I'm moving out of this depressing city! It's not so much that there is the square total of gently caress all here but the council seem to have so many wonderful plans but the most they got was a fancy bus station that only half the bus routes! I think I moan too much about this place, I really do. 
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May 13, 2014 14:55
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Sorry. GIS let me down. Hull of course looks like this:     Whereas Wolverhampton looks like this:     Apologies for any confusion.
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May 13, 2014 17:41
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me as a kid... also now
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May 13, 2014 18:59
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Axeman Jim posted:
No worries, although the old Low Level Station is now a lovely gastro pub and Lennier Inn. Everything else, though, is correct. Also, the Carvers fire was probably the most interesting thing to happen to Wolverhampton that year, which says a lot. Oh, there is also this thing which is conveniently built on top of the old line!  Edit: oh wait, one of your pictures shows it. Well it bares repeating anyway. Also it's sort of on topic because of where it's built on. MyFaceBeHi fucked around with this message at 19:35 on May 13, 2014 |
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May 13, 2014 19:26
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As a Dutch tourist, I can say I've been to Hull, because that's where the boat lands. The entire boat was quickly loaded onto buses and shipped out to York, where there is the excellent and free National Railway Museum. I think I've been there three times now  The Mallard wasn't there the last time though. And all the while I had been trying to get my non-train nerd friends excited about this locomotive, having explained why it was so important etc. I did see this other train about which I could share a few anecdotes:  I'm crap about telling train numbers and names, but I can tell you it's from a 1500V line near Manchester. That line eventually closed down, but since the Netherlands uses 1500V everywhere, and urgently needed some new locomotives, some of these were sold to the Dutch Railways. Six to actually drive in, and a seventh to take parts from to keep the others running: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NS_Class_1500 One of these still survives and I saw it a few years later in the Manchester Science Museum. Another train from the UK you'd see on Dutch tracks was this type of shunter:  A bunch of these came along with the British army after WW2, and the Dutch were so pleased with them, they ordered a slew of new ones. A handful are still in active service today.
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May 13, 2014 19:50
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| # ? May 11, 2024 23:30 |
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I would hope by now most of you would have seen or heard about this from the day 4014 arrived: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2626230/Look-Oblivious-train-spotters-distracted-vintage-locomotive-hit-slowest-near-miss-ever.html direct link to video (loud train sounds and cursing warning) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwO-IWorGv4
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May 18, 2014 01:45
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