Locomotive engine

[EMDDIESEL]

I run the AC6000's all the time at work, they dont sound much different then the other GE's Dash 8 and 9's. The SD90MAC's have a unique sound being the only EMD 4 cycle engines ever built.

Both the SD90MAC and the AC6000 are about 80 feet long and weigh about 420,000 pounds (varies depending on options).

 

[EMDDIESEL]

Here is the SD90MAC demonstator EMD eventualy sold to UP. Its nickname is Shamu, cant figure out why?

It is a true 6,000hp SD90MAC. alot of the 90MACS you see are actually 4,300hp "Convertibles" which have a less powerful engine and are awaiting upgrade to true SD90MAC status#ad

 

[EMDDIESEL]

This the 6,000hp EMD 16V265H engine. #ad

 

[Doc Tinker]

EMDDiesel,



Can you post those engine pictures in life size, so I can get a real feel for their massiveness?



Doc

 

[wxman]

EMD, I assume from your username that you prefer EMD locomotives? Are there any perceptible differences between EMDs and GEs performance wise?

 

[EMDDIESEL]

I am a die hard EMD fan for several reasons, first being they are the best locomotives in the world, ride quality, reliability, ease of maintenence, acceleration, tractive effort, EMD's do it all better then GE can. EMD' also sound great. The newer GE's have gotten ALOT better in comfort and reliablility. You can ask any engineer what brand of Loco they prefer and i know at least the ones i have asked will all say EMD. GE's simply load too slow (loading is the time it takes the locomotive to start moving from the time the throttle is moved). The older units also had horrible visibility and the walkways and doors are too narrow.

The only thing GE locomotives have that is as good as EMD's is Dynamic brakes. There AC6000's and AC4400's have great Dynamic brakes.

In case anyone does not know what Dynamic braking is, in simple terms, its the same idea as downshifting your truck, in other words,slowing down without using the regular brakes. It turns the electric motors that normally turn the axles into generators and by varying the load on them, you can increase or decrease brakeing effort. They have large grids in the Locomotives roof that absorb this load and bleed it off as heat. A 90hp cooling fan keeps anything from overheating. They have made train handling alot easier since unlike air brakes, you can apply and release the Dynamic brake without any delay. If anybody wants any further detail, i can email you stuff on the subject.

 

[KatDiesel]

Keep in mind I am comparing both the 4400hp and the 6000hp locomotives. One thing I have noticed is when you "mix" the EMD's and the GE's usually its a "lone" MAC thats giving you trouble.



And actually I think the EMD's are slightler longer then the GE's cuz whther or not there are any MACs in the locomtive consist determines whether or not I can use a certain siding from time to time. 108 cars and 6 ac's will fit in this siding, UNLESS there are more then one MAC in there.



I like them both..... as long as they keep working Locomotive troubles can turn your railroad into a mess real quick real fast (from a dispatching standpoint). Speaking of which one night on the Moffat Tunnel job I had TWO trains stall at the same time BOTH were BNSF trackage rights trains, and one was on each side of the hill! Damnest thing I ever seen, of course no trains between them. One was West bound going uphill, the other was Eastbound going up hill (The Moffat Tunnel is the contintetnal divide and 6. 2 miles long)

 

[BFaoro]

Mountain Passes

Where I live they have stopped using one of the passes that was used a lot. I beleive it is the Tennessee Pass in Colorado. An individual that claimed to have worked on that pass, said that when the train got to the top they had to set brakes on all the cars to go down the other side. Is this true ? They went to each car and set brakes then when all the brakes were set they would go down the other side.

 

[EMDDIESEL]

Tenesee pass was recently closed. As for setting the brakes before they went over the hill, he has you a litlle confused, what he is reffering to is setting what they call "Retainers" which every frieght car has. They have 2 or three settings, depending on the car. But what they allow you to do is set them so the brakes wont fully release on the car. This way the cars help to keep the speed down and the engineer does not have to use all his air up and go into emergency. There is a listing in our operating rules which says how many you would have to set depneding on the weight of the train and the hill in question. The Conductor would have to walk back and set however many were required before cresting the hill, then at the bottom, they would have to walk back and turn then all off. We only have one place on CSX where we had to use Retainers, but that was discontinued a long time ago thanks to better braking sytems and most importantly, Dynamic brakes. The only time we would ever use them now is an emergency or if we had problems with the Dynamic brakes.

I am speaking for CSX. Kat Diesel works for UP and they have alot more grades then we do, ill let him fill you in on UP's use of retainers.

 

[KatDiesel]

Sadly Tennessee Pass is Out of Service. Its a shame. It is open from Pueblo to Park Dale. Canyon City Royal Gourge (CCRG) runs a passenger train 3 times a day during the summer through the Royal Gourge. UP sold them the track from Canyon City to ParkDale but we still dispatch it. One of the reasons UP closed the Pass was they didn't like keeping the Helper power at Minturn. I don't have time to say much more at this time however I will come back to this because this is one of "my" territories.



We dont have to use retainers until certain conditions exhist. I'll explain later. But yes Tenn Pass you had to use retainers, some nasty "runaways" happend up there. I beleive Tenn Pass was the highest elevation for a railroad. Up around 10,000feet.

 

[BFaoro]

fight

Well, the Canon City Gorge Railway is now having a legal fight with another railway called Rock-N-Rail. It seems that the Rock-N-Rail company will make the passenger train sit for a long time before they will take a side track. CCGR is accusing them that they are trying to put them out of business! The engines they have aren't even close to the size you have pictured, in fact I seen one of the Rock-N-Rail engines this morning, they are SMall

 

[KatDiesel]

Funny thing is they are in a 50/50 Partnership. They made a company called RGX which is 50% Rock N Rail and 50% CCRG.



But yes I know they don't like each other I am in the middle of it everytime I work position #80 (dispatches that area). Also handles Grand Juntion down to three coal mines (North Fork Sub), and then Grand Junction to Dotsero (middle of Colorado) Glenwood Springs sub. Then whats left of the Tenn Pass Sub. From Parkdale to Minturn Track out of service, and rotting away.



Last Dec Rock N Rail did block the passenger train with a truck, but there was nuthing we could do about it (here in Omaha) by the rules. The only person that can remove a red flag is en employee of the same craft. SO the train couldn't go anywhere.



Rock N Rail is a big pain in the butt, the crews do some stupid things from time to time. And no their locomotives are not new or big. They are a small time railroad, They only run from Pueblo to Parkdale, and the rock quarry. They are a short line railroad so they only have so many locomotives.

Couple days ago they let a "Dead" unit roll away... ..... rolled all the way from Portland to Swallows!!! I wasn't at work that night so I jsut heard about it.



RR 401 RR201 RR 301 LLPX2222 are the main 4 they use. Last time I had them out their they had a BNSF unit.



So I know all about the Rock N Rail VS CCRG... ... ... TRUST me



Where in Colorado are you? Sorry for the lack of information, I been sick since last saturday and going to work (except last sunday night). Soon as I am not sick I'll flood ya with information... like I said this is one of "my" territories! Hehe

 

[BFaoro]

Runaway

Thanks Kat !!

Well last night in the paper there was an article that R&R is going to be investigated by a Federal rail person. The paper also states that they had two, as they put it, " runaway trains". The one you mention said it went 10 miles before it stopped. R&R is also arguing with the Portland Cement plant, the cement plant has a little vehicle that moves the cement cars around, R&R said that they can't do that on their rails. The rails are within the cement plant, and they load at odd times. The plant said bite me, we are moving them. That arguement may be done with allthe new issues coming up with the Touron train.



Their engines are real small , they painted them canary yellow and in black letters painted ,"Rock -n- Rail," on the side. This morning I seen an old rusty engine sitting there, it looks means how well something runs then they are in trouble , it looks bad ! RR301 was sitting just ahead of the old one, the old one didn't have any numbers that a person could read.



I live just below the cement plant. They just stuck 200 million in the cement plant. It is supposed to be state of the art ! They also put all new heavy equipment in the pit. Cat loaders,(992) 125 ton dumps, blade, D9 dozer, and a Leberher shovel. Pretty impressive.

 

[KatDiesel]

I don't know the years of these (they are kinda old tho)



RR401 - GP30U 2500hp

RR301 - GP30U 2500hp

RR201 - GP30U 2500hp

LLPX2222 - GP38AC 2000hp



BNSF4253 - B23-7 2250hp (they used this last night).



Couple weeks ago they stalled at Canyon City and had to take half their train to Parkdale, come back and get the other half.



Going to bed now (I work that job Friday and Saturday nights).

 

[PZicha]

Train Simulator

EDMDIESEL... . Microsoft just came out with a game/simulator called Train Simulator,I think you would get a kick out of,I was at a friends today who just bought it and I was stunned at the realism and the graphics. You get to operate all sorts of locamotives and the scenery going by was also cool... there was a point where a car pulled up to the intersection when we drove by. . PS Your engine pictures are cool,Trains have fascinated me since I was a kid

 

[Doc Tinker]

PZicha,



I saw that simulator advertised in the paper today. I was going to post about it but forgot. I think I'll get it. Sounds cool.



Doc

 

[KatDiesel]

Re: Train Simulator

Originally posted by PZicha

EDMDIESEL... . Microsoft just came out with a game/simulator called Train Simulator,I think you would get a kick out of,I was at a friends today who just bought it and I was stunned at the realism and the graphics. You get to operate all sorts of locamotives and the scenery going by was also cool... there was a point where a car pulled up to the intersection when we drove by... . Peter

The game is ok. EMD wouldn't like it because he handles the real thing. The only EMD loco in the game is a GP38. The other modern diesel is the Dash 9 which is a GE C44AC, Both BNSF road symbols. You do get to operate some steam enines and some electrical locos. and the new Amtrak. I just don't think he would enjoy the diesel part of it, I know I am disappointed. Its close to being realistic. . but I would change alot of things on it.....



UP turned Mircosoft down for using their tracks and symbol because they were afraid people would learn how to operate locomotives. So everyone will jsut learn on a BNSF loco and hop on a UP one and have at it. LOL



So yes the game is pretty good for people not "on" the railrod. Do I regret buying it? no not really..... I spend some time on it... leaving cars in crossovers etc... . seeing if I can get my train to runaway down a hill... lol My favorite is to play a steamer then cutaway from the train. . drive down the tracks..... then reverse... . full steam! LOL



I got my gp38 upto 110mph this morning exploring the territory... .

 

[EMDDIESEL]

I have the game too (If it has to do with trains, i usually buy it) its pretty cool, and fairly realistic.

The apperance of the controls is 99% accurate, the only 2 things that are not right are the computer screens on the DASH9. on the real thing they give you a lot more info but the display images you do see are pretty much identical. The other is you cant "Bail off" the same way you do on a real Loco. Another thing that bugged me is there are no EOT controls for the "End of train device" which is the 90's caboose.

The Acela train is the only one i can tell is perfect, i have rode the Acela cabs many times while Deadheading (traveling back to my terminal) and have run them a few times thanks to nice Amtrak engineers. They are just like you see minus a few minor details. As realistic as the game is, there is still more you need to know to move a train. But it is a definite start for anyone interested. Of course, the game can never duplicate how a train "Feels". That is how you run a train, you have to know whats happeneing by feel of the slack in the train and the grade you are on. A computer can never duplicate that.

To make training crews easy, both EMD's and GE's have controls setup the same way. In other words, no matter what brand of Locomotive you are operating, all the switches are in the same places as are the brake handles, throttle and gauges. It only differs between conventional cabs and "Wide bodies" as the newer style cabs are called. But EMD's and GE's wide bodies and conventional cabs have everything in the same location. Whether you are in a 1970 EMD or a 1999 GE everything is the same, just more modern.

There are ceratain switches every locomotive has that need to be set a certain way before you can get the locomotive to move. The game does not have them and i wont write them here either in case any "Delinquets" are reading the TDR. What you dont know wont hurt you, LITERALLY!. Thats how we are able to leave locomotives sitting idleing unnatended and nobody ever "Steals" them, although it has happened. I let railfans sit in the seat and show them what the controls do, but i dont tell them how to start moving.

So yes, i play with the train simulator and in my opinion (being an engineer) i think it is a very accurate game. Aside from what i mentioned above, the only other thing it is missing is the toilet smell, broken AC, filth, vibration, shaking and fear of hitting a gasoline tanker.

 

[Dkevdog]

I wonder if Jardine makes an exhaust kit for that yet?!?!

 

[B9Mile]

DDA40X.jpg

Here is another picture of a DDA40X chewing up the miles.



Lots of RR info can be founde here:



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