Locomotive engine

[EMDDIESEL]

Trainorders is a good site, but joining it is a nightmare, you cant post till he recives a check from you, and even then, it still takes a while. I dont post there, just read. Its like a gossip house for RR activity

 

[Doc Tinker]

Good thinking, EMDDIESEL, on not telling us about the switches. We're just a big bunch of overgrown juvenile deliquents here and someone would just HAVE to try out their new found knowledge.

 

[KatDiesel]

Originally posted by 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.

No DPU trains, no helpers... ..... no knuckles, no drawbars (as far as I can tell in the game). The game makes it seem alot easier then it is in the real world. No EOT as you mentioned (called FRED alot), no button to ring the dispatcher LOL although you hit "TAB" to request by a stop signal. Not sure if locomotives "fail" in the game or not yet at least.



All in all its a decent game I am just upset the fact of limited locomotive choices. Would like more then a GP38 and Dash 9 to play with, as well as some more Steamers. BigBoy, Challenger, SP's Cab forwards, GP9, SW1500, lil bit of everything... ... .....

 

[KatDiesel]

Was just playing... ..... I saw some slack action..... and I noticed you do have "helpers". I had 4 Dash 9's (3 on head end and 1 on rear) of a 20 Car intermodel train... thats absurd!!!!! LOL But when you cut away the rear loco it stops... ... was hoping I could get it to follow me... ... ... ... .



Hehe...

 

[Doc Tinker]

OH NO! Kat is learning to control trains in a Microsoft game! Soon he will get mixed up and have real trains running toward each other on the same track! Glad I don't live in Kat territory!







Doc

 

[KatDiesel]

Originally posted by Doc Tinker

OH NO! Kat is learning to control trains in a Microsoft game! Soon he will get mixed up and have real trains running toward each other on the same track! Glad I don't live in Kat territory!

I was driving locomotives when I was a baby, my mom would carry me down to meet my dad a couple miles out of town, then would ride, drive the locomotive into the yard.....



And I run trains at each other all day long I only got one track... ... ... ... ... ... ... not much room between the canyon wall and the river in CO for two tracks



Single mainline with sidings is what I use.

 

[DieselDoghouse]

I assume I gotta change the front springs and the radiator when I drop that 710 in the Dodge??

 

[Jakebud]

EMD LOCOS

EMD



Couldn't help but notice that you are a great fan of EMD's products. I like your thinking, however I have a brother that disagrees with you. He too is an engineer for CSX, in Cumberland, MD. Runs there to Newcastle, PA. He loves the GEs, particularly the AC6000s. As for myself, I like the two stroke EMDs. Why, sound more like the powerplants on my ride. I fly the E-4 in the Air Force. Powered by four magnificent GE CF6-50E2s. Used to fly the B-1B, also GE powered, but that doesn't make their locos my favorite!!



SPIKE

 

[wxman]

Re: EMD LOCOS

Originally posted by Jakebud

... As for myself, I like the two stroke EMDs...

I agree. I especially like to hear the non-turbocharged EMDs (e. g. , GP38-2s) pulling a hill. I don't think they're probably the favorite of the dispatchers though (relatively low power), right Kat?



By the way, according to this, EMD is testing a 12 cylinder/4500 hp version of the "H" engine in a "SD89MAC".

 

[EMDDIESEL]

Hey Jakebud, i go to Cumberland pretty frequently, i may know your brother, emaill me when you get the chance. I too like the AC6000's (CSX does not have any SD90MAC's) they ride decent and do have alot of pulling power and good Dynamic brakes. But they dont accelerate any where near as fast as the SD60M/I's. Cumberland to New Castle has some decent grades that would be erfect for an AC6000. I am mostly running North from Philly where it relitivley flat and therefore i like faster acceleration over more pulling power. The easeist train we have is the Q173 which goes from South Kearny to Miami. Every night it ALWAYS has two AC6000's. I get on in South Kearny and take it to Philly. Its usually only about 4,000 tons so we have PLENTY of power. With those two AC6000's the train is simple to run, never have to use the air, just Dynamic brakes. But i would still take a pair of SD50's or SD60's over a GE any day.

 

[Jakebud]

Locos

EMD



Sent you an email through the site link. Hope that works, if not try me at -- email address removed --



SPIKE

 

[JTCHess]

Hey EMD, I'm originally from Erie, Pennsylvania, home of GE locomotive. You mentioned that EMD's are a better locomotive then GE. How does that explain GE dominance in the locomotive market once controled by EMD? Are they really more reliable or do they just ride better for the operators hence the preference?From what I have read, the SD90 almost put EMD out of business due to it's unreliability, much like the C636/M636 did to Alco/Bombardier. Reference loading, I understand that nothing comes close to loading as fast as the old Alcos. In fact the British Columbia railway rebuilt their two C420s at the request of their yard crews due to their quick loading. Just some interesting trivia.



John

 

[EMDDIESEL]

The ONLY reason GE beat EMD in the locomotive sales market was there ability to deliver units faster due to a larger facillity. that is not opinion, that is fact.

When Locomotive sales dropped in the late 80's, EMD moved all its assembly to London Ontario and shut the La Grange plant down. The only thing LaGrange builds now is Prime Movers and electric cabinets in a small facility there. Then when buissness picked up in the 90's, they were at less then half capacity. Railroads needed power NOW. GE was able to deliver them faster since they had the plant in Erie. EMD has since farmed out assembly to Super Steel Schenetedy and a plant in Mexico to meet demand.

Its just like if you need a truck immediatley and want a Ram, but they say, you will have to wait 14 weeks, so you go to Ford and tey say you can have one in 7 weeks. THATS how GE beat them in the market, i can honestly say this based on FACT.

I dont know where you go the info that EMD almost went Bankrupt with the SD90MAC. That is comleteley false. Both the AC6000 and the SD90MAC both had "teething" problems when they were built, GE had to recall AC6000's due to Turbo problems. I saw a CSX AC6000 with the hood doors blown off from a turbo explosion. I was also left dead in the water with a pair of AC4400's that blew contactor relays. GE's all use a German designed engine, EMD's all use there own design of an engine. First generation GE's are well known to be the WORST locomotives in use today. Horrible loading, harsh ride, poor visiblity and bad Dynamic brakes. They are always breaking down and on CSX are mainly used as trailing units whenever possible. They load so slow they cant even be used in yard service.

The AC4400's and AC6000's are much better. But still have there problems.

EMD was the first to bring AC technology out, the first Radial Trucks, the most powerful Diesel Locomotive ever built and the 2 largest single locomotive orders in history, 350 SD70MAC's for BN and 1,000 SD70MAC's for UP. GE has never had an order that big and now that sales have dropped alltogether, they never will.

I understand your loyalty to GE since they are from your hometown, but as most engineers and Loco mechanics will tell you (and i am both) EMD builds a much better Prime Mover and Locomotive itself. I have worked on both mechanically and operated both running trains. Do you know what a pain it is to have a GE in a consist of EMD's, it accelerates much slower then EMD's so you are constantly being banged around. EMD is the prefffered locomotive of most engineers and the easiest to work on.

Ask around, i am not alone in this thinking, i never worked for EMD and i am not from there home town, this is from hands on expierience. I like EMD's because they are the best, not for any other reason.

 

[Evan A. Beck]

Funny how GM can build a good diesel for a locomotive, but can't make a simple V8 truck motor work worth a darn! LOL

 

[B9Mile]

Oil and Fuel

What grade of lube oil and fuel do these things use?



After reading posts at various discussion forums and an occasional acticle here and there, I haven't seen anything about this.



The book "How Diesel Locomotives Operate" from the people at this link is a good source for detailed info.



http://members.toast.net/peatent/

 

[JTCHess]

Whoa there EMD, didn't mean for you to pop any blood vessles. Just asking some questions as I am not in the RR industry. I'm sure you are absolutely correct that the reason GE grabbed 80% of the locomotive market over the past 15 years was because GM simply did not have enough capacity to "meet demand". And of course I absolutely agree with you that the reason they received a 1,000 unit order is because they build the absolute best, which explains Ford and Chevies dominance over Dodge in the number of trucks sold.

I'm going back to reality now as I really don't care to get into a pi$$ing contest about "mine is better than yours" as I beleive market numbers tell the true story.

 

[Mill Rat]

More Questions

How are these engines started? compressed air, pony engine, BIG electric starter?

Do they use field weakening to get more top speed?

By AC technology do You mean AC converted to controlled DC through SCR's or AC inverters to AC motors?

Just trying to see if locomotive drive systems are at all similar to Industrial systems.

 

[EMDDIESEL]

EMD's with the exception of the really new ones (which use pnuematic starters) all have 2 electric 32 volt starters. which operate together. (They are similar to truck starters, not very big) You prime the engine with fuel for 20 seconds, then start it. GE's use the same procedure but dont use starter motors, the main generator reverses and becomes a huge electric motor and starts the engine. Takes a little longer since it is so big.



Dont know thw answer to the Field weakening question, but as for AC, yes, they use Inverters that control the AC traction motors. EMD and GE have different setups regarding the number used, GE uses one inverter for each motor, EMD uses one inverter for each truck.

 

[EMDDIESEL]

oops, sorry i missed this one.

As for fuel, they use either #2 ir 1, depending on whats available. Oil is usually SAE30

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I assumed they used a heavier grade fuel. . . #3 or #4 oil if there is such a thing ?



The DDA40X locomotives with the twin prime movers. . . were those only built for UP in the mid-late 60s? The only one still in existence was not technically in regular service, it was primarily an excursion/PR locomotive. However that totally changed when the RR was running short on motive power and it has seen a lot of mileage over the last 3-4 years.



A couple months ago it was the lead locomotive on a freight and tangled with a loaded gravel truck in a grade crossing accident. Destroyed the truck and killed the driver and did enough damage to the engine to take it offline for a few weeks. It is back and pounding the rails again.



Vaughn