The train thread

Message boards : Cafe SETI : The train thread
Message board moderation

To post messages, you must log in.

Previous · 1 . . . 55 · 56 · 57 · 58 · 59 · 60 · 61 . . . 75 · Next

AuthorMessage
Profile Bernie Vine
Volunteer moderator
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 26 May 99
Posts: 9954
Credit: 103,452,613
RAC: 328
United Kingdom
Message 1685579 - Posted: 29 May 2015, 12:18:26 UTC
Last modified: 29 May 2015, 12:20:45 UTC

If you mean plans



This is quite up to date and is typical of US locos.

Different manufacturers and models of course differ, but the basic layout is the same for most diesel/electric locos the world over.

Large diesel engine drives a generator, which supplies power to traction motors connected to the wheels.

Obviously you have oil filters, air compressors, dynamic breaking blowers etc..

And if you look closely even a toilet.
ID: 1685579 · Report as offensive
Profile zoom3+1=4
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 30 Nov 03
Posts: 65709
Credit: 55,293,173
RAC: 49
United States
Message 1685617 - Posted: 29 May 2015, 15:06:31 UTC - in response to Message 1685609.  

Just what I wanted , thanks. So an Engineman, Brakeman and a toilet in the cab. Any beer in the fridge?

I doubt there is any beer onboard, today I think there is only an Engineer and maybe a Conductor on a US freight train, I think.
The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's
ID: 1685617 · Report as offensive
Sirius B Project Donor
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 26 Dec 00
Posts: 24877
Credit: 3,081,182
RAC: 7
Ireland
Message 1686015 - Posted: 30 May 2015, 11:56:26 UTC

Interesting report on UK/European Rail travel.

Direct train to Europe

London - Cologne/Frankfurt looks good if Deutsche Bahn get their rolling stock. With the new Eurostar stock entering service which will be compatible with Dutch systems, London - Amsterdam will be the first on my list in 2017. :-)
ID: 1686015 · Report as offensive
Richard Haselgrove Project Donor
Volunteer tester

Send message
Joined: 4 Jul 99
Posts: 14649
Credit: 200,643,578
RAC: 874
United Kingdom
Message 1686024 - Posted: 30 May 2015, 13:32:05 UTC - in response to Message 1686015.  

Interesting report on UK/European Rail travel.

Direct train to Europe

London - Cologne/Frankfurt looks good if Deutsche Bahn get their rolling stock. With the new Eurostar stock entering service which will be compatible with Dutch systems, London - Amsterdam will be the first on my list in 2017. :-)

London - Marseille sounds like a lovely run. I've done it from Paris (and CDG airport to Avignon) - even better if you get a double-deck TGV and ensconce yourself in the upper deck bar.

But it is wrong to call it a UK/Europe service. It's from London only, so England/Europe at most. We're still waiting for direct services from the north and west - and I'm not sure that even HS2 will provide them.
ID: 1686024 · Report as offensive
Richard Haselgrove Project Donor
Volunteer tester

Send message
Joined: 4 Jul 99
Posts: 14649
Credit: 200,643,578
RAC: 874
United Kingdom
Message 1686059 - Posted: 30 May 2015, 15:54:35 UTC - in response to Message 1686032.  

even better if you get a double-deck TGV and ensconce yourself in the upper deck bar.

Now, that scenario is something I could really get into. Might just do it one day too, when finances are in place.

But it is wrong to call it a UK/Europe service. It's from London only, so England/Europe at most. We're still waiting for direct services from the north and west - and I'm not sure that even HS2 will provide them.

Construction of the first phase of HS2, between London Euston and the proposed new Birmingham Curzon Street station, is set to begin in 2017 with an indicated opening date of 2026.

Phase two will create two branch lines: a western section to Manchester Piccadilly, and an eastern section to the proposed Leeds New Lane station via the East Midlands, and is expected in 2033. There may yet be a phase 3 to Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Newcastle.

Whatever, from your neck of the woods Richard, we are talking 18 years, and even then I expect you will change in London.


You'll need a larger scale map than that, Chris - the problem is 700 metres in Camden.

Evening Standard 22 April 2014

Boris Johnson has called for a giant tunnel to be built under Camden to replace the abandoned link between High Speed 1 and the proposed High Speed 2 railways.

... the Government pulled the plug on a £700 million overground Euston to St Pancras railway linking the High Speed line from the North to Europe.

... the Secretary of State asked HS2 Ltd and Network Rail for advice on ways to improve connections to the continent. The Mayor’s views will be taken into account in this context.

Volterra report to Camden council (pdf)

HS1 - HS2 overground map (pdf)

I still think it would be better to build a burrowing junction at Finsbury Park first, to link the ECML to HS1.
ID: 1686059 · Report as offensive
Profile Bernie Vine
Volunteer moderator
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 26 May 99
Posts: 9954
Credit: 103,452,613
RAC: 328
United Kingdom
Message 1686329 - Posted: 31 May 2015, 17:13:19 UTC
Last modified: 31 May 2015, 17:22:07 UTC

Continuing the story 0f 611.

Yesterday it left The NC Transportation Museum at Spencer to return "home" to Roanoke and the Virginia Museum of Transportation a journey of about 130 miles

Trains magazine had their mobile camera at several points.

Here leaving the museum about to join the mainline.



Here passing Lexington NC



Passing near Jamestown NC



And here at Villamont VA with the Blue Ridge mountains in the background and nearly home.



Unfortunately they were unable to get a shot of 611 arriving at Roanoke.

Today 611 was joined by Class Y6a NW 2156 and Class A NW 1218



All three built at the NW workshop at Roanoke VA

Unfortunately 611 is the only one currently able to steam.
ID: 1686329 · Report as offensive
David S
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 4 Oct 99
Posts: 18352
Credit: 27,761,924
RAC: 12
United States
Message 1686694 - Posted: 1 Jun 2015, 18:04:50 UTC

Amtrak 6 today has the original California Zephyr dome observation Silver Solarium on the rear end.

Departed Galesburg at 12:16, so if I could go out to look at it here at Naperville, I'd plan to be there by 2:10 (I always assume 2 hours, but once in a while that assumption bites me in the tuckus, so I try to be a few minutes ahead of that). Then probably another 30 or so to Chicago.
David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

ID: 1686694 · Report as offensive
David S
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 4 Oct 99
Posts: 18352
Credit: 27,761,924
RAC: 12
United States
Message 1686727 - Posted: 1 Jun 2015, 20:34:29 UTC - in response to Message 1685617.  

Just what I wanted , thanks. So an Engineman, Brakeman and a toilet in the cab. Any beer in the fridge?

I doubt there is any beer onboard, today I think there is only an Engineer and maybe a Conductor on a US freight train, I think.

The diagram should really say "conductor's desk."

The toilet is actually down in the nose, on the level of the frame, whereas the cab is a few steps up.

Beer in the fridge would be an FRA violation that not even the unions would work very hard to get them excused from.

The cab picture is what they looked like in the 1970s-80s. Newer ones have computer screens in place of many of the gauges. They display the same information as the gauges and much more.
David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

ID: 1686727 · Report as offensive
Profile Bernie Vine
Volunteer moderator
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 26 May 99
Posts: 9954
Credit: 103,452,613
RAC: 328
United Kingdom
Message 1686755 - Posted: 1 Jun 2015, 22:47:37 UTC

Well I was out when it arrived and I had my recorder set to "medium quality" so not a good pic.

But if you wait long enough it turns on the wye!!




It is owned by Rail Journeys West

This is from the history page

The Silver Solarium was built by the Budd Company in 1948 as one of the original six vista dome observation sleeping cars for the famed California Zephyr which was inaugurated on March 20, 1949. In the Zephyr consist the car carried the designation as CZ-10.

Built to Plan Number 9511 the Solarium had an operating weight of 159,250 pounds (almost 80 tons). As built, the car contained lounge space for 50 and overnight space in 3 double bedrooms and a single drawing room that contained the only shower facility on the train (showers on trains were not expected in 1948!)

The car was one of three cars assigned to the Chicago Burlington and Quincy Railroad (CB&Q) share of the pool of equipment for the California Zephyr that operated through March 1970. The car carried CB&Q 377 as for accounting purposes. The Silver Solarium later served the CB&Q and later Burlington Northern on various routes until ownership was transferred to Amtrak in 1971. Amtrak renumbered the car as Amtrak 9252 and retained the name.


The car served Amtrak patrons throughout the country until being retired in April 1978 with over 7 million miles. Amtrak sold the Silver Solarium in November 1985 to a private individual who restored the car for private charter service.

Today, the Silver Solarium is the only one of the original California Zephyr vista dome observation cars in private charter service. The car was acquired in June 2002 by Rail Journeys West, Inc.

From August 2002 through November 2002, the car was selected by use by the American Orient Express for use as the rear end car on the AOE II train. The Silver Solarium carries Amtrak private car number 800333.

ID: 1686755 · Report as offensive
David S
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 4 Oct 99
Posts: 18352
Credit: 27,761,924
RAC: 12
United States
Message 1687554 - Posted: 4 Jun 2015, 3:05:38 UTC - in response to Message 1686755.  

Well I was out when it arrived and I had my recorder set to "medium quality" so not a good pic.

But if you wait long enough it turns on the wye!!




It is owned by Rail Journeys West

This is from the history page

The Silver Solarium was built by the Budd Company in 1948 as one of the original six vista dome observation sleeping cars for the famed California Zephyr which was inaugurated on March 20, 1949. In the Zephyr consist the car carried the designation as CZ-10.

Built to Plan Number 9511 the Solarium had an operating weight of 159,250 pounds (almost 80 tons). As built, the car contained lounge space for 50 and overnight space in 3 double bedrooms and a single drawing room that contained the only shower facility on the train (showers on trains were not expected in 1948!)

The car was one of three cars assigned to the Chicago Burlington and Quincy Railroad (CB&Q) share of the pool of equipment for the California Zephyr that operated through March 1970. The car carried CB&Q 377 as for accounting purposes. The Silver Solarium later served the CB&Q and later Burlington Northern on various routes until ownership was transferred to Amtrak in 1971. Amtrak renumbered the car as Amtrak 9252 and retained the name.


The car served Amtrak patrons throughout the country until being retired in April 1978 with over 7 million miles. Amtrak sold the Silver Solarium in November 1985 to a private individual who restored the car for private charter service.

Today, the Silver Solarium is the only one of the original California Zephyr vista dome observation cars in private charter service. The car was acquired in June 2002 by Rail Journeys West, Inc.

From August 2002 through November 2002, the car was selected by use by the American Orient Express for use as the rear end car on the AOE II train. The Silver Solarium carries Amtrak private car number 800333.

The other CZ observation cars:

CB&Q 375 Silver Horizon -- now the Amtrak station at Maricopa (Phoenix), AZ
CB&Q 376 Silver Penthouse -- sat behind Amtrak's Beech Grove shops for years until BNSF bought it back and moved it to their headquarters in Ft. Worth, TX... where they completely gutted it, cut new doors in the side, and installed a level floor the length of the car; the dome is now a skylight over a conference table, and the car is named Prairie View
CB&Q 378 Silver Lookout -- the extra car built in 1952 (plan 9533), its interior burned and was redone in a modern scheme, carries Amtrak number 800282
D&RGW 1145 Silver Sky -- kept by Rio Grande when Amtrak started, used on the Rio Grande Zephyr until they joined Amtrak in 1983; sold to Via Rail Canada as an extra Park car (CP's Park cars were copies of the CZ cars); last report in my notes says it has number 800711 and is gutted and windowless in either Montreal or Saginaw, MI
WP 881 Silver Crescent -- now at Gold Coast Railway Museum, Miami, FL (the closest one to original condition, although it was damaged in a hurricane several years ago), 800293
WP 882 Silver Planet -- at last report, still in Mexico after being sold to a Mexican railroad

I think I was aboard Solarium once, long ago. I may have also climbed onto Penthouse when it was languishing at Beech Grove.

The one I have in my HO scale set is Penthouse.
David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

ID: 1687554 · Report as offensive
Profile Bernie Vine
Volunteer moderator
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 26 May 99
Posts: 9954
Credit: 103,452,613
RAC: 328
United Kingdom
Message 1687821 - Posted: 4 Jun 2015, 19:14:44 UTC
Last modified: 4 Jun 2015, 19:21:12 UTC

Well today has been a good day for "odd items"

Firstly it seems Chesterton got it's "vegetation controlled"

You can just see the sprays at the rear.



Also the 49 today had PV on, in fact the California Zephyr car Silver Solarium, however in a strange position, right behind the locos.



Not going to get a good view there!!

Unfortunatey the camera at Chicago is playing up so I was lucky to get this, they came over the airline, but I missed it with the camera in a "replay" only mode had to wait till they came along the wye.



I can say I have never seen those cars before, Metra Electrics I presume.

Also never seen the switcher before.

Topically with my recent post about the Norfolk and Western 611 being back in stream

Here is Norfolk and Southern 8103 "heritage loco" at Chesterton today.



Have to admit 611 looked better :-)
ID: 1687821 · Report as offensive
Profile Gary Charpentier Crowdfunding Project Donor*Special Project $75 donorSpecial Project $250 donor
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 25 Dec 00
Posts: 30608
Credit: 53,134,872
RAC: 32
United States
Message 1687870 - Posted: 4 Jun 2015, 22:35:33 UTC - in response to Message 1687821.  

Well today has been a good day for "odd items"

Firstly it seems Chesterton got it's "vegetation controlled"

You can just see the sprays at the rear.


Interesting. Note that the grade crossing arms are up. Even if it has passed the control point, I doubt that the crossing arms come up that fast. That would mean the equipment isn't enough to operate the track sensors.
ID: 1687870 · Report as offensive
Profile Bernie Vine
Volunteer moderator
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 26 May 99
Posts: 9954
Credit: 103,452,613
RAC: 328
United Kingdom
Message 1687874 - Posted: 4 Jun 2015, 22:58:24 UTC - in response to Message 1687870.  

Well today has been a good day for "odd items"

Firstly it seems Chesterton got it's "vegetation controlled"

You can just see the sprays at the rear.


Interesting. Note that the grade crossing arms are up. Even if it has passed the control point, I doubt that the crossing arms come up that fast. That would mean the equipment isn't enough to operate the track sensors.


Yes you are correct I have a video of it passing in both directions and it did not cause the crossing to operate, it just kept using the horn and slowed at the actual crossing.

As you can see a car came along and stopped even though it had passed.

I often see the road/rail pickups used by maintenance crews and they never set off the crossing either.

As I have said before would not be allowed in the UK, but it's a different country and different rules apply.
ID: 1687874 · Report as offensive
Profile Bill Walker
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 4 Sep 99
Posts: 3868
Credit: 2,697,267
RAC: 0
Canada
Message 1688079 - Posted: 5 Jun 2015, 12:30:13 UTC
Last modified: 5 Jun 2015, 12:34:00 UTC

It is quite common in Canada for hi-rail trucks to not trip crossing alarms. I always figured this was for two reasons: one - these trucks often stop near the crossing to work on signals (or to go for donuts), and you wouldn't want the gates down and bells ringing for all that time; second, these trucks can easily stop on the tracks, which makes a hi-rail truck crossing a road no more risky than any other uncontrolled intersection. And we have lots of those in rural Canada.



ID: 1688079 · Report as offensive
Profile The Simonator
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 18 Nov 04
Posts: 5700
Credit: 3,855,702
RAC: 50
United Kingdom
Message 1688087 - Posted: 5 Jun 2015, 13:00:35 UTC - in response to Message 1688079.  

It is quite common in Canada for hi-rail trucks to not trip crossing alarms. I always figured this was for two reasons: one - these trucks often stop near the crossing to work on signals (or to go for donuts), and you wouldn't want the gates down and bells ringing for all that time; second, these trucks can easily stop on the tracks, which makes a hi-rail truck crossing a road no more risky than any other uncontrolled intersection. And we have lots of those in rural Canada.


That's an intriguing vehicle.
Is it still propelled by the main driving wheels?
Life on earth is the global equivalent of not storing things in the fridge.
ID: 1688087 · Report as offensive
Profile Bernie Vine
Volunteer moderator
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 26 May 99
Posts: 9954
Credit: 103,452,613
RAC: 328
United Kingdom
Message 1688091 - Posted: 5 Jun 2015, 13:12:31 UTC

Is it still propelled by the main driving wheels?


In most cases yes, the road wheels make contact with and therefore drive the rail wheels.

Since looking at the USA web cams you see these things everyday, all regular maintenance seems to be carried out using them and larger trucks converted in a similar way.
ID: 1688091 · Report as offensive
Profile zoom3+1=4
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 30 Nov 03
Posts: 65709
Credit: 55,293,173
RAC: 49
United States
Message 1688100 - Posted: 5 Jun 2015, 13:35:23 UTC

Then there is this that had to be pushed, no gasoline in the 1880's..

The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's
ID: 1688100 · Report as offensive
Profile The Simonator
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 18 Nov 04
Posts: 5700
Credit: 3,855,702
RAC: 50
United Kingdom
Message 1688111 - Posted: 5 Jun 2015, 14:01:17 UTC - in response to Message 1688100.  

Then there is this that had to be pushed, no gasoline in the 1880's..

(Off topic)
One thing about that scene nagged me. The San Andreas fault moves about 35 mm per year, so in one century the bridge would have moved 3.5 metres and Marty would have materialised in thin air next to it.
Life on earth is the global equivalent of not storing things in the fridge.
ID: 1688111 · Report as offensive
Profile zoom3+1=4
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 30 Nov 03
Posts: 65709
Credit: 55,293,173
RAC: 49
United States
Message 1688127 - Posted: 5 Jun 2015, 14:34:58 UTC - in response to Message 1688111.  

Then there is this that had to be pushed, no gasoline in the 1880's..

(Off topic)
One thing about that scene nagged me. The San Andreas fault moves about 35 mm per year, so in one century the bridge would have moved 3.5 meters and Marty would have materialised in thin air next to it.

Who says this was supposed to be in California?
The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's
ID: 1688127 · Report as offensive
Profile The Simonator
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 18 Nov 04
Posts: 5700
Credit: 3,855,702
RAC: 50
United Kingdom
Message 1688133 - Posted: 5 Jun 2015, 15:07:45 UTC - in response to Message 1688127.  

Then there is this that had to be pushed, no gasoline in the 1880's..

(Off topic)
One thing about that scene nagged me. The San Andreas fault moves about 35 mm per year, so in one century the bridge would have moved 3.5 meters and Marty would have materialised in thin air next to it.

Who says this was supposed to be in California?

Because it's set in California...
Life on earth is the global equivalent of not storing things in the fridge.
ID: 1688133 · Report as offensive
Previous · 1 . . . 55 · 56 · 57 · 58 · 59 · 60 · 61 . . . 75 · Next

Message boards : Cafe SETI : The train thread


 
©2024 University of California
 
SETI@home and Astropulse are funded by grants from the National Science Foundation, NASA, and donations from SETI@home volunteers. AstroPulse is funded in part by the NSF through grant AST-0307956.