Working rail roads and their tracks.

[kenmbz]

3-train catastrophe in India today.

80 mph passenger express mistakenly got shunted into the back of a stopped freight train. Its cars accordioned and hit an oncoming passenger express.

10 images of the devastation following a 3-train crash in India that killed nearly 300 passengers

Nearly 300 people died, and hundreds were injured in a colossal train pile-up in India. Here are some of the first images of the horrific incident.

www.businessinsider.com

Sad stuff, they have accidents there all the time with overpacked trains.

I took the commuter trains around Mumbai during a holiday so they were pretty empty. I would say most of the cars were Ferric Oxide, bars instead of windows and metal seats. I did not sit down as the floors had plenty of crawling things.
But it did only cost 3 cents for the ride to my friends house.

 

[California]

Sad stuff, they have accidents there all the time with overpacked trains.
...would say most of the cars were Ferric Oxide, bars instead of windows and metal seats. I did not sit down as the floors had plenty of crawling things.
But it did only cost 3 cents for the ride to my friends house.

When daughter did her semester abroad in New Delhi we visited, and took a first-class sleeper train from New Delhi down to Varanasi. It was a little unnerving to board in the crowded main station where dozens had died a couple of weeks earlier, crushed in a stampede as crowds left the city for holiday.

The train was decent but a couple of times a whole family was dumped on us, having been sold tickets for their reserved seats elsewhere that wouldn't be vacant until after a couple more stops.

 

[Hay Dude]

Especially the child labor and the company towns

Yeah, but we evolved, they devolved.

 

[California]

Yeah, but we evolved, they devolved.

Yeah but - they're starting from 100 year newer technology than some of those American photos.

So they may have lower costs from more efficient production, in addition to their lower wages. (which probably aren't a major cost element anyhow).

 

[MossRoad]

Per capita, each US citizen produces 6 times the value in GDP as each Chinese citizen. We're still doing something right.

How about those railroads?

 

[California]

Per capita, each US citizen produces 6 times the value in GDP as each Chinese citizen. We're still doing something right.

How about those railroads?

That statistic reflects the large population still in subsistence rural ag.

But don't ignore the part of the economy in China that is developing, fast. It's a different world.

See a Google search on 'high speed rail in China'. More high speed miles of routes now compared to all other countries combined. (and only a single HS line in the US). This has largely obsoleted short to intermediate airline travel there.

All built in the last couple of decades.

 

[BravoXray]

Video of operations at NS's Elkhart, IN yard, NS's second largest yard.

 

[MossRoad]

Video of operations at NS's Elkhart, IN yard, NS's second largest yard.

Nice! I spent a lot of time across the street from there. I watched it in fast motion but will go back and watch the whole thing later tonight.

I saw the slug!

 

[California]

Nice! I spent a lot of time across the street from there. I watched it in fast motion but will go back and watch the whole thing later tonight.

I saw the slug!

What's a RR slug?

 

[bcp]

Slug (railroad) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Bruce

 

[MossRoad]

What's a RR slug?

No engine. Just traction motors and weight. Has to be paired with a locomotive. Gets its electric supply from the paired loco.

Slug (railroad) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[MossRoad]

There's a good view of one at about 4:47 in the video...

(click to enlarge)

 

[BravoXray]

There's a good view of one at about 4:47 in the video...

(click to enlarge)

View attachment 804126

I've seen them working that slug quite often when I go by the yard.

 

[Hay Dude]

I just looked up the link to “slug” and scrolled dow a bit to see this picture

That rail yard is about 15 miles from me near Crozer/Chester Hospital and Weidner University.

 

[California]

Thanks everybody. Never heard of a Slug before this.

That makes sense. Horsepower is needed top-end for speed, but added torque and traction are what's needed to get a heavy train started moving, ie this switchyard application.

 

[MossRoad]

Got to watch the whole thing...

There's at least 3 of them in the video.


868


858 & 859


I remember when it was a Conrail yard. There were many more of them back then.

 

[bcp]

Big Boy No. 4014’s Schedule | Union Pacific

Union Pacific connects 23 western U.S. states, providing safe and efficient railroad transportation, freight shipping and logistics.

www.up.com

Route:

https://www.up.com/cs/groups/public/@uprr/@corprel/documents/digitalmedia/img_up_steam_2023_steam_map.jpg

Bruce

 

[ArlyA]

This is a rail and sail combo I never expected to get after Elevator A along Duluth's MN waterfront was shuttered after the 2013 shipping season. Hansen-Mueller reopened it last year and today they welcomed the first vessel to load there (Maxima loading beet pulp pellets). In the foreground are Riverland AG's ex-Cargill SW1 and their GE centercab. They also use a red former MKT SW1200. Duluth, MN - June 5, 2023. Years ago, I worked on a similar engine seen on the right. This was also posted in the great lake shipping thread.

 

[MossRoad]

There's a little switcher located at a farm service supply center/grain elevator about 8 miles west of me that looks similar. It's usually parked in an area that I can't get close enough to take photos. It's similar to that but I think the cab is not exactly in the center.

There's also an engine that's been sitting on a siding at a grain elevator in La Paz, IN about 16 miles south of me for at least 20 years. I think Conagra owns it. Google street views shows it sitting with the doors open. Used to be a train station at that location. I went with my folks to pick up my cousin there back in the 60s.

 

[bcp]

There's a little switcher located at a farm service supply center/grain elevator about 8 miles west of me that looks similar. It's usually parked in an area that I can't get close enough to take photos. It's similar to that but I think the cab is not exactly in the center.

Maybe this for the centercab?

GAVILON 1

GAVILON 1 Gavilon Grain uses this un-numbered GE 65-tonner at their facility near Plainfield, IN. She was originally USAX 1665.

www.rrpicturearchives.net

There's also an engine that's been sitting on a siding at a grain elevator in La Paz, IN about 16 miles south of me for at least 20 years. I think Conagra owns it.

And the one in La Paz, maybe.

Pictures of CRGX 6990

Pictures of CRGX 6990, Model: SD40-2

www.rrpicturearchives.net

Bruce