Working rail roads and their tracks.

[ArlyA]

Brady did a nice video on the derailment in Ohio when those toxic cars burned in 2023. I also think those hot-box detectors (hot bearings) should be set at a lower, safer setting.

 

[MossRoad]

From what I have read, a steam locomotive only went around 60K miles if working in mountains, a few more miles in the flats, 80K before rebuild. A heavy repair would take 6 to 7 weeks.

And yet, they'd get well over a million miles out of them over their lifetime. Amazing machines.

 

[BravoXray]

And yet, they'd get well over a million miles out of them over their lifetime. Amazing machines.

If I remember correctly, the Mesabe Iron Range Yellowstone locomotive on display in Duluth, MN had well over a million miles on it when it was retired.

 

[MossRoad]

Just saw it two weeks ago!

 

[MossRoad]

EDIT: That's the one at Two Harbors, not Duluth.

 

[MossRoad]

Note deer crossing the tracks towards that blue building.

 

[oldtimer 66]

The modern Timken locomotive journal bearing, aka GG, rolling element, will do a million miles. It is an opposed tapered roller bearing.

The problem is the wheels will not do a million miles. And when the wheels are changed, the journal bearings are removed and you cannot remount the journal bearings unless they has been requalified.

Depending upon the track conditions and truck design, the wheels can last anywhere from 250K to over 500K miles?. These are approximates. I cant remember the advertised numbers.

When I first started as an apprentice in the late 60's we were still making what is called a friction axle. It had friction, aka plain bearings for the motor suspension and friction journal bearings.

The motor suspension was a Babbitt bearing but the journal bearings were a bearing bronze, like SAE 660. Both used a felt wick to apply the oil to the load surface. These journal bearing were the ones BravoXray was referring to that were stolen.

 

[ArlyA]

Boat and rail pic.
-------------------------------
CN's day hill job R921 spots ore cars for dumping at Dock No. 6 as the Hon. James L. Oberstar loads UTAC pellets for Indiana Harbor, its first trip after being at Fraser nearly four months undergoing repairs. The new face of the Missabe, GE AC44C6Ms 3321 and 3313, provide the power. Duluth, MN - October 6, 2025