An empty coal train heading west with quite a few oil cans behind the motors and then all the empty coal cars.
Why? And used for?
And a little more complicated: the throat of our yard has one dwarf light (the old people on here will remember my dwarfs!) Of all the 6 tracks coming into the yard, only this one has a dwarf.
Why? (there must be something just beyond this light that I can’t see and of course, I am curious!)
Mook
Dwarfs? were there 7 of them? just kidding. I’m no expert but I would say it’s a cost savings measure. Mabee it was added after the others and it was a more economical buy. I know the SP used dwarfs a lot at the ends of there sidings.
That’s odd there were tanks at the head end of a coal train. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a unit coal train with any other cars mixed in. Of course we don’t get many unit coal trains in my neck of the woods.
I’m not much help here am I?
Why is it so dead in here today?
Actually, by the time I got to them, there were only 4 and they ripped them out!
It was a sad day!
This is the 2nd time I have seen a train like that. Forgot to ask the first time!
I think it is hangover Monday - I know I have work that is hanging over from last week…
[:D]
Well it’s been pretty slow at work (a rarity I’m not complaining about) and pretty slow on the forum. That’s a dangerous combination, it give my mischevious mind a chance to get me into trouble.[:-,]
Mookie
Just a guess, but if the empty was going back to the PRB, it could be fuel, a fuel additive, or a speciality lubricant. I suspect all three are used in quite large quantities and to be honest, if the cars held a fuel, it would likely be a speciality blend or a supplement to fuel supplies received by pipeline.
One other possibility might be eythelene glycol. Anti-freeze. Somebody could be buying off-season for price and it might be either for vehicles or possibly could be used on the coal to prevent cold weather freezing. (Obviously not now).
I got here to late to see the original thread on the signals. Was there any discussion suggesting they be called LITTLE signals.
Jay
Oil cans have a big dome on top or any odd plumbing on it to disingui***hem? Some of the power plants here are adding wetting agents to rattlers and their solid emmission scrubbers to gather flyash for special purposes (soil cement, etc.)
Did the tanks have Santa Fe or the new BNSF Swosh logo on them?
If so, diesel fuel is what they most often carry, the dont have a supplier out in the boonies at a lot of the old SF lines…
Dont know about the dwarf signal, the most often protect a switching lead or engine track…
Where is it exactaly?
Ed
sorry, i’m a boxers kinda guy [8D]
The BNSF has been doing that for over 10 Years Mookie.
Allan.
SJ, I think Ed’s probably right about the tank cars. Next time you see them, let us know the reporting marks and numbers, if possible (just one example ought to be enough).
BC
OK - I will have to quit sitting there with my mouf open watching the traffic go by and thoroughly enjoying myself. I will note types, number(s) and any accessories I can find.
I thought it would be something simple, since they were traveling with MT coal cars…
Allan - you may see them before I do, so take notes.
Farmer03 - I get myself in more trouble trying to come up with short titles!
Ed - it is right…there…
It is just as you enter the yard - it is for the traffic that will be coming into the yard. There are 6 tracks and this is the only one that has a dwarf on it. If you look on your map, it is just to the west of the bridge…just…
When something is coming that will be using that track, it blinks until the engine passes by it. Otherwise, it is a solid red.
There is another signal on a pole further into the yard, but on the tracks to the north of this one, and it will signal red/red until something will be using it - then it goes …well, let me think - is it red over orange, or orange over red (it is orange/amber from our perspective)I can’t remember, but want to say orange/amber over red. Is this possible? (remember this is BNSF)
Back to the drawing board!
Moo
Mook - Next time you see the oil cans, look for the hazmat placards. The 4 digit number will explain all, or at least most of it. IIRC you have an ERG now.
Just a note to you video fans – if you want, you could dictate the numbers and types of cars flashing by. Much faster than writing 'em down.
I do realize that the spoken word on train videos constitutes “noise pollution” of a sort. Just giving this as an option, not a binding recommendation.
allen
If I am placing your signal correctly, then it is protecting the run through or run around tracks, a long pair tracks that runs the entire lenght of the yard, with nothing else coming off of them, so trains can pass through the yard without having to interfer with the switching.
These are also know as running rails, because you can “run” through the yard.
The south most 2 tracks just after you cross the bridge, heading west, yes?
It may also be used to depart a long, unit or shuttle train.
Does is sit between the two tracks, or to the right of only one?
It should be red, or flashing red, and on occasion, lunar.
The other signal sounds like a distance signal…does it have a plate on it with a D in black letters?
And it would be yellow(amber) over red, if the yellow is flashing, it means proceed at restricted speed, prepared to stop short of the next signal.
Flashing red over steady red means you are being routed into the diverging route, instead of taking the normal route.
Both of these do not require the train to stop at this signal…
Ed
Ed - trains stop for neither, it is just a good visual for us to know that something is coming in - almost as good as a scanner. The tall signal (note the official name) is way on RR property and they would hang me from it if I tried to get close. It is on the 2nd or 3rd track from the south. Looks to go right through the south side of the yard.
The dwarf is next to what looks like the 2nd track in from the south, I will see if I can get a better handle on it. Maybe have Driver stand just off RR property and use binoculars.
Memory not good, but think I have seen the pole signal do a solid amber over red, a flashing red over red and usually both red. The dwarf does red or flashing red. I only see it on weekends, so in between it could do just about anything.
I can