For an engineer, what’s the best time or place to be running a train, the time where you take a deep breath, smile, and tell yourself “it doesn’t get any better than this”?
Quiting time.
[dinner][(-D][(-D][(-D]
After 40 yrs in engine service on many roads what I remember as “The Best” is:
A fall daylight run along the Illinois River on the Rock Island. We’d often have four E-8’s which rode darn good (second only to a SD9). The E’s were limited to 1500 tons per unit so we could scoot right along at 50mph and enjoy the fall colors.
There are others that are close seconds.
when you get the best train on your division you board the engine take off and 4 hrs 25 min and 170 miles later you hand it off to the next crew and go home. no delays and just pure fun running. yea its no better than that. but still you sit and wonder why cant all runs be like that.
Cruising along on a nice, warm sunny day with 3 SD40-2’s at full power, running 50mph with 15,000 tons behind, out in the country where it is safe to have the windows open.
You had me until you got to the part about being safe in the country. Of the three times I have finished a run with bullet holes in my locomotive, two were in the country. Of course, having the window closed only made a difference in one case.
Back to the original question, my best day was a return from the away terminal at Port Jervis, NY on a sunny summer’s day running west along the Delaware River watching the rafters with plenty of power and a nice short 60 cars of mixed freight and clear signals, followed by a nice pull over Gulf Summit and the Starruca Viaduct…
LC
Yeah, occassionally we catch slugs in the windows, but the general consensus is that these are stray hunter’s shots, not deliberate.
And those rare bullet incidents pale in comparrison to the number of rocks thrown and amount of debris on the tracks around here.
After squealing through that wonderful curve at Hancock…
True. I think if they were deliberate there would be a lot more wounded train crews. High powered rifle bullets penetrate sheet metal pretty easily. Most of the rounds that have hit us are pretty much spent judging by the limited penetration.
As to rocks and other projectiles, I have worked in Jersey. I can’t say that I have seen it all, but some amazing things have been thrown at us or dropped from overpasses. The one that sticks in mind was a rather large bra that someone apparently was using as a sling for a rather large chunk of cinderblock…
LC
How does the time of day, or the season relate to a good day on the rails?
I love the early spring mornings where you know it is going to be a hot day, but it isnt quite there yet. You can see the mist hanging over the largest lake in the world and your train rounds the curve and parellels the lake for a few miles. Then you curve again, away from the lake, and stroll through the trees, dew falling off and your locomotive rumbles through the underbrush.
Running through big snowbanks and drifts is fun, too.
Had to go out the back door. Some of the snowbanks were as high as the front handrails.
Murph:
I am not an engineer, nor do I spend time in locomotives, but as a salesman here are a couple of my “moments”…
Any morning, with the sun still low and the wind out of the north and no humidity, crossing over the Chicago Skyway and looking at the great skyline and Lake Michigan with the gritty Southeast side in the foreground. That is a great site.
Years ago I was driving between Quincy, Il and Litchfield, Il. It was about 7pm on a summer evening and I had plenty of miles to go before reaching the Super 8 of choice. It was a perfect evening with blue skys and no humidity (rare in Southern Illinois). I came up on a Norfolk Southern eastbound near Barry, just where the tracks and I72 parallel for a mile or two. I paced the train, rolled down the window and took in the sight and sound.
I kept the window down, exited the interstate and drove on. The corn was as high as my car and the smell was incredible. Jack Buck was announcing the Cardinals game and for a few minutes I forgot that I had driven over 400 miles that day and would sleep in a lousy motel miles away from my family.
ed
I have had it happen twice, on two seperate subs, but when you get a track warrant from one end of the sub to the other! You actually DO own the railroad!
I am not an engineer… yet but I looks like a fun trip would be a BNSF intermodal out of LA on the transcon route with three new GEVO’s crusing along at 79mph[wow]
Somebody else on this forum has a link in their signature to their site then to google video and its a video of a BNSF intermodal out of LA
For me it is dawn to early morning or late afternoon to evening. Something about the low angle of the sun. For you piglets out there, these are the times when you can really see the lay of the land, pay attention!
Excellent tip !!!
(Don’t ask, 'cause I won’t tell!)
Closing the throttle on an RS1 after struggling up a stiff (for the Midwest) grade, and kicking back to enjoy the long drift downgrade, watching a distant signal for an automatic interlocking clear up for you.
Followed by the bad moment where I had to get out of the seat so I wouldn’t be seen…
Sunset in the Mountains in Spring. The Ice Gone from the Lakes The Birds Back, the Mosquitoes not yet Out.
Water Still on the Hills rather than in the Culverts.
Lake Side Scenery not yet Real Estate.
Long Coal Train on Plain Bearings with 5 Small Units winding its way back to the Caboose.
Jointed Steel Below.
Not Hot enought for Coal ( or Sulphur ) Dust for the Tail End Guys.
Rads Running Cool.
Tourism not yet Invented, more Deer than Motor Homes.
Section Forces Done for the Day, the Order Offices Closed for the Night.
Running Order Right Thru with 100 Miles and Two Standing Inspections to go.
Radio, if Equipped, Quiet.
Morning, The Seventies, CWR, SDs and all the Rest still in the Future.