I was looking at information about the Rail Runner (the new roadrailers not the commuter train) and that the intermediate rail unit is capable of being operated at 70 mph.
All other economics questions aside, just how many routes in the the US are actually capable of operating such trains at 70 mph?
If you mean that every single mile along the entire route has to be good for 70 MPH - then darn few of them.
More practically, if we can exclude terminals, interlockings, junctions, movable bridges, tunnels, and other such comparatively short limitations, then there might be quite a few. But even on those, there are going to be curves and/ or grades at locations that will restrict the top speed for longer distances. For an example that’s close to both of us, the NS Pittsburgh Line from Harrisburg to the Steel City could be capable of that - except for the 12 miles from Altoona to Gallitzin including the Horse Shoe Curve, which is limited to 35 MPH if I’m not mistaken. There are also segments on the West Slope that are too curvy for that high of a speed. Likewise, the 50-mile ascent up the Front Range from Denver to the Moffat Tunnel - does that disquailfy the rest of the route ?
And that leads to the next qualification: While the geometry of the alignment might be capable of 70 MPH, the owning railroad might not currently have established the speed limit that high, for reasons of safety, fuel economy, track maintenance costs, etc. - which I note you have excluded from consideration. This kind of limitation would definitely apply to a lot of MidWest and Western US ‘regional railroad’ lines. So looking at a current Employee TimeTable would not provide a definitive answer to your inquiry.
Lastly, the signal system presently in place - and FRA regulations - could also limit the top speed for a route to a value considerably below its potential from solely a geometric standpoint. how should that circumstance figure into the calculation ?
All that being duly noted, I’d say only a core network in the eastern US - pretty much only where Amtrak runs. Actually, the Amtrak routes are not a bad ‘general overview level’ surrogate to answer the question, because it doesn
Paul has it right. It depends on a lot of things. I’ve ridden Conrail TV trains from Albany to Cleveland where you would sail right along as fast at the locomotives can haul for long stretches of 55-60 mph running, but there places where you’re down to 30 mph or so. Dismal swamp - climbing the hills and negotiating the curves around Rochester - getting through Buffalo. The trip typically took 11-13 hours. You needed equipment that was good for 60 mph so you could average speeds in the low 40s.
The Sunset and the Transcon through New Mexico-Arizona-Texas are capable of 70+ in most areas and host Amtrak, as well. I would imagine that the portion of the Sunset east of Beaumont Hill in California would qualify, as well.
Besides grades, safety, curves, signalling, etc., I would add congestion to Paul’s list of qualifications.
John Timm
If we’re looking for lines capable of running a certain type of freight equipment at a top speed of 70 m.p.h., I think that we’d be asking about lines that in the here and now have employee timetables that permit 70-mph running as the top subdivision speed, with slower stretches for curves, bridges, interlockings, cities, etc. If the timetable doesn’t allow 70 now, it’s unlikely that it will any time soon, given most railroads’ mindset these days.
Having said that, I’d be surprised if any railroads east of the transcontinental divide (Chicago-St. Louis-Memphis-New Orleans) have any stretches where freights can legitimately do 70 or better. I suspect (and would welcome examples to the contrary) that portions of the BNSF Transcon and various UP routes (Elburn west to North Platte and beyond, places on the Sunset, perhaps the LA&SL).
Speed limits of 60 might include some eastern railroads, but doesn’t automatically include anything that has 70-or-better Amtrak service. I suspect that much of the ex-CR Water Level Route (now split between NS and CSX) is good for 60, as is CSX’s ex-B&O line between Chicago and probably Willard. If any lines in the Southeast can handle freights at 60, I suspect that it’s the route traveled by Amtrak’s Florida passenger trains, and possibly the FEC.
Track speeds and average speeds are two different things. If you look at an intercity bus schedule for instance, you will see a 55 or 60 mph between points schedule meaning a need to be doing 70-80 mph on the interstates and highways. Commuter trains are often averageing 30 to 35 mph but have to hoof it at speeds up to 90 mph to maintain it. So a 50 mile railroad with a 70 mph speed the entire length will ha ve schedules all the way down to 30 depending on length of train, number of stops, and dwell times at stations. You can only go 50 miles in an hour if you can go 50 mph from mile post 0 to milepost 50 with no getting up to speed or slowing down to stop!
In the early days of Conrail, that route was 70 mph for Van trains less than 62 cars. Later, Conrail dropped it to 60 mph as few train qualified for the higher speed. At the CSX/NS split, CSX put their part back up to 70 (along with the matching western half of the B&O). I think it was to entice UPS to give them the NJ to Chicago traffic (it worked!). Don’t know if it’s still 70 or not.
NS has nothing >60 mph for frt.
Paul:
You may be interested in this, here is the Pittsburgh Line Timetable, scroll down to page 59 and you will have the speed limits along the route for passenger trains, freight in starts on page 63.
I was not really including terminals or yards, but really the route in general. So yeah, interlockings, bridges, tunnels would be included. Although if a train is going straight through an interlocking, how much does that really affect the speed?
Essentially, I more so stating that the majority of the route or a large chunk of it is capable of 60-70 mph with any sort of regulation or individual RR operating rules in place and not really holding back speeds because of infrastructure nor the fluctuating of temperatures.
When I said keep economics aside, I was more getting at not to really focus on the rail runner itself so much. I do not mind talking about improving speed for intermodal trains in general or any freight train, but merely do not want to focus on the new roadrailer economics. Probably should have been more specific.
Obviously, there are no quick and easy answers here as there are many factors entering into this. First, there is an overall maximum track speed authorized between points A & B, then there is the types of cars in the train, any speed limited cars due to ladding, and the top gear speed of the locomotives. An intermodal train may be authorized 75 MPH, but a general freight can only make 50 MPH if it has hazardess materials and only 35 MPH if it’s carrying loaded log cars – all on the same track authorized for 75. A glance at a real employee timetable will usually list the max speeds of most equipment. In most cases the gear ratio of the locos is not a factor, as they are geared high enough for most freights.
I very quick scan of the California Region Timetable 15 effective March 21, 2004 (Altamont Press) lists general speed limits for a sub, but bear in mind that there are numerous areas limited by curves, etc. that are not listed. I lived in Vegas for quite a while and know first hand that altho the Sands Ave - Arden limit is 70, just watch a loaded WB coal train crawl upgrade at 20, or even a WB vehilcle train at 35 or so. Also, the area around Sloan is on a stiff WB grade and has a wide horsehoe curve with a 35 MPH limit on it. Even tho it’s in 70 MPH territory, the grade/curve limits speed. As for the Dunn - Toomey run, I personally came off of Hountain pass on I-15 and caught the end of a WB double stack. I gept up with my speedometer pegged at 80 all the way. I lost it when it slowed for a crew change at Yermo.
UP Cima Sub
Sands Ave Vegas – Arden 70
Sloan – Erie 70
Erie – Cima 75
Thru Chase 75
Daws – Basin 75
Thru Dunn 65
Dunn – Toomey 75
UP Yuma Sub
Dunes – Regina 75
Iris – Ragosa 70
Ragosa – Mecca 75
Thru Thermal 65
Yes, there is usually a “maximum allowed speed” listed in the employee timetables for any given segment of railroad plus the “restrictions” in general terms of signal indications (diverging route, restricted, approach, medium, approach medium, etc. and their given definitions), and by specific location (“turn out trk 1 to trk 2 at MP 40.3” or CP101 or station or other designated name) or by segment (“curve at mp suchnsuch” or through station, etc.). Add to that any slow orders, passenger train stops, or other operating specifics or conditions and you’ve got your average speed per train. So most likely if the maximum allowable speed is 70 over a division or between two points, the average speed could be as much as 50% of that!
In WI CN operates no “mainline” subs (Waukesha, Neenah, Superior) faster than 60 mph. Most other “branch” routes (Manitowoc, Valley, etc) are 35 or 40. Other “secondary” lines are typically 25 mph. Not repeating the entirety of what others have said I’m thinking the phrase “diminishing returns” in this scenario, but that gets back into economics.
Thanks for that link - I already had it saved, but it’s a good example and now everyone else can look, too. A map of the line starts on page 53 [Page 57 of 158 for this ‘PDF’ format version], but here’s a brief overview and summary: CP CANNON at MP PT 118.9 is essentially Harrisburg, ALTO Tower in Altoona is on page 54 at MP PT 236.7, as is Horseshoe Curve at MP PT 242.0, on page 55 CP MO is at Cresson at MP PT 250.5, CP SO is at MP PT 266.1 (but then you knew that already, right ?), Johnstown is on page 56 at MP PT 275.1, and on page 57 is Pittsburgh at MP 353.1.
For this purpose, note that Passenger trains are authorized for Maximum Speeds in the range from from 30 to 79 MPH, generally at 5 MPH increments (although on page 60 the limitation between MP PT 206.5 and MP PT 209.0 - between Huntington and the Spruce Creek Tunnels - is 58 MPH . . . [*-)] ), and the maximum speed typically changes every couple - three miles. In contrast, the Freight train Maximum Speeds - which also change frequently - range between 25 and 60 MPH, with a single 15 MPH to the west of PITT. So with all of those changes and restrictions, how would you classify this line - is it capable of 60 - 70 MPH service, or not ?
To me, the passenger train speed limits are more representative of the maximum speed capabilities based on the geometry of the route - John Kneiling used to recommend looking at old passenger train schedules from the 1940’s a
First note that Knieling’s statements were based on track and train dynamics of the 60’s and 70’s and that much has changed since. So his statement cannot be as easily applied today as back then. In fact, I am led to believe that there actually is a greater disparity between passenger and freight train dynamics today than used to be. Size differentials, stablizing differentials, etc. all contribute to track differentials both cronlogically and physically… There is less superelevation needed for today’s freight cars, for instance. Back in the 1970’s D&H President Bruce Sterzing was able to boast he got a 50 mile per hour freight railroad instead of 35 when Amtrak improved his route to Montreal. Such might not be the case today. But I do wonder if some of the freight train speeds were lower because of the needed stopping distances rather than the track ability to carry the loads?
In the past, freight was allowed 60 mph on class 4 track-- is that still the limit?
If so, 70 mph freight east of the Mississippi isn’t common? Is it much less common than, say, 20 years ago?
West of the Mississippi there has been lots of 70 mph track for decades-- that is, lots of Class 5 track-- but the RR only wants the hot freights to do 70.
Per FRA’S Track Safety Standards Compliance Manual, 49 CFR Part 213, Section 213.9(a) Classes of Track; Operating Speed Limits, Table 1, at - http://www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/safety/tss_compliance_manual_chapter_5_final_040107.pdf , the general Freight Train speed limits are as follows (some exceptions apply, of course):
Class 3 - 40 MPH
Class 4 - 60 MPH [thanks to timz for catching the typo of 40 - PDN.]
Class 5 - 80 MPH
From my limited perspective and experience in the NorthEast US, 70 MPH freight isn’t common around here, except for UPS and TV or MAIL trains as Oltmannd stated above, and even those are only a few trains on selected portions of particular routes, such as the ex-NYC, PRR, and NKP from Chicago to New York City Pittsburgh, and Buffalo, respectively, etc. I don’t think that 70 MPH freight is much less common than it was 20 years ago =1990 or so; if anything, it’s maybe a little more common, with fresh produce trains and the like having been added. But I don’t think such fast freight ever exceeded 5 or 10 % of the total freight volume.
Paul,
Would the amount of ‘faster than normal’ freight be relative to system capacity? IOW if too much traffic arrives at which ever intermediate points in the system where set outs/switching happens, then the traffic would be held up waiting to be switched/set out. Would/could the freight then end up averaging the same transit time as if it had gone slower across the system? So net, you’d end up with not much of an improvment in delivery/transit time but spending more on fuel and crews under this theory. Does that make sense and do you think (if it does make sense) that each system as a ‘flow speed’ at which things tend to work smoothly?
Yes. Definitely. The 70 mph speeds on the Water Level Route for van trains were based on stopping distances. Over 62 cars, the trains couldn’t be counted on to stop in time passing an approach at 70 mph. There were very specific instructions on how to apply the air to stop, too - a split reduction ending in full service.
Dan - Although I have no actual experience in such ‘network’ or ‘system’ operations of railroads, that theory makes a lot of sense to me, and is true or close to true. Better yet , coincidentally in the last day or two I ran across a post from a year or two ago by “S. Hadid/ 1435mm” - I was searching the Forum for threads on “equilateral turnouts” - and as I recall it, his comment was pretty much to exactly that effect. It was pretty funny, actually - essentially, and not trying to put too many words in his mouth - he said that as soon as too much priority is given to trains in one direction, the trains in the other direction start to ‘back-up’. That degrades the ability to give priority in either direction, which starts a downward spiral of delays and occupied sidings interacting with each other to worse effect - and pretty soon, the enitre line is in a ‘gridlocked’ state. He too appeared to advocate a nearly single-speed operation as being closer to an optimum flow. I’ll see if I can find that thread and post the link to it here sometime over this weekend.
P.S. - EDIT: Here it is, captioned as “Difference between “Double Track” and "Two Main Tracks” - the posts I referred to are both of Page 2 of 3, the 1st being about 1/3 of the way down, dated 02-10-2007 at 11:29 AM, and the 2nd near the bottom at 9:09 PM, both of which are at - http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/t/87726.aspx?PageIndex=2
Be sure to read his and other posts on the rest of Page 2 and pages 1 and 3 for the full and proper context of that discussion. - PDN.
Thanks Paul. My brain was starting to wander down the two/double track line of thought. A very informative thread to read. The biggest “take home messages” I dug out were about capacity. Nice info!
Another way to achieve faster freight schedules was what the D&RGW did years ago: shorter trains. Yeah, more trains, more crews, but got over the road faster, got better locomotive/equipment utilization, better crew utilization, less overtime, satisfied customers. Win/win/win/win/win situation. But bottom liners saw longer trains meant fewer trains, fewer crews, maybe only a couple fewer locomotives, and less money spent therefore higher return. But that higher return was on investment and not repeat business. Larger locomotives, larger cars, better equipment technology of course allows for longer trains, but still, I don’t think it matches fast, reliable service to the customer (who will pay for the service) nor for the equipment utilization.
A friend of mine espouses the idea of 12 hour directional running. But I see too many hang ups, especially with trains left in siding eliminating passes and overtaking. Even 6 hour directional would be hairy at best! Don’t really think it would be any faster.