I was wondering how locomotive sanders work? When are they used? How does an engineer know when to use them?
Thanks,
Marshall[8D]
they use air to blow sand down to the rail… and all we have to do to use them (modern locomotives that is, i forget what how they worked with steam locos)… is push a button or f lip a switch… thier are 2 ways to put sand down on the rails…one is the lead axel sand button or switch… and it dose just as its name says… and their is the trainline engin sand…and it will put sand down on the locomotives that are MUed together… this one is also directional…you can either have it come out the forward or the reverse sand hoses in most locomotives…
csx engineer
The sanders work as csx stated above, I use sand when ever I stop a heavy train on grade for better adhesion to the rail weather the rail is wet or dry it makes it easier to start train wiht less wheel slip and I also used some independent brake to control wheel slip. I do not like to pull the train apart that I am in control of.
Rodney
sand is used in traction control and on GE engines you cant use manual sanders after 12mph and on emd units it is 18 mph. the sanders are automatic after that. you can still use lead sand on some units at any speed .
that only applies to -9 GEs…and sd-80, and i think 90macs EMDs i do belive…
csx engineer
On our modern GEs we can manually sand at all speeds, at least on most I’ve come across. Our modern EMDs, both AC and the SD70m, we have manual sand up to 15MPH in power. When in dynamic braking both makes can manually sand at any speed.
I don’t know about the SD70ace. I’ve only had them as trailing units. Someone told me their either not equipped or they have problems with the ATC so they can’t lead on the ex-CNW east/west main.
Jeff
i havent been at the throttle of any newer -9 or 80macs for a while …so i forget exactly how the sanders are set up on them as far as the controlls…i do remember that they are push button to use them…i think that the the newer 70macs and the 80macs have the sander funtions on the computer screens…you have to access them on the soft keys below the computer screens… and the computer will only allow you to use them when they feel its ok to use them…which sucks ***… many times i wanted sand…and they *** comptuer would overide my request…
csx engineer
Nobody mentioned this, but I believe on most modern diesel locomotives, the sanders are automatically utilized whenever a “dynamite” stop is made.
Hello, I work on a steam locomotive on weekends.
There are a few things I like about steam locomotives:
1.) Good old made in USA steel
2.) There are few things that you can hit with a hammer and break on a steam locomotive
3.) There’s nothing you can kick and break (except the clipboard)
AND
4.) IT’S YOU AND THE MACHINE–NO COMPUTER TO TELL YOU WHAT YOU CAN AND CANNOT DO! SAND ANY TIME YOU WANT!!!
The sander of a locomotive can take two forms:
1.) Two globe valves on the engineer’s side controlling the air (one forward, one reverse)
2.) A three position lever–forward, off, and reverse.
Sincerely,
Daniel Parks
On the locomotives that I have ran sanders do not automaticly come on when I go to dynamic brake mode I have to engage them when I want them, the only time that I notice they turn on is when wheel slip occures in dynamic that is a sliding wheel.
Rodney
Rodney, he said “dynamite” stop, I read it the same way you did the first time but read it again. He’s talking about going into emergency, I believe, at which time the sand does come on.
Say Rodney,
Did you ever work on the Pasadena Subdivision in CA about 9-12 years ago?
Sincerely,
Daniel Parks
Using sanders on steam locomotives was something of an art. The sand was very fine and was dried out in a special facility before it was put in the dome on top of the boiler. Some engines used in mountain territory had extra large domes or even two of them.
The engineer might run his sander when starting the train or in the event the drivers slipped under load. Sometimes when climbing a grade the sander was used non-stop. The sand was shot under the lead pair of drivers ( using compressed air ) and a special steam pipe and nozzle was mounted behind the rear driver to wa***he grit off the rail so the rest of the train wouldn’t run over it, thus limiting unnecessary wear on the rails. It a train stalled on a hill, the engineer might back up, laying down sand
as he went and then make a second run on the grade over previously sanded rail. When it was winter yard crews were known to go into the sand drying house and lay in the stuff to get warm. I wonder if anybody does that nowadays…
We’ll turn on the sanders on a DP unit for a train going the opposite way on our steeper hills,especially for our grain and coal trains. Such as Ray Hill north of Dennison,Tx.
In the last chapter of Wreck of the Penn Central there is a mention of using the sander to slow down the train when it was running at high speeds to keep the speed in check. How exactly would this work?
And I’m sure your conductor appreciates it [8D]
on any dash2 or later EMD and and any U series or later GE when you dynamite or have any emergency application of the brakes the trainline sand is activated. For the 70m’s at least on the UP you can lead sand up to around 20mph where they will shut off and the wheel slip controls will override your request to sand. however if you have older units in your consist you can still get trainline sand at any speed, but only from them. Also, GE’s C44-9w that were ordered by SP (old 8100 series) could lead sand at any speed, but you had to hold the darn button down the whole time. Most of the the newer units will allow you to lead sand up to a certain speed (software dependent) but have a timer on how long they will stay on after you set it on the screen, even in dynamic braking (what a pain in the but on a long downhill with a heavy train in the rain or snow). One thing I always liked about the GP-60’s was that their sand contols weren’t computer controlled yet and you could lead or consist sand at any speed (helpful for going over flange lubricators while pulling hard, the wheelslip system sometimes couldn’t figure out what to do with that especially in snow)
sand creates friction between the rail and the wheel… thus it will slow you down some… its not a recomended practice… but when going down hill in DB…sand can be put down to help slow your speed down a few miles an hour… also another practace that is frowned on is putting about 10psi of locomotive brakes on while going down hill… but no more then 15psi…this will also slow you down a few MPH…but this is also not a recomended…
csx engineer
Dear Jim,
That’s on later super-duper high tech steamers. Most steam locomotives don’t have the track cleaners (though I have heard of them).
Sincerely,
Daniel Parks