I have recently read about locomotives with sand ports and a reference from an engineer about hoping there is sand on the track when crossing a particular line. Do some locomotives carry sand for traction on the rails?
When your wheels are slipping, does the units automaticly sand for you? I have read that the DASH 9’s do that.
it will sand for you only alittle at a time when you need sanding the most. it has a lead truck sanding only switch but that only helps alittle. you cant sand until you are down to 12mph. a emd will let you sand so you can keep your speed up.
I once heard of a hostler who didn’t like a particular engineer, something to do with a female, I gather, when he knew that engineer was getting a certain unit, he would drain the sandboxes and dump some used oil in there. This went on for some time until the roundhouse foreman got wind of it. Not sure of the outcome of that fiasco.
Todd C.
yes, all locomotives carry sand on them (when they are properly serviced). the sand is carried in built in hoppers in the front and rear of each unit. there is a valve that controls the flow of sand so that they are not sanding all the time, but only when the engineer has the sanders on or in the case of newer units, when the computer senses wheel slip. the sand is carried via piping and flexible hoses to a location immediately ahead of the lead wheels and over the rail head (some engines have sander hoses at additional locations). I have never seen them refered to as sand ports, but I assume you mean the sander hatches where sand is added to the engine. on most engines there are 2 hatches in the front and either 1 or 2 hatches at the rear of the engine. And yes, when you have a heavy train or it’s raining/snowing (and several other situations as well) you definately hope that your engines (at least the lead one, hopefully the rest also) have some sand in 'em.
these dash 8 and 9 ge engines wont even let you sand until your below 12 mph. you can turn the lead axel sand but that is not as good as turning the sand on and getting traction going up hill trying to keep your speed up.
THAT must have been fun!