My wife and I where just on a walk and she asked me what the propane tanks on the side of the tracks were for. I have no idea! There isn’t anything that I can see that uses propane near them and I see them in several locations. I know they are propane because we saw a propane truck filling one. Can anyone shed some light on this?
Any switches nearby? Some railroads use propane for the switch heaters.
A lot of RR’s use this or A metal kerosene filled lamp to keep the switches from freezeing up in cold weather Its pretty cold in some places so the flame from the lamp will keep It from icing over Also the switchman can see the switch
A little better in the dark If Its lit up
yah, they are for propane heated switch heaters. I think they are more common in CTC because crews don’t really have to get out to through switches, or push buttons with the auto-normal ones found in OCS.
That brings-up a good point - on the BNSF West Hump Dispatcher channel up here
in Minnesota, I always hear references to “push-button your route” or “It’s OK to push
the buttons” and I know they’re giving permission to a specific train crew to line the
switches to get from one point to another within the yard limits. What type of switch
control is that which they are referring-to as “push-button the switches”? Is this some
type of remote control that can be used from within the cab?
Ghighland,
What they most likley are refering to is a hydraulic operated or electric switch.
We have several in our yard, on the switching leads.
They have a motor or hydraulic ram that moves the switch point from route to route, it saves on back injuries.
On the lead I work, I must “throw” the lead switchs between the C,D, E and F yards several hundreds times a shift.
A ground throw switch stand would kill you in a hour, and a 45 degree back saver wouldnt be much better.
These switches have a simply control box, mounted on a pole, with 2 buttons, one for each route.
In other areas, we have radio controled switches, with receivers mounted next to the switch.
Dial in the frenquency, then push a code sequence on your radio, and the switch lines for your route.
Push a different code, and it lines the other way.
These are low powered and low range, you have to be within 200 feet for them to receive the signal, to prevent someone in say, another yard, accidently operating that switch.
They have a simple interlocking circut that prevents you from lining the switch until your front trucks are inside the circut, and if you get too close, they refuse to operate.
This sounds more like what your dispatcher is telling the crew to do, he or she is giving them permission to operate the switches from the cab via radio, and line themselves out of the yard.
Stay Frosty,
Stay Cut in…
Ed[:D]
They’re all over the place on the former C&O New River Sub.
work safe
they have trackside heaters along the B&O main(CSX) here in nw ohio
stay safe
Joe
I beleave that they are for switch heaters because they are located at the switches. We live in Brunswick MD. and it does get cold here sometimes. (Not cold like it did in Wisconsin where I come from but cold enough to freeze). Thanks for your help!
When I lived on Long Island I would see little fires on the tracks near switches on LIRR. The flame was a bright blue color. Was/Is propane the source of the fire? Are there other methods. I would only see, the fire, in the large Jamica LIRR station. The tracks are quite close to one another, little room for a tank.
edblysard:
I have heard the switch tender on the radio say a crew is “on the circuit” so s/he could
not line the switch automatically. Interesting! A lot has changed over the years in
railroading but still a lot has stayed the same too. I hadn’t thought of just how hard it
would be to have to throw 60 or 70 switches in one day while working a shift in a yard
if there wasn’t some type of automation. On the tourist RR I volunteered for, we had to
throw MAYBE three switches on each job - hardly enough to give you an idea of REAL
railroading.
Propane switch heaters are found on the approaches to Chicago Union Station at least as far south as 21st St, which is south of the Chicago River. I’m not sure how far they extend on the north approaches.
They make for quite a sight early on a winter morning before sunrise during and after a snowfall when most of them are lit.
So how often are these propane tanks the victims of teenage terrorism?? Seems like that would make an irresistable target…
Entirely possible that natural gas was available there. Many places that need switch heaters are a good distance from a natural gas line, so LP is the choice.
Along the BNSF triple track main west of Chicago (through my home town of Aurora) they use natural gas fired heaters these days…they fire up a heater and then use a mega-blower to send very hot air through to the switch points to keep ice and snow away from them and keeping them clear and operating freely. Jim in Aurora, IL
I have never seen a switch heaters propane tank vandalized. other than spray painted. no other problems have occured
Have seen propane tanks float away in floodv season. About once a season, some “JoeBob” tries to steal one in Kansas or Oklahoma on BNSF. Usually without success.
Ghighland,
Does your tourist railroad have a locomotive?
Does it move?
Tracks?
Switches?
If so, then its as real as it gets.
Dont sell yourself short!
Stay Frosty!
Ed
Interesting about having fans on switch heaters. The SP simply placed flame jets (burners) along the stock rails and sometimes along the points and at the frog and wing rails, sometimes. All you need to do is keep the rail at 33 degrees F.
Until the demise of the steam engine, these beasts would exhaust steam out of the cyclinder cocks all along the track and even where it never thawed, you would have green grass growing next to the rail. With diesels, you need switch heaters![sigh]
SLIC And Breeze Would use them for target practice If They Could get away with it