Hey Chad,
When you mentioned that there were about 12-14 Trains/24 hrs. on the BNSF’s Gateway Sub. That brought up a question from me.
I understand that there are only a few longer sidings, and many shorter sidings. The sidings must be getting used quite a bit?
How then are they able to funnel 14 trains over that line?
Some saw-by’s?
The trains on that line are not very long. There are a bunch of short sideings but there are also some long ones. Kephart, Lookout, Beiber, Halls Flat and Almonor are all over 6,000 ft. The biggest streach between long sideings is right out of Klamath. There are a couple 2400’ ish sideings but the first long one is Mammoth about 45 miles out. They just don’t let a southbound out if there is one about to arrive in Klamath.
PLEASE Correct Me if I am wrong.
When a (for example) southbound train pulls into the siding, the approaching Northbound train approaching on the main track has to stop up ahead on the main to return the switch dont they?
Because I saw a video clip of a meet at Halls Flat, and the eastbound screamed by on the main track at 49 MPH, AS IT WAS PASSING A STOPPED TRAIN IN THE SIDING?
I thought that 49mph train needed to stop up ahead to return the switch back to the main? I don’t know? That is what I understood (both trains have to stop)? But I saw it?
One train was stopped, and another flew by at 49 MPH? So what really was going on?
Thanks, Andy
Well someone had to throw the switch, and it was probably the conductor and he would have had to walk back to the head end (unless he got a ride). It also could have been following another train not shown, though that would mean a long wait as this is dark territory and they can’t just ride the yellows. The closer they are the more warrants they would need to keep them running (cant have overlapping warrants in dark territory without the following train haveing to run at restricted speed).
14 is nothin…Think if that line had the traffic of the TRANSCON
bnsfkline, this line is dark territory, and the sidings are short except for a FEW long ones. If the line had the traffic of the transcon, well, trains would be waiting for a loooong time.
Chad, thank you for explaining to me the procedure. Yeah, maybe they just didn’t show the train before. But they capture every train? They would have told us that they missed a train. Oh Well. I am sorry. However, I know what I am TRYING to say. Thanks Chad and bnsfkline, Andy
Well, there’s also the chance that the switches could be remotely thrown by the dispatcher. Several sidings on the 5-8 train aday CSX line here are equipped with such machines.
Numerous locations across the US are using spring switches where a lot of trains are passing in opposing directions. An eastbound train would always switch to the siding and a westbound train will always take the main. The spring switch is always set for the track that normal operations expect. These switches will often have an “S” on the target. Look for them.
dd