I think you are misunderstanding the situation. its single main track, so there is no “wrong way”.
Yes IN A YARD, that is a freight classification yard, not a mian track, not a siding, in a classification yard, you would be going 10 mph (or some other very low speed). The only trains going on those tracks would be switchers or trains entering or leaving the yard.
You aren’t running the freights through the yard tracks. You run the freights through on the main at whatever the speed is.
Yard tracks aren’'t signaled so there aren’t any appliances to block.
It won’t take that long at all, the truck doesn’t ca
Could you explain a little bit more in detail when, where and why an engine would be refueled from a truck? I know switchers are frequently refueled that way to save a long ride home but what is going on on the photo? Is that business as usual or a big exception?
Because it needs more fuel than it has to get where its going and there is no fixed facility or no mainline fueling station where it is.
Lots of places refuel mainline trains with trucks nowadays (its called DTL, direct to locomotive). Now whether that specific train is supposed to fuel at that station, dunno.
Did the RR companies close fixed fuel facilities to save the cost? It sounds like “just in time” parts supply as usual in many industries to save storage and inventory cost not to be shown as assets.
Ok I will try and clear up a few things that I know for sure. First off that is a double main with that train being on the track nearest to the yard. Another a ICE train went passed just as I was leaving on the other track. Just past where that train is stopped the line splits one heads west toward Waterloo and one heads south along the river toward Clinton, IA. Second off sometimes through freights do pull through the yard, I suspect to change crews as the trains come from across the river about a mile or two from where I was standing. There is a CN office right across the street from where I took those photos. The last engine in that consist (the GTW) is one of two local switchers that they added to the consist. The engine is now back in town so maybe it went out for some routine maintenance.
As far as refueling goes I know for sure they do not have a permanent facility in Freeport, IL (I grew up in that area) and I am fairly sure they don’t have a permanent facility in Rockford, IL (I use to work near a yard the IC now CN ran through.) I also know that trains always use to run from Chicago, IL to Council Bluffs, IA and vis-versa. That was in the IC days before the CN merger and I am not sure how they run now. Freeport is a crew change point and I think Dubuque, IA is another crew change point.
Direct to locomotive refueling seems to be the way of the future probably due to both environmental concerns and costs associated with maintaining a fuel depot. Long term, fixed price contracts with diesel fuel distributers keep costs down. The attached photo shows CSX locos at the Hialeah,(Miami) CSX hub yard being refueled with tanker trucks. The CSX headquarters is to the right of the tanker truck.
That is an interesting photo. Does it have doors? The Florida East Coast use diesel filled tank cars that are spotted along side of their open sided engine house just north of the Miami International Airport. There are no less than 60 exhaust vents on the roof and I can’t imagine all of them being powered. It would allow a nice cross flow of ventilation coming in from the sides of the facility.
With your long freight trains that must take forever. I’d hate to get stuck at a grade crossing!