In Unit grain trains or Unit coal trains what does “Unit” mean.
Thanks in advance!
Willy
Basically, “unit” means none of the cars get switched en route. They are all loaded by the same mine or elevator and move together in “a unit” to the same destination where they are unloaded. Often, they will also return empty as a unit.
Scott Lothes
Unit trains are never broken up,or reclassified enroute.For example a unit coal train will load at the mine,arrive at the power plant,unload,then return to the mine still intact only to repeat the process again.
Thanks both of you! That is exactly the information I wanted.
Watching unit trains are so boring, especially coal trains. They’re all the same, I hate watching them. Just thought I’d get that out of my system.
Dave [:D][:D]
Perhaps unit coal trains are boring in Joliet, IL, but when they’re grinding up 2.83% Cranberry Grade on the B&O’s West End with pairs of ACs down on their knees fore and aft, they’re a sight to behold.
Scott
I imagine you’re right. The bad thing here in Illinois is the land is too flat, and most of the time they’re mostly just coasting through here.
Dave
I like the unit trains. On flat land you can sometimes see the entire train in one view. I think that they are very nice. Even beautiful if the settings are right.
Willy
The grain trains look cool when they’re all the same type of cars. They make the train look neat.
Dave [:D][:D]
Unit…all one type of car usually expedited trains and don’t make pickups or setouts.
Double Stacks look neat.
I always liked the BNSF “earthworm” trains. the ones made up entirely of the brown Trinity 5161 hoppers.
Unit trains are boring until you go to Altoona, PA, no not at Horse Shoe Curve, but at the Amtrak station. You can get better shots there, especially in the morning. In fact, one time I saw a three-way meet here. If you’re in the Altoona area, check this place out [;)]
Unit trains are great - in real and in model.
And I try to run them in model as long as possible! No joke: I have a BNSF coal train with 110 E&C Shops and LBF Bethgons! Powered with 5 SD70MAC´s. The real joke is: I have no layout at the moment, I collect only!
When I think back to the first time I run my UP double stack unit train, 7 five-units, in our modelrailroad club here in Germany.
Lot´s of “Ah” and “Oh” ! This trains are absolute new for the visitors. Some asked me “It´s a joke, it´s fantasy, this is not real!” And I said “No, it´s absolute real!”
We were only two US modelers against 75 Europeans!
I made this run at our Rhineriver valley layout that was at this time under contruction and was without overheadwire! Because of the coming catenary the tunnels had enough space for the loaded doublestacks.
I have also a Triple Crown roadrailer train with about 40 Bowser roadrailers, I like this trains, I preefer normal the trains at the Westcoast-area but this train was a must
Yes the earthworm trains are the ones I love. They look just like… well earthworms!
Dave
Saw what I think may be a “Unit” train yesterday - A Dash 9 pulling a long train of BNSF uncovered empty coil cars headed south. There were about 8 EJ&E coil gons mixed in, but otherwise it was just flat coil cars. Very interesting to look down the length of them!
Unit trains aren’t strictly coal and grain. John G. Kneiling’s concept of integral trains included a “steel” train, which would have been based on heavy-duty flat cars for steel plate, coils, bars, beams, etc.
Many stack trains and UPS trains could be considered unit trains by the definition of one customer, one origin and one terminating point and no enroute switching.
I saw (and photographed) a CR welded rail train at Rome NY some years ago- Don’t remember how long the train actually was, but it was interesting that the cargo was continuous rail. I’m thinking it was probably long enough for two lengths of rail.
Now I’ll have to see if I can find the pictures…
NS has several CWR trains made from old flat cars with special roller equipped racks. They typically handle lengths of 1/4 mile rail. I find it interesting that wheels with a 1" flange against a single set of rails is strong enough to bend all that steel as I watch them go around curves or through switches.