Western Railroad Discussion > 12791-ton UP transcon stack train

http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=36065 gives data on the 203-platform LBG2E-05, 12791 tons, four C45s front and three more rear. Zat mean it had that power all the way from LA? If so, what sort of speed would be typical on Cajon and Cima Hill?

Is it really that hard to just simply split it up into two trains? They can't be too short on crews this time of the year.

The rumor mill here states that BNSF wants to run 14,000ft long Z trains when the transcon double track project is complete...

Sense makes no sense in this case... they're trying to prove a point. The people in the 'window-less' offices are trying a new idea. It won't fit anyplace, everything else stands still.

I'm waiting for the day they try mine: Just have a continuous string of cars from L.A. to Chi-town... as you add cars at one end, they push up at the other. It's coming!

Take Care, Stay Safe, Have Fun!

Larry

Milw_E70 Wrote:
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> The rumor mill here states that BNSF wants to run
> 14,000ft long Z trains when the transcon double
> track project is complete...

So, per train you double (just by number of cars, including increased distances and forces on drawbars its probably higher) the potential for dragging equipment defects, hot boxes, broken knuckles, that kind of thing. And when it happens, rather than stopping one 7,000 ft train, and letting another train of 7,000 ft continue, you stop a 14,000 ft train, and if your hot box or dragging equipment is at the rear, your train crew (and if the railroads had their way it would be one person), has to walk almost 3 miles (a good 45 minutes each way). All the while, if they get down to one crew member, leaving the head end completely unoccupied. Thats nearly an hour and a half. It makes absolutely no sense, and not just because you've paid your solo crew member an hour and a half of pay just for walking (from the HQ point of view thats what would matter). It makes absolutely no sense to me at all, and I don't even (nor to be honest really want to) work for the railroads!

sploopconductor Wrote:
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> ...I'm waiting for the day they try mine: Just have
> a continuous string of cars from L.A. to
> Chi-town... as you add cars at one end, they push
> up at the other. It's coming!
>
> Take Care, Stay Safe, Have Fun!
>
> Larry
Larry, you are brilliant! This looks very productive and profitable on paper. Make it work- fudge the numbers a little if you have to. If you somehow can't make it work, we'll blame it on labor! Follow the same methods that were used for remote control operation! Where's my bonus? 8>)

mapboy

The train was through Ames, IA at about 1345. It was as advertised, including 3 DPU's placed mid-train. No shots of those due to equipment failure, argh....

-Justin
RapidsRail.com

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It's similar in concept to when they tried running "double" stack trains between East LA and SLC twentysome years ago.

These were two complete trains combined into one, with a manned helper (as opposed to today's DPU) on the rear running through.

Are you refering to the APL trains, Rich? If so, they were only 26 platforms, @8600 tons, 6500 feet, not an unusual train. Helper ran from Yermo to Milford

WAF Wrote:
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> Are you refering to the APL trains, Rich? If so,
> they were only 26 platforms, @8600 tons, 6500
> feet, not an unusual train. Helper ran from Yermo
> to Milford

I don't recall whether these were APL.

Whatever they were, the helper (two SD40-2s) ran through from East LA to SLC.

I can remember seeing them eastbound through Barstow in mid-evening.

Yes, these weren't double-length double stack trains, just extra-long. Apparently UP felt good enough about the concept to spend millions of dollars to lengthen several (more than a dozen?) sidings Yermo-SLC to accomodate these trains. I think they were around 6500-7000', ran 4 SD60/C40-8's up front and two through manned helpers, 125 wells.

UP experimented briefly with leased ATSF SD30C's for remote helper consists, but this apparently went nowhere.

It won't be this long when it arrives at Global 2, according to my info. They must be dropping more than half of it at Global 3. Probably a good thing for Global 2! What G2 would do with 13,000 feet of train is beyond me!

jackpot Wrote:
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> Yes, these weren't double-length double stack
> trains, just extra-long. Apparently UP felt good
> enough about the concept to spend millions of
> dollars to lengthen several (more than a dozen?)
> sidings Yermo-SLC to accomodate these trains. I
> think they were around 6500-7000', ran 4
> SD60/C40-8's up front and two through manned
> helpers, 125 wells.

OK, then I stand corrected.

CShaveRR Wrote:
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> 13,000 feet of train

And it can all be brought to a grinding halt with a shopping cart.

Where is Global 2 and 3?

CPRR Wrote:
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> Where is Global 2

Chicago, near Proviso.

> and 3?

Rochelle, IL

-Justin
RapidsRail.com

The rumor I have heard is this is a test train between Sslt Lake City and Chicago destinations. We may see a Chicago to SLC counterpart in the next week.
Depending on this test, there may be more tests or maybe not (profound, eh?).

Todd

bnsfjth Wrote:
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> CPRR Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Where is Global 2
>
> Chicago, near Proviso.
>
> > and 3?
>
> Rochelle, IL
>
> -Justin
> RapidsRail.com

Thank You

Perhaps the helper did go on at East LA or San Berdoo, but I recall it coming off at Milford because its not needed beyond to SLC. K-Line also ran a weekly stack train 20 years ago.

CPRR Wrote:
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> Where is Global 2 and 3?

Global 3 is just east of Rochelle, IL
Global 2 is at Proviso Yard