Western Railroad Discussion > Heavy Hauling on Marias Pass.

Some more photos from the archives... H-PASNTW on Marias Pass. This was one heavy train that had two CW44-9 mid-train helpers.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

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Looking at heat waves and current number of powered axles able to be on the headend of a train, I'd venture to guess half of those units are isolated or dead in tow.

NIIIIICE pics!!!!! I REALLY like Pic 3!!!!!!!

I would need to look but I think BNSF allows 42 powered axles in a consist, 48 if its all intermodal. there are 8 powered axles on a C44/ES44DC so only 5 units should be running on the head end.
Kevin

I guess I don't understand the math, there are eight units on the head end, each with six axles. 8 X 6 = 48 axles. If BNSF allows 42 powered axles, then 7 units could be powered. Unless they also have to count the axles on the two mid-train units, then only 5 units could be powered, but I am not sure I understand the logic of counting mid-train or end of train power.


Pacific_Division Wrote:
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> I would need to look but I think BNSF allows 42
> powered axles in a consist, 48 if its all
> intermodal. there are 8 powered axles on a
> C44/ES44DC so only 5 units should be running on
> the head end.
> Kevin

The BNSF does not count straight. A powered axle is an SD40-2 or SD50 axle. An SD40-2 has 6 powered axles. Now C44s are more powerful so a C44 has 6 physical axles but 8 powdered axle equivalent. For dynamic brake calculations it is a 10 axle equivalence.

So no, 1+1 does not equal 2 any more.

Posted from Windows Phone OS 7

OK, so there is an "equivalence" thing going on. Thanks for the explanation, once again learn something new!