Eastern Railroad Discussion > NS roadrailer question

Last night while passing thru east yard in New Haven, IN I saw a roadrailer train heading west on the Wabash with NS 2570 leading. About halfway through the train there was a red coupling device that said "Do not cross" on it and every trailer after this coupling device was running backwards. This train also had a bogie on the end with a coupler. What is this red coupling device and why is it used?

Vince



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/28/05 04:49 by Vinnie.

the reason for this coupling is because the block of trailers face the east was going to be set out at Ft Wayne for a train that was going to be headed south to Atlanta, I believe. with the way the couplings are on Roadrailer trailers, setouts and pickups are made from the tailend not the headend.

When the UP had Roadrailers, they ran backwards, the rear of the trailer first. Triple Crown has purchased this equipment and can now run trailers forwards or backwards in the same train. The link in the middle connects the forward running trailer at the head end with the backward running trailers on the rear. When Triple Crown does not have enough trailers to justify a train from Detroit to Sandusky, they run the trailers via Fort Wayne to Sandusky . Prior to getting the UP equipment, they either had to turn the Sandusky block of trailers at Mike/Piqua, or ground them and turn them around. The Roadrailer connection saves time and tying up the Mike interlocking.

Jim

I brought this up earlier see...

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?2,877480,877480#msg-877480