Western Railroad Discussion > "Coaster" commuter cars on the Joint Line.

   This afternoon, some commuter cars for the "Coaster" service went south on the Joint Line on the HDENAMS1-18 bound for commuter service in California.  I shot these at the south end of Castle Rock.  Sorry about the lighting, but the weather was a bit soupy in our area.
   Thanks for looking, and as always, comments welcome.

Brian Black
Castle Rock, CO

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Nice shots of an interesting move!

texchief1

Interesting that they didn't take a more direct route? That seems to be a long way around! Also why the flat cars between the cars, they aren't exactly hazardous material cars, perhaps something to do with different braking characteristics? Thanks for a very thought provoking post.
Gonut

Gonut1 Wrote:
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> Interesting that they didn't take a more direct
> route? That seems to be a long way around! Also
> why the flat cars between the cars, they aren't
> exactly hazardous material cars, perhaps something
> to do with different braking characteristics?
> Thanks for a very thought provoking post.
> Gonut

Flat cars are idlers to seperate the diaphrams. Prevents damage enroute and alievates (unfounded) concerns that they could be problematic on switches/curves with tight radii. 

Interesting looking cars Brian.... Thanks for sha!ring

James Nelson
Thornton, CO
www.flickr.com/mojaveflyer

hope they were not parked at Hogans alley (siding adjacent to I 25) where a previous bunch had got tagged, almost 33% of all trains that get parked there overnight get tagged



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/18/24 22:14 by dan.

Very Niceand interesting series.

Larry

Nice catch. Those are certainly some BIG windows on the control cars. Wouldn't take much to shatter at ninety mph.
JB



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/19/24 06:39 by 3rdswitch.

since they will operating together their whole existence diaphram thing is over kill, perhaps they will not be formally accepted till on home rails, so to deliver an unblemished product idler cars are used.

Where are the cars constructed?

Canada I think

The shipping method is not really overkill, the Diaphragms are meant to operate together in passenger service.  I have personally had to repair diaphragms damaged in switching yards because the vertical an horizontal curves were much worse than where passenger cars normally operate.  The other danger is that they get coupled to something with a Top-Shelf coupler, which will destroy the buffer. Also, the car brake systems may not have a direct release feature, so the flats also provide braking and a convenient hand brake rather than having to access the end passenger handbrake in the end doorways.  All in all, this flatcar solution is the best way to prevent problems...someone was thinking.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/19/24 08:59 by SilverPeakRail.

Not to mention the long cushion drawheads of the flats will soften the slack action for the passenger cars. They were not build for the rough abuse of freight service

SilverPeakRail Wrote:
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> The shipping method is not really overkill, the
> Diaphragms are meant to operate together in
> passenger service.  I have personally had to
> repair diaphragms damaged in switching yards
> because the vertical an horizontal curves were
> much worse than where passenger cars normally
> operate.  The other danger is that they get
> coupled to something with a Top-Shelf coupler,
> which will destroy the buffer. Also, the car brake
> systems may not have a direct release feature, so
> the flats also provide braking and a convenient
> hand brake rather than having to access the end
> passenger handbrake in the end doorways.  All in
> all, this flatcar solution is the best way to
> prevent problems...someone was thinking.

Great catch!!! I wonder if they're headed to the TTC for testing?

enroute to california, another batch has allready come thru, got tagged by hogans alley (callahan Construction)

The cars were built by Bombardier in Canada.

James R.(Jim) Baker
Whittier, CA