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Steam & Excursion > This Is How You Run Trains When The Rule Book Tells You To!Date: 09/11/17 03:35 This Is How You Run Trains When The Rule Book Tells You To! Author: LoggerHogger During the age of steam railroading there were certain practices that were called out for in the rule books of various railroads that were quite noticeable to any observer. We see one such rule at work here.
The date is 1949 and steam still rules the rails on the California Western RR that runs from Ft. Bragg to Willits, California. Present in the rules set forth in the employee timetable is prohibition of double heading between Ft. Bragg and Summit, some 35 miles to the east. The rule clearly states that all helpers are to be cut in mid-train. We see this practice in use as CW 2-8-2 #44 leads her freight out of Ft Bragg with CW 2-6-2 #23 cut in mid train to give an assist up the steep grades ahead. The number of curves and trestles on the steep grades between Ft. Bragg and Summit dictated that the power be distributed evenly though the train and that the axle loading not be too concentrated in any one place. Again, it's all in the rule book. Martin Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 09/11/17 03:52 by LoggerHogger.    Date: 09/11/17 05:00 Re: This Is How You Run Trains When The Rule Book Tells You To! Author: atsf121 Very cool, don't think I've seen a picture of a "skunk" train with helpers before. Would the helper cut out a the summit then, or did it stay on all the way to Willits?
Nathan Posted from iPhone Date: 09/11/17 06:26 Re: This Is How You Run Trains When The Rule Book Tells You To! Author: CZ10 atsf121 Wrote:
------------------------------------------------------- > Very cool, don't think I've seen a picture of a > "skunk" train with helpers before. Would the > helper cut out a the summit then, or did it stay > on all the way to Willits? > > Nathan > > Posted from iPhone "Technically" would this even qualify as a "Skunk Train"? Weren't the original "Skunks" the gasoline powered "doodlebugs" they ran during the 1950's as a flag stop passenger service? I think it was much later when they started referring to the whole operation as the "Skunk Train" to promote tourism. Date: 09/11/17 06:43 Re: This Is How You Run Trains When The Rule Book Tells You To! Author: thehighwayman I love seeing the random length lumber on the flatcar!
That's how I remember most lumber on the CPR's Vancouver Island operations when I was a kid back in the late 1950s. Will MacKenzie Dundas, ON Date: 09/11/17 11:44 Re: This Is How You Run Trains When The Rule Book Tells You To! Author: czuleget CZ10 Wrote:
------------------------------------------------------- > atsf121 Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Very cool, don't think I've seen a picture of a > > "skunk" train with helpers before. Would the > > helper cut out a the summit then, or did it > stay > > on all the way to Willits? > > > > Nathan > > > > Posted from iPhone > > "Technically" would this even qualify as a "Skunk > Train"? Weren't > the original "Skunks" the gasoline powered > "doodlebugs" they ran > during the 1950's as a flag stop passenger > service? I think it was > much later when they started referring to the > whole operation as the > "Skunk Train" to promote tourism. As far as I have heard, yes it was the gas doodlebug trains car. Date: 09/12/17 10:17 Re: This Is How You Run Trains When The Rule Book Tells You To! Author: atsf121 CZ10 Wrote:
------------------------------------------------------- > atsf121 Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Very cool, don't think I've seen a picture of a > > "skunk" train with helpers before. Would the > > helper cut out a the summit then, or did it > stay > > on all the way to Willits? > > > > Nathan > > > > Posted from iPhone > > "Technically" would this even qualify as a "Skunk > Train"? Weren't > the original "Skunks" the gasoline powered > "doodlebugs" they ran > during the 1950's as a flag stop passenger > service? I think it was > much later when they started referring to the > whole operation as the > "Skunk Train" to promote tourism. Yes Date: 09/13/17 14:20 Re: This Is How You Run Trains When The Rule Book Tells You To! Author: davebb71 that PRR boxcar is a long way away from home rails. wonder what was in it that could not be sourced more locally?? dave, out.
Date: 09/13/17 14:23 Re: This Is How You Run Trains When The Rule Book Tells You To! Author: HotWater davebb71 Wrote:
------------------------------------------------------- > that PRR boxcar is a long way away from home > rails. wonder what was in it that could not be > sourced more locally?? dave, out. Maybe it is a load of wood for construction projects in the eastern states? Date: 09/13/17 15:27 Re: This Is How You Run Trains When The Rule Book Tells You To! Author: LarryDoyle LoggerHogger Wrote:
------------------------------------------------------- > Again, it's all in the rule book. > > Martin I'd expect the Special Instructions of the Employee Timetable would contain this important tidbit of information. -LD Date: 09/13/17 19:07 Re: This Is How You Run Trains When The Rule Book Tells You To! Author: SandingValve HotWater Wrote:
------------------------------------------------------- > davebb71 Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > that PRR boxcar is a long way away from home > > rails. wonder what was in it that could not be > > sourced more locally?? dave, out. > > Maybe it is a load of wood for construction > projects in the eastern states? Or possibly a load of machinery or machinery parts for the sawmill or even for the railroad itself. I too love the variety of traffic from that era! SV |