Nostalgia & History > From my office window...1-12-05

Here is my first trip on an SD70ACe taken by my conductor, Curtis Hobbs, as we are running down the main line on the Fresno Sub approaching Goshen Junction on the ZLCBR. You might not be able to see it but the speedometer reads 70 mph. I wasn't really impressed the the layout of the controls or with the lack of some place to put my coffee (notice the cup on the control stand) and a decent place for my paper work. I'm starting to like the newer GEs every day. And I can't believe I just said that!

JDE

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Looks Like you are in run 8

Do you like the horn on these new units??

SP7615

Trainman51 Wrote:
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> Looks Like you are in run 8

John is ALWAYS in run 8. Not just on the engine either.....

V

SLOCONDR

Was just noting this unit has " pork Chop" windows don't know of any SD70ACe's that have they possible a SD70M with the Second design Cab and " Fire" control screens, as UP?NS has them, but what do I know I with GE

SD70ACe, with windshields like that?

The first SD70ACe's didn't arrive on UP until April 05. More likely a 5200-series?

You guys are correct. This is NOT an SD70ACe. According to my timebook records for this day (copy attached) it is the 5211, an SD70M. I apologize for the error

JDE

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SP7615 Wrote:
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> Do you like the horn on these new units??
>
> SP7615


If you mean the sound of the horn, yes, it's okay. An M5 would sure sound better. If you're talking about the little thing sticking up in the air to blow the horn then yes, I like that too. I do like it better than what GE has for their horn.

JDE

An 8 hour day? What a treat that must be! At least the EMD's have the better seats although not much room on that side of the cab. Glad I don't have to worry about walking around that red handle in grade territory. It isn't that hard to knock it over either way with the seats positioned where they are.

sphogger

sphogger Wrote:
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> Glad I don't
> have to worry about walking around that red handle
> in grade territory. It isn't that hard to knock
> it over either way with the seats positioned where
> they are.
>
> sphogger


I've done that more than once just sitting in a siding waiting for a meet. This is one reason why I don't care too much for this cab design. I would have thought they could have done better than what they did.

Actually a trip of 5 hours and 15 minutes switch to switch really isn't a very good run. But, as I'm sure you are aware, there are LOTS of slow orders we have to deal with and some of them have been out there for over a year. The best I've ever done on this run, switch to switch, is 3 hours and 55 minutes on a "Z" train. I think that's pretty good for a 236 mile run.

JDE

John, I have done Roseville to Dunsmuir 5' 30" on duty on the LABRF. Now it is a nominal 12-14 hour day for the same reasons you state, we are lucky to even make it. Dunsmuir to Klamath was a 3 hour day, at least twice that now, more like 8. Oh the good old days!! We have the power on the UP, too bad we can't go. Hope to meet you in SLO in august!

sphogger

I really feel sorry for my Dunsmuir brothers because the get called for a supposedly expedited train and it takes them forever to get to Stockton.

The first time they ran the ZBRLC from Brooklyn Yard, I had to go out north of Stockton to relieve the crew from Dunsmuir, a 263 mile run to Lathrop/Stockton. I asked the engineer if they had to wait very long for the train to get to Dunsmuir. He said they departed Dunsmuir 35 minutes after going on duty and the problem with getting over the road was because of the dispatching (or lack there of) and the slow orders. The last few times I had the train from Stockton to Bakersfield, the dispatchers have been usually doing a better job of getting it over the road.

On another note, the first time the ZBRLC ran from Brooklyn to LA, the crew that relieved me at Bakersfield that took it to LA said they never made LA. They sat at a place at Burbank called Olive and died after sitting there for 6 hours. The train finally made the shops (LA's intermodel facility) 4 hours later.

And yes, I plan on being in SLO in August.

JDE

NO, I'm not an engineer!
Just one who was in the electronic ind's for many years.....
We often wondered if those that design equipment every had to use it...
Looking at your control panel, I'm sure it could have been more operator friendly.........