Eastern Railroad Discussion > Sixty Two Minutes...crossing blocked by moving train. Mance, PA

Mance, PA, about six months ago.  Can't remember the train symbol, but it was a westbound climbing the east slope of Sandpatch.  It was a "I think i can, I think i can" moment.. When asked "what speed are you making" by Jacksonville, the engineer answered "1.5 MPH."  I guess you can't overheat an AC traction motor..  In any case, it took the l o n g snail SIxty Two miniutes to clear the Mance road crossing at mp 208.  The train never stopped moving.  You would have to "drive a stake in the ground"  to see movement!!

mp208 Wrote:
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> Mance, PA, about six months ago.  Can't remember
> the train symbol, but it was a westbound climbing
> the east slope of Sandpatch.  It was a "I think i
> can, I think i can" moment.. When asked "what
> speed are you making" by Jacksonville, the
> engineer answered "1.5 MPH."  I guess you can't
> overheat an AC traction motor..  In any case, it
> took the l o n g snail SIxty Two miniutes to clear
> the Mance road crossing at mp 208.  The train
> never stopped moving.  You would have to "drive a
> stake in the ground"  to see movement!!

Been there done that....sometimes your power is no good and the rail is wet....but if you are moving don't stop...you'll never get going again. 

One of the advantages of AC traction is that you can't burn up the traction motors with extended slow, heavy lugging. There is no "short-time rating" involved.
 

toledopatch Wrote:
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> One of the advantages of AC traction is that you
> can't burn up the traction motors with extended
> slow, heavy lugging. There is no "short-time
> rating" involved.
>  

It’s down to fact that their pulling ability far exceeds the power that can be applied to them…there is a burnout point but it’s only reached when it is worn clear out and even then it’s self protecting. If it’s near failure the computer will derate it or shut it off completely

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The only CSX train that regularly has enough power is the OCS... Tells you all you need to know...

MC6853 Wrote:
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> The only CSX train that regularly has enough power
> is the OCS... Tells you all you need to know...

Yes. An SD70ace etc locomotive weighs about 200 tons, so I'm sure somebody has done the math about sending an extra locomotive on long, heavy trains.  Pulling 200 tons off line on flat land in order to use it to save two hours in the mountains must not have passed the test.

Yeah. The trains are heavy enough. Extra engines would add more weight. :)

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
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> MC6853 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The only CSX train that regularly has enough
> power
> > is the OCS... Tells you all you need to know...
>
> Yes. An SD70ace etc locomotive weighs about 200
> tons, so I'm sure somebody has done the math about
> sending an extra locomotive on long, heavy
> trains.  Pulling 200 tons off line on flat land
> in order to use it to save two hours in the
> mountains must not have passed the test.

Railroads publish for employees the tonnage ratings for every route of each locomotive model in inventory. The power bureau follows the ratings religiously when assigning power. What the ratings don't account for is less than optimum conditions...contaminated rail....square wheels.....worn out locomotive... lack of sand....you name it and any of it can slow you down. Also, heaven help you if stall...."the book says you're good for tonnage" "Duh! So if we're good for tonnage why are we not moving?!"

Tonnage rating from the book is based on dry, level, straight rail. Throw in some curves, a little rain, and all that book is good for is kindling.

Mouse Wrote:
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> Tonnage rating from the book is based on dry,
> level, straight rail. Throw in some curves, a
> little rain, and all that book is good for is
> kindling.

That is incorrect. Tonnage ratings (at least on CSX) are based on the subdivision.  

Typhoon Wrote:
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> Mouse Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Tonnage rating from the book is based on dry,
> > level, straight rail. Throw in some curves, a
> > little rain, and all that book is good for is
> > kindling.
>
> That is incorrect. Tonnage ratings (at least on
> CSX) are based on the subdivision.  

UP too.

So, to be clear..

If you had a loaded grain train, the power desk would be expected to know, or find, the required amount of power for each subdivision on the route. And hopefully find good, working power sufficient to get the train over its route.  But, if it was raining on the mountain as you tried to go uphill, good luck with that?  I'm focused on the original post of the train speed down to 1.5 miles per hour.  Wet rail, poorly performing locomotives, had to stop on the hill, many reasons why this train wasn't zipping right along.

Not sure if this had changed but offline locos were never added to the calculated tonnage of the train and like someone else stated, locos are HEAVY.