International Railroad Discussion > The train that brought the rain (Brazil)

On Friday 07/04, I did a 140 Km long trip with a friend to watch trains in Carandaí, MG. As I commented in other threads here in TO, MRS railroad have two lines for ore trains; one for empties and other for loadeds. Due to a problem with a big fill in the Ferrovia do Aço, the loaded trains were moved to run in the Centro Line. So, it is a nice opportunity to see trains running in the opposite direction in those tracks. Also, the loaded trains need DPU in the end in three locations. One of these locations is in the area we went to watch them.
Another interesting atraction to me visit that area is the fact that there was an accident in 1976 with the passenger train D-4  "Vera Cruz" and the empty ore KEW-325, what resulted in eight deaths and many injuries. That was the accident that ended the passenger trains between Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte.

1) The old cross that marks the point where the two trains collided in 1976;

2 - 3) Two views of Ilídio siding.
 

Pedro Rezende
Vespasiano MG,




Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/09/23 12:07 by pedrop.

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4 - 5) freight cars parked in the siding;

6) an old culvert from 1975.

Pedro Rezende
Vespasiano MG,
https://youtube.com/c/minasgeraisrailways1

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7) A loaded iron ore trains approaches fast;

8) At the crossing level;

9) The train broght us the rain. Not too bad for a hot day.
 

Pedro Rezende
Vespasiano MG,
https://youtube.com/c/minasgeraisrailways1

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10 - 11) Brand new ES44ACi 7508 working as DPU in its first run;

12) The video.

That's all for today.

Pedro

Pedro Rezende
Vespasiano MG,
https://youtube.com/c/minasgeraisrailways1

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Very interesting series Pedro. Sure enjoyed the video with the rain attack being caught. Those were strong looking rain drops.

Larry

Nice video Pedro.  Many cars look to be newer style.  Can you explain the yellow panels on the ore cars?
joe

Hi Joe
Yes, MRS introduced new style stainless GDT class ore cars made by Randon. They unload better than the old style ones.
Those yellow panels are used to help the car dumper operator to position the cars correctly. MRS dump two cars at a time.

13 - 14) New Randon ore cars.

boejoe Wrote:
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> Nice video Pedro.  Many cars look to be newer
> style.  Can you explain the yellow panels on the
> ore cars?
> joe

Pedro Rezende
Vespasiano MG,
https://youtube.com/c/minasgeraisrailways1



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/10/23 14:07 by pedrop.

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Thanks for the extra close up photos and the explanation.
joe

Interesting the car numbers and data are raised letters and numbers, and are high up on the car.... tag proof?

Hi dash944cw, 
In Brazil all freight cars have letters and numbers as seen in these ore cars. The first letter is the type of the car : G is gondola. The second letter is the subtype of the car: D means unloaded in car dumper. The third letter is maximum load accepted: D is for 119 tons and U for 144 tons. MRS and Vale have GDT and GDU ore cars.
In this link you can see a chart that explain the system. It is in portuguese, but you can understand it.

Freight car classification

The ore cars have raised letters and numbers because the iron ore is abrasive and corrode the painting very fast. They are high up on these new ore cars to be protected by the new bend profile of the cars against the ore that can fall during the loading and unloading operations. 

15) MRS GDU ore car of 144 gross tons. So, a common MRS 136 ore cars train can weight from 16,320 (GDT) to 19,584 (GDU) tons,  without the locomotives. Vale broad gauge 452 ore cars train can weight 54,200 (GDT) to 65,088 (GDU) tons without the locomotives. The Vale broad gauge 330 ore cars train can weight from 39,600 (GDT) to 47,520 (GDU) tons.

dash944cw Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Interesting the car numbers and data are raised
> letters and numbers, and are high up on the
> car.... tag proof?

Pedro Rezende
Vespasiano MG,
https://youtube.com/c/minasgeraisrailways1



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 04/10/23 18:06 by pedrop.

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