International Railroad Discussion > Railfaning in Palmeira da Serra - part 1 ( Brazil)

Yesterday 01/26, I visited the Serra do Mar  hill in Rio de Janeiro that is crossed by MRS Centro Line. That's a beautifull mountain area, with a humid forest and many species of animal and plants. MRS operates the tracks of old Central of Brazil rr that built the line in 1860's and was modernized to dual tracks in 1914. 

1) The nice road to reach Palmeira da Serra through the forest;

2 - 3) The old Palmeira da Serra station built with solid stone blocks.

Pedro Rezende
Vespasiano MG,

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4) The south portal of Tunnel 8;

5 - 6) The north portal.

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

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7) Another view of tunnel 8;

8) The plate of tunnel 8 added after the reconstruction in 1945;

9) Old houseof the master agent from the Centra of Brazil rr era.

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

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10) The CTC signals;

11) The Km position ;

12) The old water tower.

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

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13 - 15) After a few minutes, the first ore train arrived with two AC44's and 136 ore cars going down the 2% grade .

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

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16) 136 iron ore cars means a train weighting  eighteen thousand metric tonnes;

17) The video.

That's all for today.

 

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

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Very enjoyable series and video Pedro. Lots of interesting things to see. The trees and vegatation sure is a lush green.

Larry

I am a  little surprised that only two engines dynamic brakes could control 136 loaded cars going down 2 %.  Or was the squeaking I heard coming from trains brakes as well?

I also was wondering about the absence of more units on this train.  I remember being impressed by the Espee's operation of the Kaiser ore trains over Beaumont Hill:  3 on the point, 4 or 5 mid-train and 3 on the rear.  Drawbar stress must be something else on a train like this, although I did observe "permanent" linkage between some of the cars.  I wonder how many cars are in a "set?"  Interesting post, Pedro.

 

Greg Stadter
Phoenix, AZ

Yes, they use the train brake also. That's a long run down hill.

tomstp Wrote:
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> I am a  little surprised that only two engines
> dynamic brakes could control 136 loaded cars going
> down 2 %.  Or was the squeaking I heard coming
> from trains brakes as well?

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

Greg, MRS and Vale ore cars are linked by bars in pairs, so each two cars have a bar. The reason is the fact the car dumpers turn two at a time.

E25 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I also was wondering about the absence of more
> units on this train.  I remember being impressed
> by the Espee's operation of the Kaiser ore trains
> over Beaumont Hill:  3 on the point, 4 or 5
> mid-train and 3 on the rear.  Drawbar stress must
> be something else on a train like this, although I
> did observe "permanent" linkage between some of
> the cars.  I wonder how many cars are in a
> "set?"  Interesting post, Pedro.
>
>  

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