Dead units in tow or conserving fuel?

[guilford88panam]

Hi everyone. I took a trip to Rigby on saturday and saw many units. I saw 4 leasers, the 621, 2 gp40s(MEC 374 and B&M 340) and a gp40-2w but did not see the number. The 621 and 3 leasers were all on and coupled to a train set for the north. But I noticed that MEC 374, B&M 340 and the last leaser(light gray beat up hlcx sd40) were all off....I thought either that they were dead in tow going to Waterville or just conserving fuel?? They sd40 was making an awful clicking noise but that was the only noises from those 3 units. I also saw VRE v33 the day before but it was gone on that day. I dont recall the numbers of the leasers and I did not take any pictures but I rember some details if that helps answer my question...
Thanks
Tim

[mick]

They were dead going to Waterville. The "clicking" noise you hear is the moisture release valve or "spitter" on the main reservior. When air is compressed, it gets hot and wet. The spitter keeps water from building up inside the reservior.

[guilford88panam]

They were dead going to Waterville. The "clicking" noise you hear is the moisture release valve or "spitter" on the main reservior. When air is compressed, it gets hot and wet. The spitter keeps water from building up inside the reservior.

They were? I hope its not major I like the gp40s. And I know the sound of the "spitter" but it was not it. It sounded way different like metal on metal or some mechanical noise. But it most likley was the spitter...

[mick]

When an engine is dead, the compressor is not running, so the Main reservior is empty on that unit. The spitter is still running though, and it makes a much more resonant and metallic "pong" sounding noise in an empty reservior.

[Tim Mullins]

Pan-Am, Guilford, either or has many dead units in tow...trust me, I use to haul them.

[guilford88panam]

When an engine is dead, the compressor is not running, so the Main reservior is empty on that unit. The spitter is still running though, and it makes a much more resonant and metallic "pong" sounding noise in an empty reservior.

Okay I see. But how do you know these locos are dead? Do you work for Pan Am? Is it minor or big? Thanks for answering my questions.

[guilford88panam]

Pan-Am, Guilford, either or has many dead units in tow...trust me, I use to haul them.

Lol yeah it seems like they will have nothing of their own soon! lol just kidding.

[NV290]

When an engine is dead, the compressor is not running, so the Main reservior is empty on that unit. The spitter is still running though, and it makes a much more resonant and metallic "pong" sounding noise in an empty reservior.

It makes no difference is an engine is running or dead, if it's MU'd, the main reservoirs are most definatley full of air. That is the purpose of the MU Main Reservoir equalizing hose. In order for the brakes to work properly on an MU'd engine, you need to have air in the main reservoirs. Even if the loco is "Boxcar'd" with only the brake pipe hooked up, you will still have air in the main reservoirs. Their is a check valve from the brake pipe that will fill them.

[mick]

I stand corrected. I guess when a unit is not running, it just makes those little noises stand out more.

[MEC407]

Okay I see. But how do you know these locos are dead? Do you work for Pan Am? Is it minor or big? Thanks for answering my questions.

I think what he meant by "dead" is that the units were not running -- i.e. they were shut down. I don't think he meant dead as in "inoperable." Mick, am I right?

[mick]

I meant "dead" as in not running. I don't know the particulars about these engines, but it is pretty safe to assume that engines shut down in a train going east are headed to Waterville.
Will they ever come back? Who knows, sometimes units sit at Waterville for years, then are suddenly ressurected....Or cut up. Maybe they just were out of fuel.

[NV290]

I stand corrected. I guess when a unit is not running, it just makes those little noises stand out more.

When they are not running you hear all sorts of sounds you never did before. Flat Spots, air leaks, creaks and groans. Idling hides all those nasty sounds!

[guilford88panam]

I stand corrected. I guess when a unit is not running, it just makes those little noises stand out more.

When they are not running you hear all sorts of sounds you never did before. Flat Spots, air leaks, creaks and groans. Idling hides all those nasty sounds!

Yeah the weird thing was the "not running" sd40-2 was like drooling fuel from the fuel cap a little bit when the train would move but not when it was stopped......It only did it a little bit...

[guilford88panam]

I meant "dead" as in not running. I don't know the particulars about these engines, but it is pretty safe to assume that engines shut down in a train going east are headed to Waterville.
Will they ever come back? Who knows, sometimes units sit at Waterville for years, then are suddenly ressurected....Or cut up. Maybe they just were out of fuel.

Okay....

[guilford88panam]

Okay I see. But how do you know these locos are dead? Do you work for Pan Am? Is it minor or big? Thanks for answering my questions.

I think what he meant by "dead" is that the units were not running -- i.e. they were shut down. I don't think he meant dead as in "inoperable." Mick, am I right?

I see.