by BandA
The highest weight per axle or per car is much more significant than the total weight of the train or number of cars. One very heavy car can cause much more damage than 100 lighter cars.
Railroad Forums
Moderators: MEC407, NHN503
Emmett wrote: ↑Fri Dec 08, 2023 11:26 am downeasters are heavierWrong again, as 4-5 loaded cement cars (using 263k weight limit as an example) and a single B23-7 would be heavier than an entire Downeaster, but the point remains that Amtrak holds more liability for carrying trains full of people.
Safetee wrote: ↑Fri Dec 08, 2023 10:39 am ...properly maintain their bridges in accordance with FRA bridge standards.FRA bridge standards are not a binary "safe or unsafe" condition. A bridge can, for example, be safe for 10 MPH freight operation but unsafe for 60 MPH passenger operation. Bridges are given ratings for exactly this reason. Unlike highway bridges, railroad bridge ratings not just weight-dependent, they are also speed-dependent. This is why, for example, the Merrimack River Bridge in Haverhill had a speed restriction for many years — 10 MPH for passenger trains and 5 MPH for freight trains. A train traveling at 60 MPH puts much greater dynamic forces on a bridge than a train traveling at 10 MPH.
NHV 669 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 08, 2023 12:28 pmalright. i guess i forgot that again, but the point is safety.Emmett wrote: ↑Fri Dec 08, 2023 11:26 am downeasters are heavierWrong again, as 4-5 loaded cement cars (using 263k weight limit as an example) and a single B23-7 would be heavier than an entire Downeaster
MEC407 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 08, 2023 12:41 pm At any rate, MaineDOT did announce that they were putting the bridge repairs out to bid, and I'm sure the bridges will be repaired eventually, or perhaps this has already happened. I just haven't heard anything about them recently but that doesn't mean nothing's been done.All I can find is mention of a study to see what needs to be done.
Red Wing wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 12:53 pm They tend to add cement blocks in the same weight as the equipment that was removed.Non of the NPCU's used in DE service have cement blocks in them, there's some lead shot ballast in the old fuel tank and in the frame but thats it. They're literally tin cans with a control stand. Every time they come to SHSY for their 92 days, they're always written up for how horrible they ride because they're light
Red Wing wrote: ↑Mon Dec 11, 2023 10:01 am Thank you for the correction CSRR573.Ive tried looking up the current weight put cant seem to find the right documentation at work for an official weight. Remember these have literally nothing inside the body of the locomotive and no traction motor combo units in them either. Just 4 dummy axles, so there a lot of weight saving there too. However when the 406 was up these ways, it had a cat generator in it for the display train. Thats the only time ove seen something in one of these