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As you have heard, the CZ left the rails here in Colorado because an idiot truck driver decided to put his truck in the path of the train. I am surprised that the locomotive wound up off the rails and on its side, Could that be because they are so much lighter than the freight units? Someone mention...

Last night I was staying in the Hotel Denver in Glenwood Springs, CO. It's right across the street from the UP line. At around 12:30 AM today I heard a loud noise, and when I looked out I saw an eastbound coal train with two locomotives in front. (It turned out to have five). I ran down to the track...

That makes sense. I wonder what an engine costs. I am guessing around $250K.

Yesterday I saw a BNSF SD70MAC that was built in 1996. Is there any chance that it has the original prime mover? If so I would imagine it's been rebuilt a few times. Or has it probably been replaced?

I am using the Scanner Radio app on my phone, but it doesn't do much for me. Trainmon5 looks great, and I signed up on their site but ran into a dead end.
Is a Uniden scanner pretty much the only way to go?

Thanks! Wow - a lot of great info there.

I am in a discussion with an class 1 RR engineer who claims that he run in run 8 even down to 1 MPH. My answer is that that's impossible - the power HAS to be reduced or there would be major wheel slip. I contend that the throttle may be at 8, but the actual power to the rails is far less. I know th...

I didn't think there were timetables for freight trains. Am I wrong? Also, when trackside, the idea is to just listen in case you pick up something interesting?

One thing, though. From their broadcasts how do determine what is going on - when a train will arrive where you are, etc.?

Thanks. I'll check it out.

I wish I had a dollar for every hour I waited for a train to show up. I am aware of the Uniden radios but have found them to be bulky, hard to set up, and inconvenient. I am going to again be riding an Amtrak sleeper car from Denver to Glenwood Springs next month. UP trains are infrequent there, and...

Thanks. That makes sense.

Here in the west it gets into the 90s, but it's very dry. Back east, though, a much different story. I bet that humidity affects pollution emitted, but I was wondering if humidity increases engine eat or causes performance problems. In Saudi Arabia, temps in the 90s can feel like 178 - in the shade!...

That makes sense. West Point had said "HEP on 2 or more loco trains is occasionally switched to trailing units," which didn't make sense to me. I would thing HEP is always on the training unit on a train with two locomotives.

So HEP is usually generated from the front unit on a 2-unit train? I am guessing that the prime movers burn through at least 2-3 gallons a minute for the locomotive providing HEP. I don't know their throttle position but it sounds high and I don't think it changes. An idling P42 probably burns 30 ga...