Search

I was involved in two accidents in street running, about a block apart. An old convertible with two teenage boys in it ran into the fuel tank of the Geep I was running when the rising sun got in their eyes. I had dinner with their parents the night before: they were my insurance agent's kids. Fortun...

I retired off the SW almost our years ago at Deming. Handled locals Hurley-Deming-Rincon and coal trains Rincon-Deming. On M&B I ran locals, bridge traffic between Meridian and Selma, and switched Nahola Yard. We would swap power at Nahola or Yantly between east and west bound trains so the clas...

Speaking of Darth Vader, go back to the original UP M10000.

Les

Goldenarm, It was an ex-WATCO unit. It was on the Meridian and Bigbee. The first year this railroad was in operation under its present owner, WATCO was contracted to operate the railroad with M&B power. I think they managed to destroy four M&B units. The next year, M&B took over operatio...

New Albany Indiana is not the only place. It also happens in New Albany, Mississippi.

Les

You are correct in that AC locomotives are less prone to damage under those circumstances. But locomotives do not "stall out" in the sense that the drive system "stops turning". You have to consider that there is no direct mechanical link between the engine/generator and drive wh...

I think a move like that would not be considered changing crafts. Rather, it would be moving from crafts into a management position. Normal restrictions on moving between crafts would not apply. Special Agents are exempt positions, not unionized unless something major has changed. The major consider...

I have seen several instances of this during my career. It usually happens in a yard, at night, when there is a confusion as to what switch leads into what track. It is usually the result of inattention or unfamiliarity with track layout. Usually, when that happens, someone realizes the mistake and ...

In most states, revenue gained from fuel tax is used to fund highway construction and maintenance. The highways are publicly-owned roads, supported by public taxes. Fuel taxes are therefore a form of user-taxes. Railroads are generally not owned by the public at large, although their owners are cert...

Good to see you back again!
Concentrate on getting well.

Les

Pat Dorin was one of my favorite railroad authors. Unfortunately, I read that he passed away last month. I have three of his books in my railroad book collection: The Domeliners; Everywhere West, the Burlington Route; and Missouri Pacific Passenger Trains- the Postwar Years. He was especially intere...

Russ,

I have heard those things called "Johnson Bars". The are about six feet long and flattened on the end that goes under the wheel. They would be risky to use in any situation involving a grade.

Les

You have to be really careful trying to move railroad cars with equipment that was not designed to do this. I have seen two farm tractors destroyed this way. They were trying to move loaded covered hoppers by tying a big hawser rope to a corner of the car and pulling it with the tractor (bends the c...

There could very well be Federal charges in addition to the two mentioned.

At one time, intentionally wrecking a train was a capital offense, and may still be.

There could also be a charge of interfering with Interstate Commerce.

This guy could be put away for quite some time.

Les

The answer to this question has to depend on the locality.

The class one employees I have worked with were happier and more satisfied with BNSF than with competing Class ones.

Les