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Re: Norfolk Southern begins major GE locomotive rebuild program

 by Engineer Spike ¦  Sun Jul 03, 2022 10:01 pm ¦  Forum: General Electric ¦  Topic: Norfolk Southern begins major GE locomotive rebuild program ¦  Replies: 41 ¦  Views: 33180

This thread has died a few years ago, but I was wondering about their rebuilding programs in general. It was stated that the C40-8.5 program was suspended. Did NS scrap all remaining -8? I haven't seen any in quite a while. Meantime, the -9 to AC program is up to the 4500 number block. Way back it w...

Re: B&M R1 Mountain

 by Engineer Spike ¦  Sun Jul 03, 2022 8:13 pm ¦  Forum: Steam Locomotives ¦  Topic: B&M R1 Mountain ¦  Replies: 18 ¦  Views: 5753

Thanks for the detailed answers. They have lead me to a few thoughts in summarization. Maybe Lima was a bit overboard in the calculations of what sized firebox was needed to have the steam production rates needed to have a large locomotive sustain high demand steam load? Maybe in the boom times of t...

Re: A couple of technical questions...

 by Engineer Spike ¦  Sun Jul 03, 2022 7:41 pm ¦  Forum: Steam Locomotives ¦  Topic: A couple of technical questions... ¦  Replies: 5 ¦  Views: 1029

It seems to me that the length of time to heat a large volume of water might have been detrimental. Other factors come to mind like water circulation through the boiler, Maybe the size and intensity of the modern (now about 80+ years old fireboxes offset this.

Re: Staggers Act - A Revisit

 by Engineer Spike ¦  Sun Jul 03, 2022 7:15 pm ¦  Forum: General Class I and II Discussion ¦  Topic: Staggers Act - A Revisit ¦  Replies: 64 ¦  Views: 9540

Right again John from Jersey. The staffing problem, as I've mentioned has multiple issues. Over the years prior to PSR many railroads had bee going towards schemes where there was more predictability for crews. In my time at BNSF they had a scheme where the engineers were on call for four days, but ...

Re: What If the Norfolk & Western Hadn't Merged?

 by Engineer Spike ¦  Thu Jun 30, 2022 12:09 am ¦  Forum: Norfolk & Western, VGN, WAB, NKP, P&WV, ACY, IT ¦  Topic: What If the Norfolk & Western Hadn't Merged? ¦  Replies: 11 ¦  Views: 12343

This is a complex situation. Even before Penn Central and the N&W expansion, N&W was controlled by PRR. There was a discussion about those roads merging. The topic of NYC and ChessIe System merging was also floated. In this case C&O was a wealthy company. NYC was sick, due to its passeng...

Re: SW1 567U to 567V transition

 by Engineer Spike ¦  Tue Jun 28, 2022 11:28 pm ¦  Forum: EMD - Electro-Motive (Progress Rail, General Motors) ¦  Topic: SW1 567U to 567V transition ¦  Replies: 10 ¦  Views: 6481

During the war EMD may have been lacking supplies at different times. The out of sequence serial numbers seem to have occurred then. Maybe blocks were built as supplies of material became available. Maybe with war contracts an order had to be put on hold for a spell. X number of 567s for LSTs may, f...

Re: CSX Track Upgrades & Infrastructure of Pan Am

 by Engineer Spike ¦  Tue Jun 28, 2022 11:10 pm ¦  Forum: Pan Am Railways (formerly Guilford Rail System) ¦  Topic: CSX Track Upgrades & Infrastructure of Pan Am ¦  Replies: 872 ¦  Views: 159903

That's interesting to find out that Manafort is in railroad construction now. I grew up in their HQ town of Plainville, Conn., and know some of the family.

Re: Staggers Act - A Revisit

 by Engineer Spike ¦  Tue Jun 28, 2022 11:00 pm ¦  Forum: General Class I and II Discussion ¦  Topic: Staggers Act - A Revisit ¦  Replies: 64 ¦  Views: 9540

John From Jersey, you hit the nail on the head. This is a debacle which has many factors involved. Lots of careful consideration is definitely needed to come to a meaningful resolution. I have seen how the new NS president is trying to play nice with the workers. Maybe it's window dressing, but mayb...

Re: Any tips on landing a job interview for conductor?

 by Engineer Spike ¦  Sat Jun 18, 2022 11:47 am ¦  Forum: Employment ¦  Topic: Any tips on landing a job interview for conductor? ¦  Replies: 5 ¦  Views: 1417

I never saw this post, but in my opinion, you're better off changing your major to something more universally useful. There should be no trouble finding a railroad job, if you would like one. Railroads are desperate for help now. I've mentioned changing your major for a few reasons. First, as mentio...

Re: New CSX Hire Hearing and Vision Test

 by Engineer Spike ¦  Sat Jun 18, 2022 11:22 am ¦  Forum: Employment ¦  Topic: New CSX Hire Hearing and Vision Test ¦  Replies: 1 ¦  Views: 424

They shouldn't be.

Re: Feedwater Heaters

 by Engineer Spike ¦  Sat Jun 18, 2022 11:20 am ¦  Forum: Steam Locomotives ¦  Topic: Feedwater Heaters ¦  Replies: 14 ¦  Views: 5082

Re: "New Haven in a few examples would have an appliance from company A on engines 1-10, and the competitor’s on 11-20. That way a real side to side comparison could be observed." ------A policy, or habit, or eccentricity, or... that they continued into the early phase of dieselization: t...

Re: FT 567U to 567V transition

 by Engineer Spike ¦  Sat Jun 18, 2022 11:12 am ¦  Forum: EMD - Electro-Motive (Progress Rail, General Motors) ¦  Topic: FT 567U to 567V transition ¦  Replies: 2 ¦  Views: 3474

When did Southern finally retire its FT fleet? I'd like to know if a later 567A or B was installed later in their careers.

Re: Staggers Act - A Revisit

 by Engineer Spike ¦  Fri Jun 03, 2022 11:44 am ¦  Forum: General Class I and II Discussion ¦  Topic: Staggers Act - A Revisit ¦  Replies: 64 ¦  Views: 9540

I agree that BNSF being privately held shouldn't be subject to this. I remember reading about how Uncle Warren said that he wanted his holdings run for the long term, thinking about 100 years from now. Maybe he hast to follow suit to remain competitive? I'm not a big fan of regulation and for once c...

Re: SW1 567U to 567V transition

 by Engineer Spike ¦  Sun May 29, 2022 11:01 pm ¦  Forum: EMD - Electro-Motive (Progress Rail, General Motors) ¦  Topic: SW1 567U to 567V transition ¦  Replies: 10 ¦  Views: 6481

Is it possible that EMD built X number of engines in anticipation of orders, but installed them without regard to their serial numbers in relationship to locomotives serial numbers>

Re: Pre-Railroad Employment Health Exams

 by Engineer Spike ¦  Mon May 23, 2022 3:19 pm ¦  Forum: Employment ¦  Topic: Pre-Railroad Employment Health Exams ¦  Replies: 4 ¦  Views: 1644

I wear glasses too, and have had no problem. I don't recall if they are corrected to 20/20, but aren't too far off from that. As to hearing, the above poster was probably referring to the big deal of about 30 years ago. Railroads didn't mandate hearing protection, and many locomotives had horns moun...

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