jgallaway81 wrote:Noel, I'll have to double check the NS rule book, but I'm 90% certain that it says "when the short time ratings of the traction motors have been exceeded, the movement must be stopped, the reverser centered, and the throttle advanced to notch eight to provide increased airflow from the traction motor blower to cool the motors."
I've never actually had to do this, so I'll have to double check the actual rule.
Bob; In order to get qualified west, I planned on marking off to do it on my own time. Fortunately, it worked out nice that Allentown got a job from there to Altoona. So I bid it. Had to drive to Allentown to get the train, west to the fuelpad for my pilot, and then west to Altoona. It was nice for a year when I had qualifications from Altoona to Croxton plus to Morrisville and to Hagerstown. Unfortunately my quals to Jersey, Morrisville & Hagerstown have all expired, but I've since added qualifications over the roller-coaster from Altoona to Conway.
This is turning into a great thread, with great info - i almost feel like I could run a train over the curve now thanks to Jgallaways post
(no, not really haha) -
Ive always understood that on an EMD, well at least a '40 series, to increase amperage for the traction motor blowers and accessories, as well as building air with a shaft driven compressor, notch 4 is optimal. Ive had to rev it up to cool it off that after trying to shove 28 stone hoppers up (half loaded, half empty) the Middlebrook Industral track in NJ with a single NJT Passenger geared geep (can't pull or push for nothing, Min cont speed is like 17mph with that gearing). The loco was not happy - it was hot - the TM were very hot - had to sit and wait for it to cool down for a few min before we creeped a few more feet. That smell is a clue the loco is getting very cranky - quite a unique smell of very big things getting very hot and smokey...Good thing it was 2am, as we had Route 22 crossing blocked for about 40 minutes
I know its not anything like Horseshoe Curve or what you freight guys deal with in Mountain Railroading, but its a damn steep grade and horrendous track, just a much smaller scale
ive been out there to buff only once, it was in January and it was freakin cold. Snow on the ground, but still was amazing to watch. Im hoping to get back out there this summer sometime to go to teh park on the curve and revisit a few other places. I also wanna get back out to Sand Patch as well.....thats another great place with great sounds!