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  • Strange DPU Placement

  • Discussion of the operations of CSX Transportation, from 1980 to the present. Official site can be found here: CSXT.COM.
Discussion of the operations of CSX Transportation, from 1980 to the present. Official site can be found here: CSXT.COM.

Moderator: MBTA F40PH-2C 1050

 #1551470  by Pensyfan19
 
Does anyone know why there is an autorack between two locomotives on this CSX train? Is it damaged and being taken for repairs? One suggestion for this was possibly for bridge loading. Could this be the case as well?

Link to the post: https://www.reddit.com/r/trains/comment ... h_clinton/
 #1551515  by eolesen
 
I'd guess a busted air line on the autorack. Having the car between the locomotives allows air from the second loco to feed the rest of the train. Can't couple it to the end of the train because the EOT needs live air to function correctly.
 #1566229  by Engineer Spike
 
It is against the rules to have a DP train without a continuous brake pipe throughout the train. Obviously the DP unit uses radio signals to know what to do. On long trains, certain places where mountains or tunnels are, the radio signal is disrupted. This wouldn't be likely on such a short train, but what if a DP radio fails? The system is designed so that the remote keeps doing what it was last instructed to do, in the event of a communication loss. As a safety feature, a straight 20 psi brake pipe reduction will idle a remote, if it is in communication loss. A remote can also be used as a marker, if none was available. That is likely the situation.