Longer Trains
Feb 25, 2022 11:41:05 #
My grandfather and his brother both worked for the Louisville & Nashville RR; my grandfather on bridge and construction, and my grand uncle as a fireman. My grand uncle moved from Louisville to Birmingham in the 40's, and I would occasionally visit them in Birmingham. My fondest memories were riding the Southwind. Mom and dad would put me aboard at Louisville's Union Station, and my grand uncle would greet me at Birmingham. In between, I was treated like a young prince. Those Pullman porters were very kind and protective and the food was outstanding. We'd stop in Bowling Green, and I'd get to ride in the diesel's cab until Nashville. Coming back from Birmingham was just as much fun.
Feb 25, 2022 11:47:28 #
Schoee
Loc: Europe
jerryc41 wrote:
I read a couple of articles about how freight trai... (show quote)
Longest in the world are in Australia. The record was set on june 21, 2001 in western australia between newman and port headland, a distance of 275km (170 miles) and the train consisted of 682 loaded iron ore wagons and 8 GE AC6000 locomotives giving a gross weight of almost 100,000 tonnes and moved 82,262 tonnes of ore, the train was 7.353 km (4.568 miles) long.
Feb 25, 2022 12:50:51 #
jerryc41 wrote:
Thank goodness for that! Imagine a car two miles long! 
How about one 5 miles long (you can find them on the Santa Monica Freeway in California!) (bumper to bumper just like a long train!).
Feb 25, 2022 12:55:40 #
Schoee wrote:
Longest in the world are in Australia. The record was set on june 21, 2001 in western australia between newman and port headland, a distance of 275km (170 miles) and the train consisted of 682 loaded iron ore wagons and 8 GE AC6000 locomotives giving a gross weight of almost 100,000 tonnes and moved 82,262 tonnes of ore, the train was 7.353 km (4.568 miles) long.
Wow, I bet a penny put on one of the tracks for that train to run over would have ballooned out to the size of a large serving platter!
Mar 6, 2022 18:50:24 #
Mac wrote:
Thanks for posting. I only watched about 6 min of the video, but yes a whole lot of freight is moved by rail. Growing up in Pittsburgh in the 1950s and 60s freight trains were a way of life then, as were coal barges on the river.
Have you been to Altoona? The curve and the Altoona Railroaders Museum are very interesting as is Steam Town USA in Scranton.
Have you been to Altoona? The curve and the Altoona Railroaders Museum are very interesting as is Steam Town USA in Scranton.
Takes a lot of engine horsepower to move those cars!
Mar 8, 2022 10:21:16 #
DickC wrote:
Takes a lot of engine horsepower to move those cars!
And all of those cars are attached by mechanical links. Each one has to hold so much weight. I'm surprised that trains don't pull apart.
Mar 8, 2022 10:29:36 #
jerryc41 wrote:
And all of those cars are attached by mechanical links. Each one has to hold so much weight. I'm surprised that trains don't pull apart.
I agree, there is a tremendous strain on those couplers!
Mar 8, 2022 13:09:29 #
DickC wrote:
I agree, there is a tremendous strain on those couplers!
I did see one train video showing a couple breaking. The train was just creeping along, though. It might have just opened - not sure which.
Mar 8, 2022 13:50:58 #
jerryc41 wrote:
I did see one train video showing a couple breaking. The train was just creeping along, though. It might have just opened - not sure which.
I've watched several vids of Australia and the truck trains, 5 and 6 or more of trailers on the highway. Would be a bitch to back up!!
Mar 9, 2022 08:10:13 #
DickC wrote:
I've watched several vids of Australia and the truck trains, 5 and 6 or more of trailers on the highway. Would be a bitch to back up!!
Yes, those are amazing, but I don't think they would work here.
Mar 9, 2022 08:17:49 #
jerryc41 wrote:
Yes, those are amazing, but I don't think they would work here.
I agree Jerry, traffic congestion is bad enough here as it is!
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.