It's Friday!!!!

[Stainless]

Hey Tis, do you hear anything of proposed light rail between LA and Vegas?


Carbon aka Stainless

[HB Vic]

See now I have even more questions. Are these things direct coupled? I'm guessing alternators, but probably back in the early days, DC correct? So are they using VFD's for the motors? and how do they excite the generators? PMG or? Diesels are usually fairly low rpm. So are they using a gearbox and 2 pole or direct and say a 4 pole generator? Or are they using something other than 60hz?

[Tishimself]

See now I have even more questions. Are these things direct coupled? I'm guessing alternators, but probably back in the early days, DC correct? So are they using VFD's for the motors? and how do they excite the generators? PMG or? Diesels are usually fairly low rpm. So are they using a gearbox and 2 pole or direct and say a 4 pole generator? Or are they using something other than 60hz?

Those are questions that are above my pay grade. I do know that the engine can generate anything from 0-1600 volts at 480 amps. It's a lot of power. There is an ability to hook up the engine to a substation and use it as a generator in case of a power outage. The way it works is this. Engine turns a generator, generator creates juice. Juice is sent to the traction motors via cables from a power grid in the bowels of the engine. The traction motor is geared to the axles, and the gear ratio depends on the type of engine that it is. Much the same as the size of the drivers on a steam engine determines the type of engine it is.

[Tishimself]

Hey Tis, do you hear anything of proposed light rail between LA and Vegas?


Carbon aka Stainless

I heard it's dead. At least, god I hope it is. They had a bad idea at best, and got people on board with it, even the UP. But I don't think the BNSF ever really came their way too much, and I'm pretty sure the idea has been scrapped. Now watch, next week they will announce they are starting service in January.

[McRib]

I heard it's dead. At least, god I hope it is. They had a bad idea at best, and got people on board with it, even the UP. But I don't think the BNSF ever really came their way too much, and I'm pretty sure the idea has been scrapped. Now watch, next week they will announce they are starting service in January.

Amtrak discontinued the desert wind in 97. It served vegas till amtrak went on a cost cutting rampage. The track is still there but inundated with freight trains that have priority. Id imagine the amtrak ride being long due to them having zero priority on both UP and BNSF's lines

[Tishimself]

Amtrak discontinued the desert wind in 97. It served vegas till amtrak went on a cost cutting rampage. The track is still there but inundated with freight trains that have priority. Id imagine the amtrak ride being long due to them having zero priority on both UP and BNSF's lines

As far as the venture you are referring to, the UP agreed to it, but wanted a huge amount of money for the upgrades needed to the track to handle 80+ mph trains. I thought it had gotten that, but the BNSF was a different story. Originally, the idea was YOU(the passenger) drive to Victorville, pick up the train, and go to Vegas. Problem was, who wants to drive halfway to VV and get on a train? turns out, not a lot. So they decided to try and extend it to Fullerton, interesting idea, but now you have to get BNSF and UP to give up a slot on Cajon pass. That slot is worth millions, literally. BNSF wanted a bucketload of money, and the UP wanted that and the first born son of everyone on the board of directors. I had heard that's where it fell apart, and came to a halt. And on top of that, do you guys see all those ratty looking Metrolink cars going back and forth, alongside the newer ones Metrolink bought from the Koreans after thy freaked out after Chatsworth? The ones they are getting rid of are sitting in sidings everywhere awaiting whatever disposal Metrolink can find to get them gone. Our Vegas friends were going to buy a bunch and refit them to be luxury cars. Color me unimpressed, color you in wait and see mode. The real story on the Chatsworth incident merits a string all on it's own, so I wont go into it here. But needless to say, Fullerton might have been a bridge too far. Last I heard they were going in a different direction. As for the desert wind, let s be clear here. BNSF LOVES Amtrak money, Amtrak is the second largest customer to BNSF, just slightly behind UPS at 30+million per year. In startling contrast, UP HATES Amtrak and all things Amtrak, and just barely tolerates our presence, I remember when I worked for the UP and heard over and over how Amtrak sucked and no one wanted them around on our tracks blah blah blah. So I feel we might see the Desert Wind again some day, Amtrak has enough skin in the Game UP will play ball, and they can get BNSF to do anything they want at 30+ million a year. But not until Amtrak gets a little more streamlined first.....

[Napanutt]

I have a question.
A 60, 70 whatever car train, all the cars have air brakes and are connected by lines to an air compressor, right? How is there not too much air pressure lose from beginning to end to render the brakes useless?

[McRib]

I have a question.
A 60, 70 whatever car train, all the cars have air brakes and are connected by lines to an air compressor, right? How is there not too much air pressure lose from beginning to end to render the brakes useless?

The engines use dynamic brakeing and the air supply is retarted strong. Every car has air tanks on them also. There is full shot on each car on demand.

[Napanutt]

The engines use dynamic brakeing and the air supply is retarted strong. Every car has air tanks on them also. There is full shot on each car on demand.

I thought something like. I've had a class A for almost 20 years now but I'm still intrigued by the inter workings of shit I don't know.

edit: Did some math, have had class A license 22 years now. Getting old sucks.

[Tishimself]

The engines use dynamic brakeing and the air supply is retarted strong. Every car has air tanks on them also. There is full shot on each car on demand.

Well, yes and no. Main air pressure for the main pipe on freight is 90psi, on passenger it's 110...main reservoir pressure is 125-140psi. I do not need dynamics to stop a train, I can do it with stretch braking, and maybe a small shot at the end. All engines, every one of them, has a compressor and a it's engaged at all times. Some are shaft driven, others are electrical, and computer driven. Depends on the the model and the year built. I have no control over them, they do as they please. As for the cars, each has a tank, and that is always charged 90psi. It is the ABSENSE of air, that sets the brakes....as in this diagram...