Hello from Rugby, Warwickshire, England, we were at Rugby ND. 7 years ago on the Amtrak. Anyway this Ramp car with its folding ramp mechanism was fascinating to watch.. I thought it would be impossible to expect those small railroad machines to travel long distance on their own without holding up other trains. Thank you for your great informative video. JNS. Rugby.
that car is pretty amazing. i had seen one loaded up and moving out. I figured it ran on hydraulics. but the amount of them i had underestimated. LOL. Great video.
@@lumpar87 I can identify with the regulator CANbus debug. Right now, my son is at a customer site, debugging a CANbus issue. CAN works great, except when it doesn't. On the scorpion, watching the ramp rolling itself back up, there's all those flippy things that look like they're going to jam it up, then they flip out of the way, just in time. Fun stuff!
Just found my next scratch build. Scorpion Car, Thank you Fren. On second thought,after the ramp folding up. Nah. That's really complicated scratch build. 3D print instead,lol.
Interesting piece of equipment... I'm over in Williston, so the first question that came to mind is just how well this critter is going to operate in severe cold... Then again, deep winter isn't when they're going to be out with the track gangs for such projects that require an entire set of MOW equipment, either. Wonder how well all that is going to hold up (a lot of weight cantilevered on this system). I'm impressed, though! I used to occasionally get MOW equipment loads when I was still pulling rgn's over-the-road (4x4's for rails to keep wheel flanges from destroying my trailer deck). I'll be keeping my eyes open for this setup the next time I'm out shooting stills over here in western ND and eastern MT.
Well. Funny thing is. This was filmed in Rugby, but I got two more ramp cars after this more recently. One in Shelby, MT and the other one is still in Williston, ND. If you go look at the west side of the train yard on the south side of town it should still be there until sometime in the middle of this week. Now you can't go out on the tracks for safety reasons but it can be seen from the road. To answer your questions though, they still work in the cold weather. Just very slowly. And most of my Canadian customers do replace rails in the winter. I never thought it was a good idea, but they've been doing it for years now so I guess there aren't any problems with it.
@@lumpar87 Thanks for the info! I live only a couple of blocks from the depot here (if I can sleep in a truck beside the diamond in Stratford, TX, a few horns and slack running out two blocks away isn't going to wake me lol). I'll take a look over on the dirt road in a little bit (that miiight be why this seems familiar, for I might have seen it folded up on the end of the car, either here or in transit). As for safety, I'm always respectful of property, especially in this day and age, and worked civilian brakeman positions on a military rail operation years ago... Always try not to excite the local crews in any way! :) Interesting about the cold weather work... But as short as the warm seasons are here, I guess that shouldn't be a surprise. Will be interesting to see how these hold up after a few years of use! I like it, though, for it's a novel yet obvious approach. :) Much obliged for the info... I'll take your word for the one over in Shelby, too, for that's a looooong drive over from here!
In my area, northern MN, WI, MI, they tend to only run smaller rail gangs in the winter time and don't really use these load flats as much. They use guys like me who move their equipment on tilt deck trailers during the winter months since they are moving far fewer machines.
I have worked with NS's rail gangs. There is another video on my profile that has the whole gang working. It's not the double sided gang though. Also, NS doesn't use narrow gauge.
@@lumpar87 Actually, the double sided gang *does* use narrow gauge. The new rail is moved from outside the ties to the center onto steel ties with hinged gauging tabs that keep the new rail to about 30" gauge, and the next couple machines ride on the narrow gauge while they remove the old rail. Then the new rail is moved out to standard gauge by a continuous S curve mover machine. I've been planning to post the whole process as a series of videos, "next this machine picks up the old tie plates on the big magnetic wheel"...
That's odd. As many machines as we sell to NS we've never sold them a narrow gauge piece of equipment. We have several customers that use narrow gauge in Alaska and certain parts of Canada. So you're teaching me something new.
@@lumpar87 Several of the machines have both standard and narrow gauge wheels on the same axle. The short bit of narrow gauge is what makes it possible for the double side gang to work, since both old rails are moved out at the same time, so there is no reference rail left to guide the machines. Maybe this winter I will post the whole circus parade.
How does the sequencing of the ramps work, is it just size of the hyd cylinders and the wieght of the ramps or is there some other magic going on? I have been retired for too long, can't think of the proper terminology anymore.
There are actual sequencing valves with limit points. When one leg fully extends it pushes a lever and sends fluid to the next section. The last leg is done by something called a counterbalance valve. Meaning when the fluid is out of places to go it over powers that valve and folds down the last leg. Likewise, when rolling up, there’s a second counterbalance valve to fold the legs.
Oh I read this so many times and forgot I showed a FRED at the end of the video and couldn't figure out what you meant. 😂 Yes I've heard it called both, but for the sake of any kids potentially watching I try to keep it clean.
Hello from Rugby, Warwickshire, England, we were at Rugby ND. 7 years ago on the Amtrak. Anyway this Ramp car with its folding ramp mechanism was fascinating to watch.. I thought it would be impossible to expect those small railroad machines to travel long distance on their own without holding up other trains. Thank you for your great informative video. JNS. Rugby.
Wow that's awesome. Glad to hear from across the pond.
Wow…. Impressive piece of machinery! I have never seen one of those before. Thanks for sharing! 😊
I'm glad you liked it, I hope to share more cool stuff in the future.
that car is pretty amazing. i had seen one loaded up and moving out. I figured it ran on hydraulics. but the amount of them i had underestimated. LOL. Great video.
Awesome. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
This is a fascinating piece of machinery.
Yes these are pretty unique.
That was cool to watch thank you
You are welcome. I am just glad you enjoyed it.
This is pretty high on the cool index!
Subscribed.
Honestly, I'm just glad you enjoyed it. I hope to deliver more like this in the future.
@@lumpar87 I can identify with the regulator CANbus debug. Right now, my son is at a customer site, debugging a CANbus issue. CAN works great, except when it doesn't. On the scorpion, watching the ramp rolling itself back up, there's all those flippy things that look like they're going to jam it up, then they flip out of the way, just in time. Fun stuff!
Just found my next scratch build. Scorpion Car, Thank you Fren. On second thought,after the ramp folding up. Nah. That's really complicated scratch build. 3D print instead,lol.
That would definitely be interesting to see. Make sure to tag me in the video. I would love to see it.
@@lumpar87 Edited my comment after ramp folded up. Very cool video. Thank you for taking the time to film it.
@ModelingSteelinHO I’m just glad you enjoyed it.
@@lumpar87 Thank you for film it. You have a great eye for interesting things.
@ModelingSteelinHO I actually work for the company that builds them.
Interesting piece of equipment... I'm over in Williston, so the first question that came to mind is just how well this critter is going to operate in severe cold... Then again, deep winter isn't when they're going to be out with the track gangs for such projects that require an entire set of MOW equipment, either. Wonder how well all that is going to hold up (a lot of weight cantilevered on this system). I'm impressed, though! I used to occasionally get MOW equipment loads when I was still pulling rgn's over-the-road (4x4's for rails to keep wheel flanges from destroying my trailer deck). I'll be keeping my eyes open for this setup the next time I'm out shooting stills over here in western ND and eastern MT.
Well. Funny thing is. This was filmed in Rugby, but I got two more ramp cars after this more recently. One in Shelby, MT and the other one is still in Williston, ND. If you go look at the west side of the train yard on the south side of town it should still be there until sometime in the middle of this week. Now you can't go out on the tracks for safety reasons but it can be seen from the road.
To answer your questions though, they still work in the cold weather. Just very slowly. And most of my Canadian customers do replace rails in the winter. I never thought it was a good idea, but they've been doing it for years now so I guess there aren't any problems with it.
@@lumpar87 Thanks for the info! I live only a couple of blocks from the depot here (if I can sleep in a truck beside the diamond in Stratford, TX, a few horns and slack running out two blocks away isn't going to wake me lol). I'll take a look over on the dirt road in a little bit (that miiight be why this seems familiar, for I might have seen it folded up on the end of the car, either here or in transit). As for safety, I'm always respectful of property, especially in this day and age, and worked civilian brakeman positions on a military rail operation years ago... Always try not to excite the local crews in any way! :)
Interesting about the cold weather work... But as short as the warm seasons are here, I guess that shouldn't be a surprise. Will be interesting to see how these hold up after a few years of use! I like it, though, for it's a novel yet obvious approach. :)
Much obliged for the info... I'll take your word for the one over in Shelby, too, for that's a looooong drive over from here!
Thank you for your service.
In my area, northern MN, WI, MI, they tend to only run smaller rail gangs in the winter time and don't really use these load flats as much. They use guys like me who move their equipment on tilt deck trailers during the winter months since they are moving far fewer machines.
Cool you were allowed to operate it right also ex Iowa interstate diesel 😮
Well it's part of my job to make sure it operates correctly. Also, what is Iowa state diesel?
@@lumpar87 Iowa interstate is a railroad that operates in Nebraska Iowa and Illinois
Have you ever encountered NS's double sided rail gang? We recently watched the whole process. For a few minutes, the NS main line is narrow gauge.
I have worked with NS's rail gangs. There is another video on my profile that has the whole gang working. It's not the double sided gang though. Also, NS doesn't use narrow gauge.
@@lumpar87 Actually, the double sided gang *does* use narrow gauge. The new rail is moved from outside the ties to the center onto steel ties with hinged gauging tabs that keep the new rail to about 30" gauge, and the next couple machines ride on the narrow gauge while they remove the old rail. Then the new rail is moved out to standard gauge by a continuous S curve mover machine. I've been planning to post the whole process as a series of videos, "next this machine picks up the old tie plates on the big magnetic wheel"...
That's odd. As many machines as we sell to NS we've never sold them a narrow gauge piece of equipment. We have several customers that use narrow gauge in Alaska and certain parts of Canada. So you're teaching me something new.
Where did you find this rail gang?
@@lumpar87 Several of the machines have both standard and narrow gauge wheels on the same axle. The short bit of narrow gauge is what makes it possible for the double side gang to work, since both old rails are moved out at the same time, so there is no reference rail left to guide the machines. Maybe this winter I will post the whole circus parade.
i have seen one of these before, i didn’t think of anything about it though
Yeah most people wouldn’t think to look twice at most rail equipment. I’m just hoping to shed some light on it for those interested.
How does the sequencing of the ramps work, is it just size of the hyd cylinders and the wieght of the ramps or is there some other magic going on? I have been retired for too long, can't think of the proper terminology anymore.
There are actual sequencing valves with limit points. When one leg fully extends it pushes a lever and sends fluid to the next section. The last leg is done by something called a counterbalance valve. Meaning when the fluid is out of places to go it over powers that valve and folds down the last leg. Likewise, when rolling up, there’s a second counterbalance valve to fold the legs.
@@lumpar87 Counterbalance valve, that is what i was thinking. thanks
You're welcome
wonderful, thanks
You are welcome. I'm glad you liked it.
By the time they get it unfolded. 40 new defects just happened!
Truth. But luckily we're getting better at this kind of thing. It only had a couple of defects. The next one I was on had three.
@@lumpar87 👍 Right
Like one of my jobs, I use a Manlift to sweep the cob webs but leave the spiders so they make more work!
That's a big nope from me. I'd have to use a flamethrower.
It doesn't stand for flashing.
@@sptraxide it stands for another f word.
Oh I read this so many times and forgot I showed a FRED at the end of the video and couldn't figure out what you meant. 😂 Yes I've heard it called both, but for the sake of any kids potentially watching I try to keep it clean.
Never Video into the Sunshine.
Yeah I'm aware. I didn't have any other choice. I don't have any camera equipment. These are all shot from an iPhone.