I am a new subscriber-been a rail fan for 76 years, since I was a three year old little girl, holding my grandmother’s hand at the end of her driveway, waving madly at the Soo Line trains going through Eau Claire, Wisconsin ! I stood there so often, all the engineers and conductors recognized me, and would wave back, making a little girl very happy!
HAH! First time I've seen reference to the soo line in a long while, we would see them in southern Wisconsin as well, this was after the Milwaukee Road was no more.
Great story. I only got to see them while traveling and was always excited. Lived within earshot (not so close as to be an annoyance at 3am) for last quarter century, one side or the other, HA! Briefly contracted for U. Pacific in '90's, technical steel work, union track maintenance workers had a fit.
Very nice Lee, glad to have you join in with us and hope you will continue to enjoy the videos. Every once in awhile I will see an old SOO car on a you tube video, mostly on trains from up your way, that always excites me to see those old cars. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my new friend.
The reverse is true in haying, full blazing sun, perfect hay weather, and the baler lets you know you should've had the mechanic time it properly two months ago.
Murphy's law I think that's called Chan.....it sure does seem like everything goes well in good weather and breaks down in junky weather. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Thank you for the really kind words James. I just do my job and enjoy doing it. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
I figured that by posting this video there will be a whole lot of folks like you out there who now know how to jump start their personal locomotives..... Always information that the average guy can use on a consistent basis farmerbrown....:-) Biggest problem is finding jumper cables that are 100 feet in length! Really appreciate your taking the time to check out the video tonight my friend.
Dave, Thank you for recording the repair and jump start on engine 22 on such a wet rainy day. I found every minute of this video extremely interesting...
You are certainly welcome Steve, glad you enjoyed. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
At IRM we have a Baldwin centercab road unit, #21 or the "Blue Dragon". It has two inline 6 prime movers but only one has a starter motor. You start the #1 prime mover and when the generator loads up you throw a switch to send juice to the generator on #2 and use it as a starter motor to get #2 running. Maybe that's one of the reasons Baldwin couldn't make as a diesel builder. 21 was built in 1948. Keep the electric car fuel flowing. Great how to video, enjoyed it greatly. Thanks Dave!
I want to say that early EMD's, like the GP7, GP9, etc. Used the generator as the starter motor as well. Not sure if that was an auxiliary method and they had standard flywheel starters but pretty sure I remember seeing a GP10 started like that here on TH-cam somewhere.
@@Trains-With-Shane all of the GP7 GP15s GP20s GP40s, SD9s, and an SD35 that I worked with all had a start winding in the main gen that was used to roll the prime mover. I didn't see a separate starter motor until the SD50 when the main gen was actually an alternator.
When I worked at the Soo roundhouse in St. Paul, MN, one of our SD40-2 locos came back from Kentucky not running and the batts were dead. After charging them up and being a cold day, one of our diesel mechanics opened the crank case hatches and set a starting fluid aerosol can spraying into each access hatch and we cranked it over. It did start, but not before having a crank case explosion which blew the mechanic over the hand railing causing him to flip backwards and landed on his feet. Amazingly, he was OK.
Oh dear, I didn't think anyone would spray starter fluid into one of these big engines, sure lucky he was okay JR. That could have been a serious accident. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
@@ccrx6700 We did it with the ALCo M&S 539 engines and Detroit Diesel had Ether assist kits for the 71 series engines including the 16V71s. Ether on the 539 went in the air intake. Ether in the 16V71s went in below the blowers.One Ether assist kit per end of the 16V71s per the Army.
One of our Mechanical guys would use ether but sprayed it into the air induction vents just behind the cab. Very seldom did the motor need this little it of "incentive" to start. Did the mechanic.get written up or serve time for his "booboo" or was it back in the old days of "don't get caught" :)
Thank you for the very kind words wolfman, that was thoughtful of you to say that. We do appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Your comment about the barges sparked my interest. Maybe do a video on the barge loading and other stuff about the barges. How do you move them around the loading area? How are they put together to make a tow? How many can fit in the locks on the Monongahela at once? Where do your customers take ownership of the coal? Who is responsible for moving the barges? I know the channel is about railroading - but ships are fun too!
Thank you for the suggestions Andy and yes at some point I will make a video on barge loading. Many people have asked about that. I was a dockman and barge loader here for a lot of years so kind of know my way around the operation on that....:-) Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Back in the bad old days of the Milwaukee Road you could have stayed busy all day trying to get engines to fire up. Rainy weather has that unique way of showing up just what you need to do a whole bunch of outdoor work. Thanks for taking us through the steps soggy as they were
I can imagine they did have a time getting all those started Paul. Lot's of rain and that makes lot's of soft spots in my track.... sigh. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Truly shameful what horrible mgmt did to the MR. They had the best route to the PNW and how fast that main line was removed so fast just so no other Class 1 could restore/reuse it. Search for "the Weed Route" it is a VERY interesting picture tutorial made by two fellas that made a motor car journey after abandonment and before it was torn up.
Yes they sure do sound good Jeff, only thing I like better is a steam loco under load. Thank you for the nice comment and we very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Appreciate the nice comment and yep there's always more The Paulv. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Glad you enjoyed Larry. Cooling system on 22 locomotive holds 240 gallons! Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Alot of respect to these and the track workers. I was an engineer and tried to tell my management to upgrade the rails. To say the least they finally listened when they trains started falling off the tracks because of the tracks.
I hear that Kerry, sometimes it takes a derailment for people to wake up and listen, ask me now I know.... Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also to check out the how to jump start a locomotive video my friend.
Thank you for the nice comment SmallMartingale, glad you enjoyed. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Individual clamps..quaint 😅. One thing that impressed me with the Army was the external jump starting port on all military vehicles. Called a NATO port, it made jump starting easy. Yes, I have a former military vehicle and it came with a set of NATO cables which I've used many times, even at the museum to start an M4 Sherman tank.
If you wanted to see overkill, you should look in one of the generator cars for the Mobile RADAR Bomb Scoring trains. Two gensets each with: electric driven hydraulic pumps for building hydraulic pressure for the hydraulic starter motors ( 3000 psi ). An engine driven pump for when it is running. A wobble pump for when all else has failed. 6 reservoirs per unit for storing the pressure instead of the normal 3. Ether assist. Engine heaters. Heated water, fuel, new and used oil tanks. All fuel, oil, and water lines insulated and heating tape on them. Pumps to circulate the warm fluids. Radiators that could be used for heating the car. Load box for the gensets that could be used for heating the car. An under the car heating unit that could heat the car. And if you were parked in a good location, a mast on top of the car for cables to hook up to commercial power so that the gensets did not have to run. The gensets, Detroit Diesel 16V71s driving 150KW Delco alternators.
Nice Keith. On my big hi rail truck it has 3 batteries and it has one of those ports you just plug into the truck, then regular jumper cable ends on the other end of it. I've used it several times in the past, but never knew they were called NATO ports. It does make things pretty easy. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Dave, every one of your videos is a great adventure. I always love to watch your videos. They are always very interesting as well. They are very lucky to have someone like you in charge.
Thank you for the really nice comment trainchasersatwork, glad you enjoyed this one. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Dave, I just want to thank you again for the details, details, details and shots of things like the water fill on a locomotive. Look at those long jumper cables! Man! Happy 2024 to you!
Thank you for the nice comment Bender, glad you enjoyed. Cables are 100 feet long, a bit heavy to lug around! Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
@@ccrx6700 100'? Glad the ones I made up weren't that long . But they were long enough to reach from an Air Force EMD SW8M over to the NASA ALCO S-2. And as I expected to have to do it with completely dead batteries, I used the main cables I had salvaged from an Erie Lackawanna MU car. Still have them even though they are now over 35 years old with the cables having been made in 1931. Very fine nickel coated wire and 3000 Volt insulation.
You are quite welcome Eddy, glad you enjoyed. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Very interesting! I have another for you: The Royal Navy had a Frigate seconded to the Sea Cadets for training purposes. When they came to start her up, she was dead in the water. So they called the RAC (Think AAA in the US), for a jump start. Some VERY long jumper cables were connected to the 24volt batteries that started the smallest generator, that started the next up, and so on. "How was your day dear?" "Oh! I just jump started a Frigate luv."
That's a pretty cool story, dead at sea and those must have be very long jumper cables coniow. The ones we have are 100 feet long and a heavy thing to lug around. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
When I was a youth in Royal Canadian Air Cadets the coolest thing we had were .22lr Lee enfield training rifles. They ended up giving them to the Army cadets and we were pissed off.
@@mrtechie6810 She had been at the Quay side for some time, without a crew I believe. At sea, there are multiple generators running all the time. As long as there is electrical power to run air compressors and charge air tanks you can usually restart a Diesel Main Engine. As for Gas Turbines, they are spun up using a motor on the prop shaft, then, when fast enough, gas is fed in and fired to keep running. Steam Turbines would be supplied from a boiler. If the engines break down and require parts that are not available, then you are talking Ocean Going Salvage Tugs. VERY expensive. It happens. And insurance companies cry :-).
Appreciate the nice comment and your welcome Raymond. Always something new going on here to keep me from being bored. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
I used to volunteer at a museum in the 90s and each spring they would have to jump the locomotives. i saw an EMD E6, a Baldwin S12, and a EMD GP7 all jump started with a welder at different times.
We've always used another loco to jump start them when needed, but others have written in about using welders, pretty cool stuff Richard. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the how to jump start a locomotive video my friend.
New ones can cause some fits sometimes when something goes wrong, but they are also sometimes self diagnosing. Glad we have the old ones with no computers tho acdc. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the how to jump start a locomotive video my friend.
My dad had a story about doing a jumpstart on a locomotive. He was a heavy truck mechanic and asked to check out a loco at a local siding. One of the batteries had an open cell so he decided to bypass it, 64V system won't miss a single cell. Unlike your jumpstart where the load through the cables was charging current for the battery, in his case the load through the cables was the entire cranking energy of the engine. The jumper cables apparently lifted themselves off the ground when the starter rolled over, but it started.
Wow, that had to be cool to see, sure wish I was there to video that one crazyguy! :-) I'd get a million views on YT from that. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive and for writing in my friend.
Love oldschool railroading. Would've loved to get into it, but heard so many horror stories I decided to work on semis instead lol. Y'all keeping the dream alive
Thank you for the nice comment CharredSteak, glad you enjoyed. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
I drive by Alicia harbor every Tuesday on my garbage route and we used to pick you guys up for years and I always was like a little kid around the loco shop and the barge loader appreciate you always fueling that little kid in me with these videos
Glad you are enjoying the videos Donald. We got a lot of garbage at the harbor.....:-) Appreciate very much your taking the time to watch the videos my friend.
A great story you told here! Thats truly railroadin'. Glad it all worked out and you got things back to normal. I guess you had to let the dead battery charge awhile before you could try to start the engine because jumper cables alone aren't usually enough to start a car with a dead battery - must be charged 15-20 minutes first but there was plenty of time for that since you had to add water. Slogging through the rain - a drag but better than snow and cold!
Yes if we didn't add the water and it started, it would have shut right back down on low water alarm again music. and yes it was about 20 minutes or so the cables were connected before we tried to start it. Fired right up. Thank you for the nice comment and we very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
We had only one locomotive at our shop. If we needed to jump it, we used a Hobart 600 amp welder. Very rare, but it worked rather well. Keep up the great videos and content on both channels!
A few others have also said they used welders halfinchholes, we have never tried that here, but have always used the jumper cables. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
That is certainly true Arkay! At least we know the automatic shut down mechanisms and sensors are functioning correctly to avoid costly engine repairs. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Great to hear, now your food will digest better. Much better watching this than to watch the depressing news while eating Melissa....:-) Glad you enjoyed and thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Thank you for the nice comment knapptimezzz. I do love my job and guess it shows thru. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive and write in my friend.
That's what it was Gary, glad they could find another one and get this fixed. Small O ring can shut down a multi million dollar operation, amazing isn't it. Appreciate the nice comment and thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
A few decades ago I saw this done on a UPRR locomotive. It had stopped because of low water and we had to use the fire truck to refill it until it could get to a maintenace yard about 50 miles away. After we refilled, the mechanic showed up with longest set of jumper cables I have ever seen. He jumped it from the locomotive in front and opened the compression release and it started right up. Pretty cool.
These cables are 100 feet in length, so those he used probably were too Charles. They are a bit heavy to lug around....:-) Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Thank you for the nice comment. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive.
I always love seeing up close videos of the motive power on your line, Dave. Do you guys not run any type of coolant or antifreeze in those things or did that get added in after the fact? Always love hearing old 3098 notch up and rumble like those big turbo prime movers do. Interesting that they're keeping 1 and 22 on the train after the fact. Does 3098 not have the remote control hardware installed or do they keep both SD38-2's on the train so that they have parity in power and characteristics on both ends?
Very glad you enjoyed Shane. Most EMD locos do not use antifreeze. We do put a rust inhibitor in the water tho. Yes 3098 is fully remote compatible with the other 2 locos. Glad you enjoyed and thank you very much for taking the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
@@richardhiskett5422 Or if you have them, plug in the heaters. As our S-2 was a former Army loco, it had two in the crankcase. But of course, on the day we were planing to run the steam engine, it was not parked where it could be plugged in. And it doesn't get cold in S. FL. Ha ha ha. It did that night. So with no heat on it, it was a cold start done the hard way. Open 3 of the test cocks and turn off the matching injector pumps. Then hope that it fires. On the second try, it did. So then it was close the test ports and turn the injection pumps back on and wait for it to warm up. The smoke from the engine barely could make it out the exhaust before it fell on the hood, onto the running board, and then on to the ground. Took over an hour to get it to 140° which had to be reached before the main generator could be excited as there is a temp switch to prevent too cold an operation. Still made the first run on time. Modern locos do have auto start features or automatic heating units installed so that the engines can be shut down in cold weather.
Dave a saying that might strike you as being relevant to this particular situation. "Don't waste your time in anger, regrets, worries, and grudges. Life is too short to be unhappy."
Thank you for the nice comment Hugh and you are right. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
That was real good viewing Dave. I have not seen a loco jump start a loco before. Only in the depot they had a trolley full of batteries they hooked up. They used to leave our locos running 24/7 often to save the batteries going flat through ground faults.
Most of the time our locos are kept running also Cedarcam. This one just happened to shut down because of a low water alarm. Good thing it did, sure don't want to run that loco out of water and cause some real harm to the engine. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
I'm sorry you didn't get to run the loco, but you are more valuable as a very knowledgeable all around helper. Thank you for the lesson in jump starting the engine. It was good fortune that the train was close to water and a long hose, and that spare parts were close by. Thank you for another interesting class in rail roading!
Yes I was disappointed but oh well, that sure would have made for a good video Shirley. :-) Thank you for the kind words. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Thanks for another interesting, informative video, Dave. I had never thought about having to jump start a locomotive. Glad to hear the mine is doing so well. Keep up the good work.
Thank you for the nice comment Kenneth, glad you are enjoying the home movies. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive and for writing in my friend.
Thank you for the nice comment Fred, glad you are having a good time with us. Very much appreciate your taking the time to visit and check out the jump start video my friend.
You are quite welcome Jason, glad you enjoyed this one. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Yes it sure was Kathie, figured you would be able to use this information to jump start that loco you have in your back yard that has dead batteries....:-) Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Well Dave ,, You guys got lucky that the temp stayed up above freezing as that could of been a bigger mess with a frozen water system on the loco as you DON"T use antifreeze !! 🤔😏🙄 Thanks for the video & ""STAY WARM "" !!! HAHA 👍👍👍👍👍
You are so right in that KB! Things could have been a whole lot worse than they were. Thank you for the nice comment and for taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Thanks Dave, I always enjoy seeing the inner workings of the locomotives! A lot like maintaining a car, including the jump start! Miserable day, but that's when things usually break down 😐
Biggest difference in jumping a car and a loco is the voltage, but basically it's the same thing. Those jumper cables are 100 feet in length, not exactly what you can find on the shelf at NAPA either....:-) Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Thank you for the nice comment Brian, glad you enjoyed. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Thank you for the nice comment Jerry, glad you enjoyed. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Ya know, with the video showing mud, water, coal (and likely fuel oil) I think I can smell it now. Kind of like being in the electronics bay of an airplane, some smells never leave your memory.. Thanks for another great video@
I need to develop a scratch and smell video Tom, so you could really get a smell for the operation....:-) Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also to check out the how to jump start a locomotive video my friend.
Thank you for the nice comment Tuco, glad you enjoyed. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Hello Dave it’s Robin Again 😂 . Great boosting fix . Yes nice weather no snow 👍🏻 . I noticed a dent in the front corner of 3098 what happened . $ hopefully no one hurt 👍🏻😎 that’s RailRoading .be safe 👍🏻😎Robin out .
When they brought it up that night an error in judgment and it ran into the other loco Robin.....sigh...... Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Thank you for the nice comment Trotter, glad you enjoyed. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
You are right, always something different Mark, but like my dad used to say, variety is the spice of life. It keeps work interesting to do a bunch of different things. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive and for writing in my friend.
Appreciate the nice comment and glad you enjoyed Derrick. I was disappointed about not bringing it back too, that would have made a cool video. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
I mean it best train videos out there! Who know you just use jumper cables to start a train?!?! Seems like it'd be more that. Excellent video again Dave!
Appreciate the very kind words and glad you enjoyed Katie. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Thank you for the nice comment modelenginerding, glad you enjoyed. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Glad you enjoyed and thanks for the nice comment Henry. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
You are quite welcome James, glad you enjoyed it. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Appreciate the kind words Jon, I just try to do my job. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Thank you for taking us along, sir! That rain did not look pleasant to work in but you and your crew are always so impressive with your ability to push through! I've never even thought about jump-starting a locomotive but it was a fascinating process to watch today! Thanks for sharing with us!
Thank you for the really nice comment Seth, glad you enjoyed this one. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Gotta get them started somehow when the batteries are dead Michael, but most folks never think about a loco having dead batteries. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Easy Peasy GreatNW.....:-) Now you know how to jump start that loco in your back yard if you ever need to do it. Just go down to NAPA and get yourself some 100 foot long jumper cables..... Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
100 feet of jumper cable Matt, any heavier and we couldn't lift them! LOL You and me both, surprised they are not a heavier aught wire than they are, but they work, course it's 74 volts DC, but you're the electrician, whatever you say is the gospel....:-) Thanks so much my friend for stopping by tonight to check out the how to jump start a loco video.
@@ccrx6700 74, not a multiple of 6 or 12, wonder how they got that? If you recall when cars were 6 volt systems, their cables were huge, 50 to 75% bigger then the later 12V systems.
There's gonna be those days, but you guys persevered and got the job done. And like you said, it could've been worse if the weather had been miserable. Always like seeing the inner workings of a locomotive, so thanks for sharing all that you do Dave! 🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚂💯👍🇺🇸
Your welcome, glad you enjoyed this one Jim and yep things could have been a whole lot worse. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive and write in my friend.
Appreciate the nice comment and yes we are very fortunate I work for a good company like this Schadowolf. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Appreciate the nice comment and glad you enjoyed Bob. Hope you and your family also have a great 2024. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Hi my fascination with trains started after I retired teaching OBGYN for 30y. It just occurred to me one day while randomly seeing a rail road video with 100+ wagons, what would happen if the Loco Pilot's wife was in an Ambulance in Labour waiting for the train to pas and I got hooked on. Well Sir I must say this you have such a 'Sunny Smile' that the Locomotive would start on it's own looking at your smile. God Bless You that you are out there in in temperatures below 0 Celcius that too on a Christmas Day. Hope you got home to a nice warm Festive Lunch. Thought it's way beyond Christmas and New Year still let me take this opportunity to Wish You, Family and your team a Belated Merry Christmas And A Happy New Year.
Thank you for the nice comment Harsha. If I could start a loco with my smile, I think I'd soon become a millionaire from starting all the locos out there that need it....:-) May you and your family also have a most blessed year in 2024. Appreciate your taking the time to visit with us and check out the video on jump starting a locomotive my friend.
I would have loved to dead headed that locomotive. I think even after not running EMD locomotives since the end of 1994, I could still safely handle that mission. Have fun and stay dry and safe!
You no doubt could teach me a few things, next time if ever I get to run one, will give you a call klsc. :-) Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the how to jump start a locomotive video my friend.
Dave, If I lived much closer, I would jump at a call. I live in Michigan between Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. Reality is unless you have a way to get Scotty on the Enterprise to beam me over, I doubt it will happen! I would very much enjoy running a loco on your line. I did have a ultra short run once pulling cars off of a CSX train on their main once. It was to pull cars off of their train so they could pick them up on their trip back. This saved them time having to run around their train later to come back. For this my conductor handed me off to the CSX Conductor for the move. This was a curtesy operation to help them since we were at interchange when their local was there. That was my only few feet on welded rail. The KLS&C was all stick rail. 85 was an ex Santa Fe GP-7R 2110. For me she was always a sweet dependable loco.
Appreciate the nice comment and glad you enjoyed Richard. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Pretty cool stuff and simple as can be isn't it Ron, glad you enjoyed, since you are now in love, send the loco a Valentines Day gift, it likes chocolate....:-) Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive and for writing in my friend.
I figured everyone should know how to jump start a loco PJW, seems like everyone that writes in has a loco in their back yard with dead batteries....LOL Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
@ccrx6700 : Always nice to be needed. 🤣 If I had the money this would be the happy place for me : upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/SGB_loc_2424.jpg Just a camping chair, a package of sandwiches and something cool to drink and I'm trouble to no one.
Thank you for the nice comment Michael. Yes I get involved in a lot of different things, makes the job interesting. Batteries are 64 volts sir. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive and for writing in my friend.
Dave, you might want to get a rubber electrical mat and cut it to cover your jumper cables aligator clips. That would offer much greater protection against a short. Always enjoy your videos, you do a great job explaining what you are working on.
Thank you for the suggestion Bill, that is an excellent idea. Glad to hear you are enjoying the home movies. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
I posted this video EpicRails because I figured a whole lot of folks had locos in their back yards with dead batteries and needed to find out how to get them started.....:-) And if you don't return yours, it's okay with me, I won't tell a sole. Thank you for very much for taking the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Not something that everyone gets to see very much, course I figured a lot of folks could use this knowledge Dave so they could jump that locomotive they have in their back yards with dead batteries.....:-) Glad you could stop by my friend.
Thank you for the kind words HoosierDaddy, glad you are enjoying the home movies. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive and for writing in my friend.
Thank you for the nice comment David. Just doing my job here trying to keep trains running. We do appreciate your taking the time to visit with us and check out the video on jump starting a locomotive my friend.
Appreciate the kind words yellowlab. I'm just doing my job tho. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
I am watching as the number of "views" and the number of "likes" increase at a phenomenal rate. Dave, You are a very popular guy! And with good reason. Thank you for your wonderful videos and your enthusiasm for your job.
Appreciate the kind words and glad you enjoyed Joe. Does seem like a lot of folks are watching this one. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Thank you for the nice comment HappyQuails, I'm sure everyone needs to know how to do this....:-) Appreciate very much your taking the time to write in and to check out the video on jump starting a locomotive my friend.
I figured this video would come in handy for a whole lot of folks who have locos in their back yard with dead batteries Nick.....:-) Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Appreciate the nice comment and glad you are having a good time with us Lisa. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Thank you for the nice comment Russell, glad you enjoyed. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Thank you for the nice comment Lawrie, glad you enjoyed. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Always a fun day here on the RR Shane..... :-) Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive and write in my friend.
Have to call Larry's Truck&Electric. Get some EMD/Ingersoll Rand air starters😋 Longgg time ago. I used to have to keep a gladhand on my tire truck for truck boosts with air starters. I just dated myself lol
Some of the newer locos have air starters on them Doug, but if the loco shuts down and has an air leak, then that presents another problem in and of itself. We'd have to give you a call to come out and pump up the air reservoir....:-) Course to do that, we'd have to first get 3 quotes from others, then an approval, then a purchase order would have to be issued, then if you did get the job you'd have to wait 3 months to get paid.....LOL Thank you very much for taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
I was getting scared when you took that ground cable off, afraid it would touch ground again by hitting the floor of the cab. Good to know the other end of the cables had been disconnected.
Not to worry Banjoliope, floor in cab also has a rubber mat on it, so even if it did hit the floor it wouldn't have done anything. But I wouldn't have taken it off and dropped it had it still be connected on the other end. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
You really don't need fancy "newer" locomotives to pull cars on a single track private line, honestly. I mean, they need to go forward and the other forward. That's about it.
You are right, just need a loco that stays running! Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Yes I'm glad we don't have computer controlled locos Denis for sure on that. Appreciate very much your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
I was on a train hauling an oversize load which was restricted to daytime running only. Came in at 0400 to get on the road, only to find the locomotive had been shutdown the previous evening (against company policy) and the batteries were dead. To get going the road foreman of locomotives, who was with us, got a local welder out of bed. The welder drug his portable welding machine to the site, the foreman connected the leads inside the control panel, started the engine on the welder, and fired up the loco and we left on time. One would have thought he did this everyday.
That's pretty cool Robert. When they trued some wheels on one of our locos they ran the traction motor off a portable welder, that was neat to see done. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Another great video Dave thank you, love to see the black diamonds flowing down the hill. Funnily enough we call freight movements “trips” in the UK too. Great stuff
That's what we have always called them here too Ian, trips. Yes it certainly is good to see them running coal, that keeps the paychecks coming in.....:-) Glad you enjoyed and very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
That's great to hear Mike, glad you are enjoying this one. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also to check out the how to jump start a locomotive video my friend.
Ive seen that done at the Monticello Illinois railway museum, (same stuff, different day), but some years ago, there was an article in one of the RR magazines about 3 of the Alco C636 units the Illinois Central had. They were air-start, and used up the air on all of them trying to start only one. They had to end up calling in an EMD unit to charge the air up on them to eventually get them running, how embarrassing for Alco!
To say the least I'm sure that was Paul! EMD to the rescue! :-) Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also to check out the how to jump start a locomotive video my friend.
Thanks for the tour. The difficulties with Railroading. It takes a lot of time to learn the equipment. I can see why it is so dangerous. Travel safe. I will be back. Is water for cooling purposes. I would think antifreeze. Would be used. The cold spell bring out a lot of problems. God day. Later.
Yes sir the water is for cooling the engine and air compressor Dan. Not many EMD locos use antifreeze, we do put a rust inhibitor in the water. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Thank you for the nice comment Scott, glad you enjoyed. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Thank you for the nice comment Texaswonderer, you're right, never a dull moment here! :-) Appreciate very much your taking the time to check out the how I prevented a derailment video my friend.
Thanks for the kind words John. Actually I'm a quiet guy except when it comes to talking railroading....:-) Thanks for taking the time to visit with us to check out the jump start video my friend.
I am a new subscriber-been a rail fan for 76 years, since I was a three year old little girl, holding my grandmother’s hand at the end of her driveway, waving madly at the Soo Line trains going through Eau Claire, Wisconsin ! I stood there so often, all the engineers and conductors recognized me, and would wave back, making a little girl very happy!
HAH! First time I've seen reference to the soo line in a long while, we would see them in southern Wisconsin as well, this was after the Milwaukee Road was no more.
Great story.
I only got to see them while traveling and was always excited. Lived within earshot (not so close as to be an annoyance at 3am) for last quarter century, one side or the other, HA!
Briefly contracted for U. Pacific in '90's, technical steel work, union track maintenance workers had a fit.
Very nice Lee, glad to have you join in with us and hope you will
continue to enjoy the videos. Every once in awhile I will see an old
SOO car on a you tube video, mostly on trains from up your way,
that always excites me to see those old cars. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my new friend.
Ha! I am in Eau Claire. Small world.
You go, girl! 👍 🤣
Crappy weather,snowing or raining, is the only time that mechanical equipment breaks down, ask me how many times i discovered this!😂
The reverse is true in haying, full blazing sun, perfect hay weather, and the baler lets you know you should've had the mechanic time it properly two months ago.
Murphy's law I think that's called Chan.....it sure does seem like
everything goes well in good weather and breaks down in junky
weather. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
So true on that James, I used to farm and know exactly what you
are saying! :-)
Thanks dave😊
I hope Dave's company appreciates what a gem they have in him, endless experience, and enthusiasm to boot, they don't always go together.
Thank you for the really kind words James. I just do my job and
enjoy doing it. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
“How to Jump Start a Locomotive”, now that is some information that I will definitely use the next time I need to start a Locomotive!
I figured that by posting this video there will be a whole lot of folks
like you out there who now know how to jump start their personal
locomotives..... Always information that the average guy can use
on a consistent basis farmerbrown....:-) Biggest problem is finding jumper cables that are 100 feet in length! Really appreciate your
taking the time to check out the video tonight my friend.
ha ha ha
@@HelloKittyFanMan Sorry. Got it.
Hey there, farmer, when did "locomotive" supposedly become a brand name, according to you?
@@HelloKittyFanMan That's funny. My dad used to call every refrigerator a Frigidaire. Same thing I guess, maybe in reverse. But people do that.
Dave, Thank you for recording the repair and jump start on engine 22 on such a wet rainy day. I found every minute of this video extremely interesting...
You are certainly welcome Steve, glad you enjoyed. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
At IRM we have a Baldwin centercab road unit, #21 or the "Blue Dragon". It has two inline 6 prime movers but only one has a starter motor. You start the #1 prime mover and when the generator loads up you throw a switch to send juice to the generator on #2 and use it as a starter motor to get #2 running. Maybe that's one of the reasons Baldwin couldn't make as a diesel builder. 21 was built in 1948. Keep the electric car fuel flowing. Great how to video, enjoyed it greatly. Thanks Dave!
We used to run baldwin center cabs out here. In fact all they used to run were baldwins for decades.
I want to say that early EMD's, like the GP7, GP9, etc. Used the generator as the starter motor as well. Not sure if that was an auxiliary method and they had standard flywheel starters but pretty sure I remember seeing a GP10 started like that here on TH-cam somewhere.
@@Trains-With-Shane all of the GP7 GP15s GP20s GP40s, SD9s, and an SD35 that I worked with all had a start winding in the main gen that was used to roll the prime mover. I didn't see a separate starter motor until the SD50 when the main gen was actually an alternator.
Excellent info all. I don't have very extensive diesel knowledge but I have repaired and run steam.
@@michaelball760 21 was MN&S from the Minneapolis area and I believe they had several others.
When I worked at the Soo roundhouse in St. Paul, MN, one of our SD40-2 locos came back from Kentucky not running and the batts were dead. After charging them up and being a cold day, one of our diesel mechanics opened the crank case hatches and set a starting fluid aerosol can spraying into each access hatch and we cranked it over. It did start, but not before having a crank case explosion which blew the mechanic over the hand railing causing him to flip backwards and landed on his feet. Amazingly, he was OK.
Oh dear, I didn't think anyone would spray starter fluid into one of
these big engines, sure lucky he was okay JR. That could have been
a serious accident. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
@@ccrx6700 We did it with the ALCo M&S 539 engines and Detroit Diesel had Ether assist kits for the 71 series engines including the 16V71s. Ether on the 539 went in the air intake. Ether in the 16V71s went in below the blowers.One Ether assist kit per end of the 16V71s per the Army.
One of our Mechanical guys would use ether but sprayed it into the air induction vents just behind the cab. Very seldom did the motor need this little it of "incentive" to start. Did the mechanic.get written up or serve time for his "booboo" or was it back in the old days of "don't get caught" :)
You are a railroad expert. Takes so many years. They are lucky to have you!
Agreed❗Often times I refer to "Dave" as "PROFESSOR DAVE" of
"DAVE'S UNIVERSITY OF RAILROADING"‼
Thank you for the very kind words wolfman, that was thoughtful of
you to say that. We do appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Your comment about the barges sparked my interest. Maybe do a video on the barge loading and other stuff about the barges. How do you move them around the loading area? How are they put together to make a tow? How many can fit in the locks on the Monongahela at once? Where do your customers take ownership of the coal? Who is responsible for moving the barges? I know the channel is about railroading - but ships are fun too!
Also, it's part of railroading, because of the connection where the freight is transferred.
Thank you for the suggestions Andy and yes at some point I will
make a video on barge loading. Many people have asked about that.
I was a dockman and barge loader here for a lot of years so kind of
know my way around the operation on that....:-) Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Back in the bad old days of the Milwaukee Road you could have stayed busy all day trying to get engines to fire up. Rainy weather has that unique way of showing up just what you need to do a whole bunch of outdoor work. Thanks for taking us through the steps soggy as they were
I can imagine they did have a time getting all those started Paul. Lot's
of rain and that makes lot's of soft spots in my track.... sigh. Very
much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on
how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Truly shameful what horrible mgmt did to the MR. They had the best route to the PNW and how fast that main line was removed so fast just so no other Class 1 could restore/reuse it. Search for "the Weed Route" it is a VERY interesting picture tutorial made by two fellas that made a motor car journey after abandonment and before it was torn up.
Always liked the sound of those EMD diesels. Good and simple design.
Yes they sure do sound good Jeff, only thing I like better is a steam
loco under load. Thank you for the nice comment and we very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
You're getting the Jaw Tooths about you Dave - "Of course there's more, there's always more."
Appreciate the nice comment and yep there's always more The Paulv. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Very cool. That's a big ol' water tank. Love getting to see inside the locomotive. Thanks Dave
Glad you enjoyed Larry. Cooling system on 22 locomotive holds 240 gallons! Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Alot of respect to these and the track workers. I was an engineer and tried to tell my management to upgrade the rails. To say the least they finally listened when they trains started falling off the tracks because of the tracks.
I hear that Kerry, sometimes it takes a derailment for people to wake
up and listen, ask me now I know.... Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also to check out the how to jump start a locomotive video my friend.
Thanks Dave, always cool to get a look at something we otherwise wouldn't get to see.
💪🇺🇲
Thank you for the nice comment SmallMartingale, glad you enjoyed. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Individual clamps..quaint 😅. One thing that impressed me with the Army was the external jump starting port on all military vehicles. Called a NATO port, it made jump starting easy.
Yes, I have a former military vehicle and it came with a set of NATO cables which I've used many times, even at the museum to start an M4 Sherman tank.
If you wanted to see overkill, you should look in one of the generator cars for the Mobile RADAR Bomb Scoring trains. Two gensets each with: electric driven hydraulic pumps for building hydraulic pressure for the hydraulic starter motors ( 3000 psi ). An engine driven pump for when it is running. A wobble pump for when all else has failed. 6 reservoirs per unit for storing the pressure instead of the normal 3. Ether assist. Engine heaters. Heated water, fuel, new and used oil tanks. All fuel, oil, and water lines insulated and heating tape on them. Pumps to circulate the warm fluids. Radiators that could be used for heating the car. Load box for the gensets that could be used for heating the car. An under the car heating unit that could heat the car. And if you were parked in a good location, a mast on top of the car for cables to hook up to commercial power so that the gensets did not have to run. The gensets, Detroit Diesel 16V71s driving 150KW Delco alternators.
Nice Keith. On my big hi rail truck it has 3 batteries and it has one
of those ports you just plug into the truck, then regular jumper cable
ends on the other end of it. I've used it several times in the past, but
never knew they were called NATO ports. It does make things pretty
easy. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Dave, every one of your videos is a great adventure. I always love to watch your videos. They are always very interesting as well. They are very lucky to have someone like you in charge.
Thank you for the really nice comment trainchasersatwork, glad you
enjoyed this one. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Dave, I just want to thank you again for the details, details, details and shots of things like the water fill on a locomotive. Look at those long jumper cables! Man! Happy 2024 to you!
Thank you for the nice comment Bender, glad you enjoyed. Cables
are 100 feet long, a bit heavy to lug around! Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
@@ccrx6700 100'? Glad the ones I made up weren't that long . But they were long enough to reach from an Air Force EMD SW8M over to the NASA ALCO S-2. And as I expected to have to do it with completely dead batteries, I used the main cables I had salvaged from an Erie Lackawanna MU car. Still have them even though they are now over 35 years old with the cables having been made in 1931. Very fine nickel coated wire and 3000 Volt insulation.
Nice to see the inside of those SD40's ...Thx for sharing Dave
You are quite welcome Eddy, glad you enjoyed. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Very interesting!
I have another for you: The Royal Navy had a Frigate seconded to the Sea Cadets for training purposes. When they came to start her up, she was dead in the water. So they called the RAC (Think AAA in the US), for a jump start. Some VERY long jumper cables were connected to the 24volt batteries that started the smallest generator, that started the next up, and so on.
"How was your day dear?"
"Oh! I just jump started a Frigate luv."
That's a pretty cool story, dead at sea and those must have be very
long jumper cables coniow. The ones we have are 100 feet long and
a heavy thing to lug around. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Cascade of graduated starter engines.
When I was a youth in Royal Canadian Air Cadets the coolest thing we had were .22lr Lee enfield training rifles. They ended up giving them to the Army cadets and we were pissed off.
What if the engines don't start while alone and at sea?
@@mrtechie6810 She had been at the Quay side for some time, without a crew I believe. At sea, there are multiple generators running all the time. As long as there is electrical power to run air compressors and charge air tanks you can usually restart a Diesel Main Engine. As for Gas Turbines, they are spun up using a motor on the prop shaft, then, when fast enough, gas is fed in and fired to keep running. Steam Turbines would be supplied from a boiler. If the engines break down and require parts that are not available, then you are talking Ocean Going Salvage Tugs. VERY expensive. It happens. And insurance companies cry :-).
Thank you for sharing Dave! You need many skills to be a railroad man, you will never be bored!
Appreciate the nice comment and your welcome Raymond. Always something new going on here to keep me from being bored. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
I used to volunteer at a museum in the 90s and each spring they would have to jump the locomotives. i saw an EMD E6, a Baldwin S12, and a EMD GP7 all jump started with a welder at different times.
The big old red welders were 72Volt so a perfect match for getting one started.
We've always used another loco to jump start them when needed,
but others have written in about using welders, pretty cool stuff Richard. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the how to jump start a locomotive video my friend.
The old locomotives run better than the new ones
How so?
the older locomotives have no computers and are easier to work on
New ones can cause some fits sometimes when something goes
wrong, but they are also sometimes self diagnosing. Glad we have the
old ones with no computers tho acdc. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the how to jump start a locomotive video my friend.
My dad had a story about doing a jumpstart on a locomotive. He was a heavy truck mechanic and asked to check out a loco at a local siding. One of the batteries had an open cell so he decided to bypass it, 64V system won't miss a single cell. Unlike your jumpstart where the load through the cables was charging current for the battery, in his case the load through the cables was the entire cranking energy of the engine. The jumper cables apparently lifted themselves off the ground when the starter rolled over, but it started.
Wow, that had to be cool to see, sure wish I was there to video
that one crazyguy! :-) I'd get a million views on YT from that. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive and for writing in my friend.
Love oldschool railroading. Would've loved to get into it, but heard so many horror stories I decided to work on semis instead lol. Y'all keeping the dream alive
Thank you for the nice comment CharredSteak, glad you enjoyed. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
I drive by Alicia harbor every Tuesday on my garbage route and we used to pick you guys up for years and I always was like a little kid around the loco shop and the barge loader appreciate you always fueling that little kid in me with these videos
Glad you are enjoying the videos Donald. We got a lot of garbage
at the harbor.....:-) Appreciate very much your taking the time to
watch the videos my friend.
A great story you told here! Thats truly railroadin'. Glad it all worked out and you got things back to normal. I guess you had to let the dead battery charge awhile before you could try to start the engine because jumper cables alone aren't usually enough to start a car with a dead battery - must be charged 15-20 minutes first but there was plenty of time for that since you had to add water. Slogging through the rain - a drag but better than snow and cold!
Yes if we didn't add the water and it started, it would have shut right
back down on low water alarm again music. and yes it was about
20 minutes or so the cables were connected before we tried to
start it. Fired right up. Thank you for the nice comment and we very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
We had only one locomotive at our shop. If we needed to jump it, we used a Hobart 600 amp welder. Very rare, but it worked rather well. Keep up the great videos and content on both channels!
A few others have also said they used welders halfinchholes, we
have never tried that here, but have always used the jumper cables.
Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video
on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
I'm glad it shut off and didn't run hot.
That is certainly true Arkay! At least we know the automatic shut down mechanisms and sensors are functioning correctly to avoid costly
engine repairs. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Ate our lunch while watching this one! Total enjoyment...as ALWAYS!!!
Great to hear, now your food will digest better. Much better watching
this than to watch the depressing news while eating Melissa....:-)
Glad you enjoyed and thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
I can honestly say his enthusiasm and laughter are infectious
Thank you for the nice comment knapptimezzz. I do love my job
and guess it shows thru. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive and write in my friend.
Oring leaking at governor in a very common problem great video thanks Dave
That's what it was Gary, glad they could find another one and get
this fixed. Small O ring can shut down a multi million dollar operation,
amazing isn't it. Appreciate the nice comment and thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
A few decades ago I saw this done on a UPRR locomotive. It had stopped because of low water and we had to use the fire truck to refill it until it could get to a maintenace yard about 50 miles away. After we refilled, the mechanic showed up with longest set of jumper cables I have ever seen. He jumped it from the locomotive in front and opened the compression release and it started right up. Pretty cool.
These cables are 100 feet in length, so those he used probably were
too Charles. They are a bit heavy to lug around....:-) Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Sure takes a lot of knowledge and expertise to keep a railroad going. Very interesting video.
Thank you for the nice comment. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive.
I always love seeing up close videos of the motive power on your line, Dave. Do you guys not run any type of coolant or antifreeze in those things or did that get added in after the fact? Always love hearing old 3098 notch up and rumble like those big turbo prime movers do. Interesting that they're keeping 1 and 22 on the train after the fact. Does 3098 not have the remote control hardware installed or do they keep both SD38-2's on the train so that they have parity in power and characteristics on both ends?
Very glad you enjoyed Shane. Most EMD locos do not use antifreeze.
We do put a rust inhibitor in the water tho. Yes 3098 is fully remote
compatible with the other 2 locos. Glad you enjoyed and thank you very much for taking the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
@@ccrx6700 No antifreeze? I would not have thought that especially up in cold northern climates.
@@Trains-With-Shane you never shut them down for long in the winter or you have to drain the engine.
@@richardhiskett5422 Or if you have them, plug in the heaters. As our S-2 was a former Army loco, it had two in the crankcase. But of course, on the day we were planing to run the steam engine, it was not parked where it could be plugged in. And it doesn't get cold in S. FL. Ha ha ha. It did that night. So with no heat on it, it was a cold start done the hard way. Open 3 of the test cocks and turn off the matching injector pumps. Then hope that it fires. On the second try, it did. So then it was close the test ports and turn the injection pumps back on and wait for it to warm up. The smoke from the engine barely could make it out the exhaust before it fell on the hood, onto the running board, and then on to the ground. Took over an hour to get it to 140° which had to be reached before the main generator could be excited as there is a temp switch to prevent too cold an operation. Still made the first run on time. Modern locos do have auto start features or automatic heating units installed so that the engines can be shut down in cold weather.
@@Trains-With-Shane 😊
Dave a saying that might strike you as being relevant to this particular situation.
"Don't waste your time in anger, regrets, worries, and grudges. Life is too short to be unhappy."
Thank you for the nice comment Hugh and you are right. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
That was real good viewing Dave. I have not seen a loco jump start a loco before. Only in the depot they had a trolley full of batteries they hooked up. They used to leave our locos running 24/7 often to save the batteries going flat through ground faults.
Most of the time our locos are kept running also Cedarcam. This
one just happened to shut down because of a low water alarm. Good
thing it did, sure don't want to run that loco out of water and cause
some real harm to the engine. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
I'm sorry you didn't get to run the loco, but you are more valuable as a very knowledgeable all around helper. Thank you for the lesson in jump starting the engine. It was good fortune that the train was close to water and a long hose, and that spare parts were close by. Thank you for another interesting class in rail roading!
Yes I was disappointed but oh well, that sure would have made for
a good video Shirley. :-) Thank you for the kind words. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Thanks for another interesting, informative video, Dave. I had never thought about having to jump start a locomotive. Glad to hear the mine is doing so well. Keep up the good work.
Thank you for the nice comment Kenneth, glad you are enjoying
the home movies. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive and for writing in my friend.
Dave, as always your videos are very informative and entertaining. Thanks!
Thank you for the nice comment Fred, glad you are having a good
time with us. Very much appreciate your taking the time to visit and check out the jump start video my friend.
Thanks for sharing awesome information on old SD 40 locomotive and railway work s
You are quite welcome Jason, glad you enjoyed this one. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Good to see that engine started. I think I had a dead battery once in my car from leaving the lights on. Ha! Have a great day.
Yes it sure was Kathie, figured you would be able to use this information to jump start that loco you have in your back yard that
has dead batteries....:-) Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Well Dave ,, You guys got lucky that the temp stayed up above freezing as that could of been a bigger mess with a frozen water system on the loco as you DON"T use antifreeze !! 🤔😏🙄 Thanks for the video & ""STAY WARM "" !!! HAHA 👍👍👍👍👍
You are so right in that KB! Things could have been a whole lot
worse than they were. Thank you for the nice comment and for taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Thanks Dave, I always enjoy seeing the inner workings of the locomotives! A lot like maintaining a car, including the jump start! Miserable day, but that's when things usually break down 😐
Yup and as soon as you get back in a truck after the work is done it stops raining
@@juliogonzo2718 Every time 😑
Biggest difference in jumping a car and a loco is the voltage, but
basically it's the same thing. Those jumper cables are 100 feet in
length, not exactly what you can find on the shelf at NAPA either....:-)
Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video
on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Working in the rain and cold! Not fun! Great video Dave, thanks for sharing.
Thank you for the nice comment Brian, glad you enjoyed. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Another good video. Thanks.
Thank you for the nice comment Jerry, glad you enjoyed. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Ya know, with the video showing mud, water, coal (and likely fuel oil) I think I can smell it now. Kind of like being in the electronics bay of an airplane, some smells never leave your memory..
Thanks for another great video@
I need to develop a scratch and smell video Tom, so you could
really get a smell for the operation....:-) Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also to check out the how to jump start a locomotive video my friend.
Real nice Dave.
"Taking on water boss!"
Thank you for the nice comment Tuco, glad you enjoyed. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Hello Dave it’s Robin Again 😂 . Great boosting fix . Yes nice weather no snow 👍🏻 . I noticed a dent in the front corner of 3098 what happened . $ hopefully no one hurt 👍🏻😎 that’s RailRoading .be safe 👍🏻😎Robin out .
When they brought it up that night an error in judgment and it ran
into the other loco Robin.....sigh...... Thanks so much for taking the
time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a
locomotive my friend.
Thxs Dave Thats RailRoading 👍🏻😎
@@robinroberts3335 😊👍
Enjoyed the heck out of that Dave!
Thank you for the nice comment Trotter, glad you enjoyed. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Never a dull moment on your job!
You are right, always something different Mark, but like my dad used to say, variety is the spice of life. It keeps work interesting to do a
bunch of different things. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive and for writing in my friend.
Great Video I Was Looking Forward To See You Bring The Locomotive Back.
Appreciate the nice comment and glad you enjoyed Derrick. I was
disappointed about not bringing it back too, that would have made
a cool video. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
I mean it best train videos out there! Who know you just use jumper cables to start a train?!?! Seems like it'd be more that. Excellent video again Dave!
Appreciate the very kind words and glad you enjoyed Katie. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
your welcome keep up the good work
Thank you Perry. Appreciate very much your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Saving the day...and our attitudes...again Dave. Always enjoy your videos.
Thank you for the nice comment modelenginerding, glad you enjoyed. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on
how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Always something! Thanks for the vid.
Glad you enjoyed and thanks for the nice comment Henry.
Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video
on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Hi Dave. Thanks for taking us along on today's journey thru the battery and water troubles. James.
You are quite welcome James, glad you enjoyed it. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Dave wears many hats. 😁👍
Appreciate the kind words Jon, I just try to do my job. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Thank you for taking us along, sir! That rain did not look pleasant to work in but you and your crew are always so impressive with your ability to push through! I've never even thought about jump-starting a locomotive but it was a fascinating process to watch today! Thanks for sharing with us!
Thank you for the really nice comment Seth, glad you enjoyed this one. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
I know about jumpstarting cars, but this is the first time I’ve heard about jumpstarting a locomotive. You learn something new everyday.
Gotta get them started somehow when the batteries are dead Michael, but most folks never think about a loco having dead
batteries. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
What did you do today?
"Oh i just jump started a locomotive using another locomotive."
Easy Peasy GreatNW.....:-) Now you know how to jump start that loco
in your back yard if you ever need to do it. Just go down to NAPA and
get yourself some 100 foot long jumper cables..... Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
I was surprised those jumper cables were not a heavier gauge wire, but they seemed to do the trick!
100 feet of jumper cable Matt, any heavier and we couldn't lift
them! LOL You and me both, surprised they are not a heavier
aught wire than they are, but they work, course it's 74 volts DC,
but you're the electrician, whatever you say is the gospel....:-)
Thanks so much my friend for stopping by tonight to check out
the how to jump start a loco video.
@@ccrx6700 oh yeah those would not be fun to lug around, especially in the rain. 74 volts will do nicely.
@@ccrx6700 74, not a multiple of 6 or 12, wonder how they got that? If you recall when cars were 6 volt systems, their cables were huge, 50 to 75% bigger then the later 12V systems.
@@alro2434 Loco batteries are 8V
@@alro2434 auxiliary generator that makes the power to charge the batteries puts out 74 volts.
There's gonna be those days, but you guys persevered and got the job done. And like you said, it could've been worse if the weather had been miserable.
Always like seeing the inner workings of a locomotive, so thanks for sharing all that you do Dave!
🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚂💯👍🇺🇸
Your welcome, glad you enjoyed this one Jim and yep things could
have been a whole lot worse. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive and write in my friend.
Amazing video, so glad your company lets you video/post these videos!
Appreciate the nice comment and yes we are very fortunate I
work for a good company like this Schadowolf. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Thanks for the video Dave!
Your welcome Dlsimes. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive and write in my friend.
Fun video Dave, happy new year!
Appreciate the nice comment and glad you enjoyed Bob. Hope you
and your family also have a great 2024. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Hi my fascination with trains started after I retired teaching OBGYN for 30y. It just occurred to me one day while randomly seeing a rail road video with 100+ wagons, what would happen if the Loco Pilot's wife was in an Ambulance in Labour waiting for the train to pas and I got hooked on. Well Sir I must say this you have such a 'Sunny Smile' that the Locomotive would start on it's own looking at your smile. God Bless You that you are out there in in temperatures below 0 Celcius that too on a Christmas Day. Hope you got home to a nice warm Festive Lunch. Thought it's way beyond Christmas and New Year still let me take this opportunity to Wish You, Family and your team a Belated Merry Christmas And A Happy New Year.
Thank you for the nice comment Harsha. If I could start a loco with
my smile, I think I'd soon become a millionaire from starting all
the locos out there that need it....:-) May you and your family also
have a most blessed year in 2024. Appreciate your taking the time to visit with us and check out the video on jump starting a locomotive my friend.
I would have loved to dead headed that locomotive. I think even after not running EMD locomotives since the end of 1994, I could still safely handle that mission.
Have fun and stay dry and safe!
You no doubt could teach me a few things, next time if ever I get
to run one, will give you a call klsc. :-) Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the how to jump start a locomotive video my friend.
Dave, If I lived much closer, I would jump at a call. I live in Michigan between Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. Reality is unless you have a way to get Scotty on the Enterprise to beam me over, I doubt it will happen! I would very much enjoy running a loco on your line. I did have a ultra short run once pulling cars off of a CSX train on their main once. It was to pull cars off of their train so they could pick them up on their trip back. This saved them time having to run around their train later to come back. For this my conductor handed me off to the CSX Conductor for the move. This was a curtesy operation to help them since we were at interchange when their local was there. That was my only few feet on welded rail. The KLS&C was all stick rail. 85 was an ex Santa Fe GP-7R 2110. For me she was always a sweet dependable loco.
@@klsc8510 😊👍😎
Really enjoyed the video Dave!
Appreciate the nice comment and glad you enjoyed Richard. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Jumper cables to a knife switch. I am in Love, Red on Positive. 😊
Pretty cool stuff and simple as can be isn't it Ron, glad you enjoyed,
since you are now in love, send the loco a Valentines Day gift, it
likes chocolate....:-) Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive and for writing in my friend.
Always a joy watching your clips.
Love them old locos. Would want one myself.
Have a great weekend y'all!
I figured everyone should know how to jump start a loco PJW, seems
like everyone that writes in has a loco in their back yard with dead
batteries....LOL Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
@ccrx6700 :
Always nice to be needed. 🤣
If I had the money this would be the happy place for me : upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/SGB_loc_2424.jpg
Just a camping chair, a package of sandwiches and something cool to drink and I'm trouble to no one.
@@_PJW_ 👍😊😎
You have to be a jack of all trades in your job Dave .
Another great one Dave!
What voltage are those batteries?
Thank you for the nice comment Michael. Yes I get involved in a lot
of different things, makes the job interesting. Batteries are 64 volts sir. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive and for writing in my friend.
Dave, you might want to get a rubber electrical mat and cut it to cover your jumper cables aligator clips. That would offer much greater protection against a short.
Always enjoy your videos, you do a great job explaining what you are working on.
Thank you for the suggestion Bill, that is an excellent idea. Glad to hear you are enjoying the home movies. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Use heatshrink tubing.
I now have a locomotive in my backyard. Thank you.
(I don’t… I forgot if I returned it yet tho)
I posted this video EpicRails because I figured a whole lot of folks
had locos in their back yards with dead batteries and needed to find
out how to get them started.....:-) And if you don't return yours, it's okay
with me, I won't tell a sole. Thank you for very much for taking the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Very interesting video Dave, thanks for sharing your knowledge with us!
Not something that everyone gets to see very much, course I figured a lot of folks could use this knowledge Dave so they could jump
that locomotive they have in their back yards with dead batteries.....:-)
Glad you could stop by my friend.
Your channel is always great to watch! You take us into the real life of railroading, and it's awesome!
Thank you for the kind words HoosierDaddy, glad you are enjoying
the home movies. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive and for writing in my friend.
awsome job dave stay warm have a great day.
Thank you for the nice comment David. Just doing my job here
trying to keep trains running. We do appreciate your taking the time to visit with us and check out the video on jump starting a locomotive my friend.
Great videos and commentary - thanks Dave.
Appreciate the nice comment skywatcherca. Thank you very much for taking the time to check out the video and may you have a very good day my friend.
The AAA of the train world, nothing you can’t handle ,is there !
👍👍🚂😁
Appreciate the kind words yellowlab. I'm just doing my job tho. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
@@ccrx6700 always watching for a new video ! 👍👍🚂🚂
@@yellowlab5624 😊👍
I am watching as the number of "views" and the number of "likes" increase at a phenomenal rate. Dave, You are a very popular guy! And with good reason. Thank you for your wonderful videos and your enthusiasm for your job.
Appreciate the kind words and glad you enjoyed Joe. Does seem
like a lot of folks are watching this one. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Great content to add to all the YT professional freight hopper content... should come in handy one day ; )
Thank you for the nice comment HappyQuails, I'm sure everyone
needs to know how to do this....:-) Appreciate very much your taking the time to write in and to check out the video on jump starting a locomotive my friend.
Now i can jump our friendly neigborhood loco ! Thanks Dave
I figured this video would come in handy for a whole lot of folks who
have locos in their back yard with dead batteries Nick.....:-) Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Love this channel!
Appreciate the nice comment and glad you are having a good time with us Lisa. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Awesome video Dave I enjoy this type very much but really anything to do with railroading is right up my ally👍👍
Thank you for the nice comment Russell, glad you enjoyed. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Fascinating as usual
Thank you splatten, glad you liked the video. Appreciate your taking the time to visit with us and may you have a very good day my friend.
Another fantastic vid Dave what a job all the best .
Thank you for the nice comment Lawrie, glad you enjoyed. Very
much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on
how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Hi Dave-----fun, fun, fun!!!
Always a fun day here on the RR Shane..... :-) Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive and write in my friend.
Have to call Larry's Truck&Electric. Get some EMD/Ingersoll Rand air starters😋 Longgg time ago. I used to have to keep a gladhand on my tire truck for truck boosts with air starters. I just dated myself lol
Some of the newer locos have air starters on them Doug, but if
the loco shuts down and has an air leak, then that presents another
problem in and of itself. We'd have to give you a call to come out
and pump up the air reservoir....:-) Course to do that, we'd have to first get 3 quotes from others, then an approval, then a purchase order
would have to be issued, then if you did get the job you'd have to wait
3 months to get paid.....LOL Thank you very much for taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Put it on the wish list. Railcrane,Shunter MoW loco&air starters 😄🤞Thank you again, Dave👷♂️for letting us in&armchair quarterback👍🚂🇨🇦🇺🇲
Thanks Dave 😊
Your very welcome Santafefrank. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
I was getting scared when you took that ground cable off, afraid it would touch ground again by hitting the floor of the cab. Good to know the other end of the cables had been disconnected.
I thought that too Dave knows what he is doing though :)
Not to worry Banjoliope, floor in cab also has a rubber mat on it,
so even if it did hit the floor it wouldn't have done anything. But I
wouldn't have taken it off and dropped it had it still be connected
on the other end. Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
You really don't need fancy "newer" locomotives to pull cars on a single track private line, honestly. I mean, they need to go forward and the other forward. That's about it.
You are right, just need a loco that stays running! Thanks so much for taking the time to write in and check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
What you are working on is old school cool. No computer or a bunch of sensors. Denis from Santa Rosa CA
Yes I'm glad we don't have computer controlled locos Denis for
sure on that. Appreciate very much your taking the time to check out
the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
I was on a train hauling an oversize load which was restricted to daytime running only. Came in at 0400 to get on the road, only to find the locomotive had been shutdown the previous evening (against company policy) and the batteries were dead. To get going the road foreman of locomotives, who was with us, got a local welder out of bed. The welder drug his portable welding machine to the site, the foreman connected the leads inside the control panel, started the engine on the welder, and fired up the loco and we left on time. One would have thought he did this everyday.
That's pretty cool Robert. When they trued some wheels on one of
our locos they ran the traction motor off a portable welder, that
was neat to see done. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Another great video Dave thank you, love to see the black diamonds flowing down the hill. Funnily enough we call freight movements “trips” in the UK too. Great stuff
That's what we have always called them here too Ian, trips. Yes it
certainly is good to see them running coal, that keeps the paychecks
coming in.....:-) Glad you enjoyed and very much appreciate your taking
the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how
to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Hay Dave.I,m half way through and i,m enjoying it so far.ha ha.
Thanks.
That's great to hear Mike, glad you are enjoying this one. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also to check out the how to jump start a locomotive video my friend.
Ive seen that done at the Monticello Illinois railway museum, (same stuff, different day), but some years ago, there was an article in one of the RR magazines about 3 of the Alco C636 units the Illinois Central had. They were air-start, and used up the air on all of them trying to start only one. They had to end up calling in an EMD unit to charge the air up on them to eventually get them running, how embarrassing for Alco!
To say the least I'm sure that was Paul! EMD to the rescue! :-)
Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also to
check out the how to jump start a locomotive video my friend.
Thanks for the tour. The difficulties with Railroading. It takes a lot of time to learn the equipment. I can see why it is so dangerous. Travel safe. I will be back. Is water for cooling purposes. I would think antifreeze. Would be used. The cold spell bring out a lot of problems. God day. Later.
Yes sir the water is for cooling the engine and air compressor Dan.
Not many EMD locos use antifreeze, we do put a rust inhibitor in
the water. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and also for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
103 👍's up thank you for sharing 🤗
Thank you for the nice comment Scott, glad you enjoyed. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and for checking out the video on how to jump start a locomotive my friend.
Good video as always. Never a dull moment on the railroad. Have a good week
Thank you for the nice comment Texaswonderer, you're right, never a dull moment here! :-) Appreciate very much your taking the time to check out the how I prevented a derailment video my friend.
If I could pick one guy to have coffee at the diner with, it would be this guy.
Thanks for the kind words John. Actually I'm a quiet guy except
when it comes to talking railroading....:-) Thanks for taking the time to visit with us to check out the jump start video my friend.