I set out to get in some flying time along the main line and ended up catching 3 trains. (I posted this on Thursday 4/12, but had to delete and re-post due to a fact error.)
Great Video!! Some great catches in there. Always love EMD standard cab leaders! And that solid EMD lashup on Q452 was awesome!!! Always awesome to see EMDs on this GE dominated Railroad
Great work as usual Danny! Some nice drone work there and you got some fantastic overhead shots of covered hoppers that I can use for my weathering!! You spend a lot of time looking down on your models, so getting the tops looking realistic is important to me...so thanks for the reference videos!! Cheers Gregg.
I was thinking of you the other day I was going across the river in Prescott Wisconsin that train was going west to east from the Marathon fuel place it was a gorgeous morning and the sun was coming up across the bridge and I sat down by the yard at lunch that afternoon watch a lot of trains go by always love you videos again my dad be very proud what you doing the railroad Thanksgiving the great state of Minnesota I shared it on Twitter
Danny, this was a nice video. I am watching it on 30 December 2020. The last train on this video was CSX train #K814 from New Wales, Florida to Bensenville Yard in Bensenville, Illinois. That caught my attention because I live in the Chicago area and I am curious if you or someone else who reads this comment has any idea what the routing would be for this train to come from Florida to Bensenville Yard. I currently live about four blocks east of the old Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad tracks which are now the joint line owned by Union Pacific and CSX. I was wondering if CSX train #K814 used that line to come into the Chicago area or if another CSX line was used. Thanks for any information that anyone can give me in regard to the routing of CSX train #814.
I am always drawn to Distant Signal whenever I can get to the magic movie box. You have visited so many spots I'd love to get to, but alas! without a car, or a Drivers license, I have to depend on others and not many of my friends are real railfans. I do agree with you that "SmokinDs" is the place to go in South St Johns County. I would dearly love to see your video when you finally get the FEC's new engine lash-up with the CNG car in the middle. Have to be here in St Augustine before breakfast for the southbound event.
Great video as usual! Nice job. Q452 was massive!! Love it. They had a box at 4:03 that's quite a ways away from home, too. Providence & Worcester from central Massachusetts. Don't see those very often, even up here.
Been enjoying your videos for a bit now. One thing I like about your style versus others is the narration, plus you not having to show the entire train. Those videos you did about the signalling were extremely helpful too. Also great that you're in my area, so I can relate to what you're showing. Down here in Sarasota, they are tearing out tracks down around Clark Road....likely in preparation of extending the Legacy Trail northward. Is there even any rail traffic any more around Sarasota/Bradenton/Venice? Love for you to check this area out one day.
Thanks very much! Yes, it really helps when the subject matter is in your own area. I never say any train videos on Florida in the 1990's until I started doing them. Don't know about the Seminole Gulf in Sarasota. I would imagine that every time they lose a customer on the south end, they apply for abandonment and the "trails" bunch will snap it up for their own use.
Efficiency over safety? How can that happen in the country that regards itself the world leader in anything and everything? It is simply shocking! Why doesn't the guard start his duty at the yard so that he doesn't have to board the train on the open line?
How is it that we live in a world where CSX didn't allow rolling boarding, whereas everywhere else the on the continent since railroads began rolling boarding and alighting by crew has been supported? ATSF: Count the Seconds, is the video I point to when criticizing improper boarding/alighting procedures. TRAILING FOOT FIRST! Very well produced video. My only comment: leave a bit more space between the dialogue and the train so that the lines don't cut out after the train is on top of the shot. Give the units some time to roar; let the narration compliment the video. I know great editing when I see it: and you never disappoint!
Getting on and off moving engines, rolling stock, or caboose was SOP back in the day when I was a brakeman for the SP, especially when I worked the local for a couple of years. You rock, you roll and you get the job done. This was all done without benefit of radio communication or what looks like some kind of special tool to set/release brakes on rolling stock. When we got to a switch to enter a siding, usually as head brakeman I did some 'sprinting' to make it to the switch, unlock it, and throw it so the train wouldn't come to a complete stop. When the train entered the siding, I climbed on board the moving engine and it was the rear brakeman's responsibility to realign the switch. He, too, worked swiftly in order to keep the train from coming to a complete stop. As usual, interesting and informative. If you've ever worked in broadcasting, which became my career after I left the SP, you've got the voice for it.
1:20 Always wondered - what's that whooOOP noise the locos make? Love your vids! Just an observation - when the train goes by, why don't you pan along with the head end so we can watch the power going away from us? Much more interesting than a string of rolling stock. Same with your aerial (great job, btw) why not turn and follow the locos? I want to see you fight the turbulence from those big cooling fans! Thanks, Danny.
The whoop sound is the air compressor's electric motor starting up to operate the compressor. In the older locomotives, like the SD 40 and GP 40 along with older GE's, the air compressor turned with the prime mover but only compressed air when a pressure valve gave notice. This caused the air compressor to wear prematurely because it turned all of the time and more frequently had to be changed out. Not so with the later models whose air compressor was operated only when needed. Stan
Yeah it's the noise the air compressor electric motor makes upon being energized. If you want to hear some really ear-gasmic noises, watch this startup of a large 160kW (about 200HP give or take) electric motor: /watch?v=PI-OT6-TZRA :D
Looks like Q-452 was going faster than the without EOT Q-442. Wonder what happens when they catch up; do thy let them pass on the other line ? Great video as usual Danny, hope to meet up with you some day when I'm out railfanning in Florida.
what used to happen at the junction city mining turn out...were the trains so long that the switching had to go out onto the mainline?? did the trains working the yard block the mainline??
i think you're doing what you were born to do,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,MAKING THESE TRAIN VIDEOS...............you're a genius at it,,,,,,,,,nobody else compares or even comes close to your work.........thanks.........don't forget the last mile switching videos.........they were great.......
This morning (4/17/18) I was woke up at 5:35am by the roar of a monster train going north through Vitas Junction. What caught the attention of my ears was the sound of a pusher engine on the back. This makes the third time I've heard one go by here, but they always go through at night. A few minutes later a short (maybe 25 cars) train went southbound.
I just love to hear those mechanical bells on railroad crossings and at 6:23 I hear some amazing WRRS bells. The Western Railroad Supply bells have to be my favorite. I just wish that Norfolk Southern would've kept them on the Harrisburg Line.
Great bird’s eye view Danny! I’m in Decatur, Illinois and at 9:53 you referenced a company that this train is en route to. What company did you say? I heard Bensenville, Illinois, but not the company. Thanks Danny! P.S. You’ve also referenced ADM corn syrup and ethanol trains before. More than likely they are from ADM right here in Decatur, Illinois!! How cool is that? Thanks for sharing!
Great video as always! I just found, and subcribed to, your channel a few days ago. After seeing your Northeast Corridor video, have you checked out Manassas, Virginia? It is an Amtrak stop along with the VRE, Virginia Railway Express commuter into DC. It is an unmanned station but has a visitor center and museum. Culpeper, VA and Orange, Va are great stops as well.
It's hard to get an exact total because of the occasional as needed jobs like coal, autoracks, ethanol, phosphate etc. But just counting regular freight there are 10. 4 are intermodal and 6 are manifests.
Another amazing and informative...not to mention a pleasure to watch...video! Thanks so much for posting as you know these videos always make my day. Such a well put together production!! All the best to you!!
The pilot for the aerials is talented. Watching the entire train from above and the ground shots makes the S Line fun to watch! Oh, yeah your narrative is also important.
Another qwaomw video that is totally outstanding compared to the videos here on TH-cam! Cane to think of one thing, it is nice to compare things from the past and today and see all the changes! Keep it up, Danny!
Good to see you hanging out in my back yard, "Vitas Junction". The trees and plants have grown in so much over the years, I can hardly see the trains out my window anymore. Great video and pretty good piloting with that drone too!
Thanks for another great video. On another note, we just returned from a holiday in Japan, where we did a lot of travel by train. Interesting fact is that we only heard the train horn once, and that was when a train was approaching a platform and a person strayed too close to the edge. Apart from that, we did a couple of thousand of miles of travel and not one horn. Quite a difference from the states and Canada.
Parking and no waiting at Vitis? And can assume 452 gets the high sign around the defective or out of reach EOT unit at. Baldwin also. Love it every time you post sir and thanks as always...
Thanks Todd. Yes, it occurred to me while editing this that those other two trains must have gone around 442 at some point. Probably Ridge Manor or Wildwood.
Nice video and catches Danny! Spent the day today at Railfest in Plant City. Kept looking to see if I saw you in the crowd. If you were there, I must have missed you. They did have one of your videos playing inside during the event. I said, "Hey, I know that guy". LOL! Maybe next year, eh? Cheers, Dan
Thanks Danny. I couldn't make it to Plant City on Saturday. I already had a commitment that took me out most of the day. Sorry I missed all of you. Maybe we'll get together in PC sometime later this Spring.
Sounds good Danny! We stayed at the StrawberryHouse Beb and Breakfast this weekend. and had a great time. Give me a shout if you come this way and maybe we can get another room here then. Cheers, Dan
Good drone views, just watch out for power lines, a friend with Centerpoint Energy in Houston reports drones can tangle in power lines, especially in residential areas and along transmission power lines typical of hose along rail lines.
Great Videos, very professional, I enjoy the information you put out! I live in England and have worked on the Railway here all my life (now retired) love the contrast between UK railways & USA, ours is mostly Passenger based, yours is Freight based or course, I hope to come over to Florida in September, going to do a bit of rail fanning or train spotting as we call it. Kept coming Danny, love to meet you sometime. Kevin.
Thanks Danny, If we come over I'll let you know, P.S. You have switch Towers Which are sadly in retreat now we call them Signal boxes as you probably know, when I retired in 2015 the signal boxes I worked at closed due to modernisation, One control centre now takes the place of over 70 boxes! Is that happening there? So much I want to tell you about our signalling methods. Regards Kevin.
Its just the tracks have been warped by the heat, nothing dangerous, entering and leaving that right track means trains have to go slow. It could also be a derailer
Interesting; I was wondering why would there ever be a method to purposefully derail a train. so I looked it up. For anyone else wondering, this is apparently to discourage unauthorized train movement onto the main line from the siding. The cost to re-rail a low-speed derailled car/loco is tiny compared to going onto the mainline at an inopportune time ("fouling" the main line) and having a major accident. Feel free to correct me if I'm mistaken.
It's a maneuver that's been done millions of times successfully. Of course, there's always one or two unfortunate occurrences that will contribute towards the statistics. Personally, I don't think it's the worst sin that could be committed, obviously not a great idea at 20 miles an hour, though. I do agree with another commenter that it would be better done on the side that the Engineman sits. My theory of it is this: If the person to be mounting or dismounting isn't comfortable or is otherwise encumbered with carried objects or whatever, he could always ask (or hand-signal) the Engineman to stop. I don't think it's written in stone that the train MUST be or remain moving, no matter what. It's just a time saver. Most of the guys doing the mounting and dismounting are in pretty good shape. For those who aren't (as described above), or if the ground is too low or soft, or whatever, all they'd have to do is ask the Engineman to stop.
I disagree. That No Moving Equipment rule is only recent.Trainmen did it for more than 150 years as a routine. Accidents happen when carelessness creeps into the workflow. Moving trains can be boarded safely when the speed is walking pace or less and the adjacent surface is flat and paved, like the road crossing. Stopping a 12,000 foot train just takes too long for these small on and offs.
Great Video!! Some great catches in there. Always love EMD standard cab leaders! And that solid EMD lashup on Q452 was awesome!!! Always awesome to see EMDs on this GE dominated Railroad
Great work as usual Danny! Some nice drone work there and you got some fantastic overhead shots of covered hoppers that I can use for my weathering!! You spend a lot of time looking down on your models, so getting the tops looking realistic is important to me...so thanks for the reference videos!!
Cheers Gregg.
Very nice catches...for those into details, 8406 is one of a few CSX SD40-2's with the looks of an SD40 hood ahead of the dynamic brake fans.
I was thinking of you the other day I was going across the river in Prescott Wisconsin that train was going west to east from the Marathon fuel place it was a gorgeous morning and the sun was coming up across the bridge and I sat down by the yard at lunch that afternoon watch a lot of trains go by always love you videos again my dad be very proud what you doing the railroad Thanksgiving the great state of Minnesota I shared it on Twitter
I think the train engineer is a good man
Excellant arial shots Danny. Keep those coming.Your so fortunate to see so much action. We don't get much freight activity on the rails here in CT.
Nice looking drone video.
Nice piloting, Danny. Also great to see so much EMD power on the GE dominated CSX...
Danny, this was a nice video. I am watching it on 30 December 2020. The last train on this video was CSX train #K814 from New Wales, Florida to Bensenville Yard in Bensenville, Illinois. That caught my attention because I live in the Chicago area and I am curious if you or someone else who reads this comment has any idea what the routing would be for this train to come from Florida to Bensenville Yard. I currently live about four blocks east of the old Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad tracks which are now the joint line owned by Union Pacific and CSX. I was wondering if CSX train #K814 used that line to come into the Chicago area or if another CSX line was used. Thanks for any information that anyone can give me in regard to the routing of CSX train #814.
38 years on the job never saw any one get hurt getting on or of moving equipment.
I am always drawn to Distant Signal whenever I can get to the magic movie box. You have visited so many spots I'd love to get to, but alas! without a car, or a Drivers license, I have to depend on others
and not many of my friends are real railfans. I do agree with you that "SmokinDs" is the place to go in South St Johns County. I would dearly love to see your video when you finally get the FEC's new
engine lash-up with the CNG car in the middle. Have to be here in St Augustine before breakfast for the southbound event.
Good show. I’m still,trying to figure out how to watch trains.
Great video as usual! Nice job. Q452 was massive!! Love it. They had a box at 4:03 that's quite a ways away from home, too. Providence & Worcester from central Massachusetts. Don't see those very often, even up here.
What you call an "EOT", I have always heard call ed a FRED, flashing rear end device. Although sometimes they use a different word for the F.
I agree with you there strongly. A dangerous practice, indeed
awesome video
Thanks Emmit!
Been enjoying your videos for a bit now. One thing I like about your style versus others is the narration, plus you not having to show the entire train. Those videos you did about the signalling were extremely helpful too. Also great that you're in my area, so I can relate to what you're showing. Down here in Sarasota, they are tearing out tracks down around Clark Road....likely in preparation of extending the Legacy Trail northward. Is there even any rail traffic any more around Sarasota/Bradenton/Venice? Love for you to check this area out one day.
Thanks very much! Yes, it really helps when the subject matter is in your own area. I never say any train videos on Florida in the 1990's until I started doing them. Don't know about the Seminole Gulf in Sarasota. I would imagine that every time they lose a customer on the south end, they apply for abandonment and the "trails" bunch will snap it up for their own use.
Great video. We met in Folkston. I was the one wearing the cheeseburger hat.
Nice one Danny!! Nice meeting you at Railwatch
Tremendous video and great info.
Nice catches!
A long train
Emd power for a change
Efficiency over safety? How can that happen in the country that regards itself the world leader in anything and everything? It is simply shocking! Why doesn't the guard start his duty at the yard so that he doesn't have to board the train on the open line?
Alsome
How is it that we live in a world where CSX didn't allow rolling boarding, whereas everywhere else the on the continent since railroads began rolling boarding and alighting by crew has been supported? ATSF: Count the Seconds, is the video I point to when criticizing improper boarding/alighting procedures. TRAILING FOOT FIRST!
Very well produced video. My only comment: leave a bit more space between the dialogue and the train so that the lines don't cut out after the train is on top of the shot. Give the units some time to roar; let the narration compliment the video. I know great editing when I see it: and you never disappoint!
That's good advice. I'll let that train sound breathe a little more before jumping back in. Thanks!
At 6:21. When Q-452 comes around the corner, I just love the sound of that train's horn. Good catch on all three trains.
Getting on and off moving engines, rolling stock, or caboose was SOP back in the day when I was a brakeman for the SP, especially when I worked the local for a couple of years. You rock, you roll and you get the job done. This was all done without benefit of radio communication or what looks like some kind of special tool to set/release brakes on rolling stock. When we got to a switch to enter a siding, usually as head brakeman I did some 'sprinting' to make it to the switch, unlock it, and throw it so the train wouldn't come to a complete stop. When the train entered the siding, I climbed on board the moving engine and it was the rear brakeman's responsibility to realign the switch. He, too, worked swiftly in order to keep the train from coming to a complete stop.
As usual, interesting and informative. If you've ever worked in broadcasting, which became my career after I left the SP, you've got the voice for it.
When working for several RR's, it was said that if you couldn't get on a train doing 5 MPH, you had no business working on a railroad.
Great job, Danny!
Great video, Danny! I like that SD40-2 leading Q442.
Another great train watching day on 5/21/20.
1:20 Always wondered - what's that whooOOP noise the locos make? Love your vids!
Just an observation - when the train goes by, why don't you pan along with the head end so we can watch the power going away from us? Much more interesting than a string of rolling stock. Same with your aerial (great job, btw) why not turn and follow the locos? I want to see you fight the turbulence from those big cooling fans! Thanks, Danny.
The GE locos use electric air compressors, and the "whoooop" sound is the sound of the compressor starting up to build more air pressure.
Electric air compressors for brakes
Ah thank you guys
The whoop sound is the air compressor's electric motor starting up to operate the compressor. In the older locomotives, like the SD 40 and GP 40 along with older GE's, the air compressor turned with the prime mover but only compressed air when a pressure valve gave notice. This caused the air compressor to wear prematurely because it turned all of the time and more frequently had to be changed out. Not so with the later models whose air compressor was operated only when needed. Stan
Yeah it's the noise the air compressor electric motor makes upon being energized.
If you want to hear some really ear-gasmic noises, watch this startup of a large 160kW (about 200HP give or take) electric motor: /watch?v=PI-OT6-TZRA
:D
I'm waiting for your Railwatch video, Danny. I didn't put that r/c csx truck in front of your camera for nothing. lol
nice with 3 sd70macs on one train and nice with the one trailing
Looks like Q-452 was going faster than the without EOT Q-442. Wonder what happens when they catch up; do thy let them pass on the other line ? Great video as usual Danny, hope to meet up with you some day when I'm out railfanning in Florida.
Always enjoy your posts with your narration and locations. It would have to be my ultimate goal to do this. Thanks.
what used to happen at the junction city mining turn out...were the trains so long that the switching had to go out onto the mainline?? did the trains working the yard block the mainline??
i think you're doing what you were born to do,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,MAKING THESE TRAIN VIDEOS...............you're a genius at it,,,,,,,,,nobody else compares or even comes close to your work.........thanks.........don't forget the last mile switching videos.........they were great.......
Thank you sir!!! That's a very nice compliment. I'll keep at it as long as everything holds out :-))
Pretty darned good for an "inexperienced pilot."
Excellent drone shot of Q442.
At 0:38 did any one notice the number plate on the top
Miss seeing the cobus at the end of Trains
Very nice video Danny!
Nice aerial shots, Danny!
The mixed freight express
Very cool P&W boxcar @ 4:02
12,200 foot train!
You have a great voice over voice, is your background in media?
Thanks! Yes, I do a lot of commercials and industrial narrations.
L
Excellent video! I will be rail fanning tomorrow from Wildwood down toward Plat City tomorrow. Hopefully I will catch something tomorrow.
Another great video Danny, LUV ME SOME BUSHNELL
This morning (4/17/18) I was woke up at 5:35am by the roar of a monster train going north through Vitas Junction. What caught the attention of my ears was the sound of a pusher engine on the back. This makes the third time I've heard one go by here, but they always go through at night. A few minutes later a short (maybe 25 cars) train went southbound.
I just love to hear those mechanical bells on railroad crossings and at 6:23 I hear some amazing WRRS bells. The Western Railroad Supply bells have to be my favorite. I just wish that Norfolk Southern would've kept them on the Harrisburg Line.
Nice job Danny. Your drone work is getting much better. Keep um coming brother.
i thought the conductor is supposed to get on board the train INSIDE the yard? not outside of the yard
Great bird’s eye view Danny! I’m in Decatur, Illinois and at 9:53 you referenced a company that this train is en route to. What company did you say? I heard Bensenville, Illinois, but not the company. Thanks Danny!
P.S. You’ve also referenced ADM corn syrup and ethanol trains before. More than likely they are from ADM right here in Decatur, Illinois!! How cool is that? Thanks for sharing!
Incredible video the trains were moving along Thank you
Odd question. I live near a KCS line. How do I get a train schedule for a particular sub?
Great video as always! I just found, and subcribed to, your channel a few days ago. After seeing your Northeast Corridor video, have you checked out Manassas, Virginia? It is an Amtrak stop along with the VRE, Virginia Railway Express commuter into DC. It is an unmanned station but has a visitor center and museum. Culpeper, VA and Orange, Va are great stops as well.
So Danny, how many trains exactly can be seen on a Sunday on the S-Line?
It's hard to get an exact total because of the occasional as needed jobs like coal, autoracks, ethanol, phosphate etc. But just counting regular freight there are 10. 4 are intermodal and 6 are manifests.
@@csxfloridafunnelrailfan3065 Thanks very much for the info.
Another amazing and informative...not to mention a pleasure to watch...video! Thanks so much for posting as you know these videos always make my day. Such a well put together production!! All the best to you!!
The pilot for the aerials is talented. Watching the entire train from above and the ground shots makes the S Line fun to watch! Oh, yeah your narrative is also important.
Another qwaomw video that is totally outstanding compared to the videos here on TH-cam! Cane to think of one thing, it is nice to compare things from the past and today and see all the changes! Keep it up, Danny!
I love the shot of Q452 coming around the curve.
In my humble opinion, these are the absolute best railfan videos on the internet. Just love watching these!
Good to see you hanging out in my back yard, "Vitas Junction". The trees and plants have grown in so much over the years, I can hardly see the trains out my window anymore. Great video and pretty good piloting with that drone too!
Always enjoy your videos. Thanks.
Nice to see you back. Your flying shots were great!
Awesome video Distant Signal!
I like the high altitude shot, you can really see that lack of terrain in Florida!
Danny great video.The conductor should have gotten on the engineers side when gettng on moveing equipment.
awesome video and catches.
Thanks for another great video. On another note, we just returned from a holiday in Japan, where we did a lot of travel by train. Interesting fact is that we only heard the train horn once, and that was when a train was approaching a platform and a person strayed too close to the edge. Apart from that, we did a couple of thousand of miles of travel and not one horn. Quite a difference from the states and Canada.
Always fantastic footage! Great and informative narration! Love the drone footage. Hey, we even get an appearance from our narrator!
Man, that drone shot is so slick! Nice work Danny!
Cheers Danny, another ripper vid.
As always, another great video.
Great video as usual! I enjoy the drone shots too.
Nice catches!
Nice Drone footage Danny!!!!! Florida is warming up hope you have a great summer buddy !!!!
Thanks Dave. Glad you enjoyed it.
that rock place looked like the track was bent
you don't get a sense of the true length of the train until you see it from the drone shots. keep up the great videos.
good catch on the trains Danny Harmon.
Parking and no waiting at Vitis? And can assume 452 gets the high sign around the defective or out of reach EOT unit at. Baldwin also. Love it every time you post sir and thanks as always...
Thanks Todd. Yes, it occurred to me while editing this that those other two trains must have gone around 442 at some point. Probably Ridge Manor or Wildwood.
Great videos and commentary
You make some great videos :)
What's up with that oval ground at 2:40?? Highly unusual. Love your videos.
Sinkhole possibly. They are everywhere in Florida and reflect Florida's karst topography.
Well done love your video's
Nice video and catches Danny! Spent the day today at Railfest in Plant City. Kept looking to see if I saw you in the crowd. If you were there, I must have missed you. They did have one of your videos playing inside during the event. I said, "Hey, I know that guy". LOL! Maybe next year, eh? Cheers, Dan
Thanks Danny. I couldn't make it to Plant City on Saturday. I already had a commitment that took me out most of the day. Sorry I missed all of you. Maybe we'll get together in PC sometime later this Spring.
Sounds good Danny! We stayed at the StrawberryHouse Beb and Breakfast this weekend. and had a great time. Give me a shout if you come this way and maybe we can get another room here then. Cheers, Dan
What a view! Thanks!
Good drone views, just watch out for power lines, a friend with Centerpoint Energy in Houston reports drones can tangle in power lines, especially in residential areas and along transmission power lines typical of hose along rail lines.
Thanks Howard, Yes, I found that out the hard way recently.
love the drone shots!
Great video !
6:40 WOW!!! All sd70s
Great video
Nice Video
Great Videos, very professional, I enjoy the information you put out! I live in England and have worked on the Railway here all my life (now retired) love the contrast between UK railways & USA, ours is mostly Passenger based, yours is Freight based or course, I hope to come over to Florida in September, going to do a bit of rail fanning or train spotting as we call it. Kept coming Danny, love to meet you sometime. Kevin.
Thanks so much, Kevin! If you do get to Florida, let me know. Maybe we can meet up.
Thanks Danny, If we come over I'll let you know, P.S. You have switch Towers Which are sadly in retreat now we call them Signal boxes as you probably know, when I retired in 2015 the signal boxes I worked at closed due to modernisation, One control centre now takes the place of over 70 boxes! Is that happening there? So much I want to tell you about our signalling methods. Regards Kevin.
Yes, we don't have any manual switch towers anymore. All been replaced by remote controlled/computer automation.
7:40 What's going on with that right rail? Looks like it's broken - but there's some sort of control next to the break.
Its just the tracks have been warped by the heat, nothing dangerous, entering and leaving that right track means trains have to go slow.
It could also be a derailer
It's a derailer, you can see the derailer stand next to it as well.
Interesting; I was wondering why would there ever be a method to purposefully derail a train. so I looked it up. For anyone else wondering, this is apparently to discourage unauthorized train movement onto the main line from the siding. The cost to re-rail a low-speed derailled car/loco is tiny compared to going onto the mainline at an inopportune time ("fouling" the main line) and having a major accident. Feel free to correct me if I'm mistaken.
No, you hit the nail on the head. :)
That's a "Split Rail" derail. CSX requires it on newer industry tracks that lead to the main line. No way a runaway car will get past that.
Great video Mr Harmon, did you used to work for the railroad?
Thanks Buffalo. Nope, just a fan.
Oh, how you get the train symbols, I can never find how to get them?
Buffalo Railfan scanners
Oh, I better get one, I bet they help alot.
Buffalo Railfan sure do, one of the most important piece of equipment for railfanning
That rule about boarding a MOVING TRAIN needs to be abolished ASAP before somebody gets seriously hurt or killed.
Amtrakfan2009 The train is only going well less than walking speed. So no need to abolish the rule.
It's a maneuver that's been done millions of times successfully. Of course, there's always one or two unfortunate occurrences that will contribute towards the statistics. Personally, I don't think it's the worst sin that could be committed, obviously not a great idea at 20 miles an hour, though. I do agree with another commenter that it would be better done on the side that the Engineman sits. My theory of it is this: If the person to be mounting or dismounting isn't comfortable or is otherwise encumbered with carried objects or whatever, he could always ask (or hand-signal) the Engineman to stop. I don't think it's written in stone that the train MUST be or remain moving, no matter what. It's just a time saver. Most of the guys doing the mounting and dismounting are in pretty good shape. For those who aren't (as described above), or if the ground is too low or soft, or whatever, all they'd have to do is ask the Engineman to stop.
I disagree. That No Moving Equipment rule is only recent.Trainmen did it for more than 150 years as a routine. Accidents happen when carelessness creeps into the workflow. Moving trains can be boarded safely when the speed is walking pace or less and the adjacent surface is flat and paved, like the road crossing. Stopping a 12,000 foot train just takes too long for these small on and offs.
Okay, that's a relief that nobody's gotten hurt. Thanks for the explanation, Danny.
Over on NS they allow us to mount on and off moving equipment. It's safe (if done right), saves time especially when it comes to switching.