I do appreciate your videos, lots of great information, especially going from a MTH DCS O scale layout to being a N scale newbie learning DCC and all that goes along with it. Thanks as always, I appreciate the time you put in. Nice plug for Ridge wallets but too pricey for an old triceratop like me.
I know that PTSD is a serious condition. My brother is retired career Army and a combat veteran of two conflicts. Your job is incredibly tough and has disturbing consequences from time to time. I hope you are able to shed all that and relax with your modeling. It's a great way to push all the other distressing issues that life offers out of our heads. I always enjoy your videos. You put in a lot of time editing and it shows. Thank you for sharing.
We're building a club layout down in Morgantown with a double track mainline (the layout will be set in the early to mid 1970s) heavily influenced by the B&O. We like the idea of continuous running during open houses and copying "right over" orders to run trains against the current of traffic during operating sessions. We plan to occasionally declare one track "out of service" for maintenance. Most of the double track will signaled for current of traffic but some blocks may be signaled in both directions. Four or five fully functional interlockings will guard the entrance to the yards or serve as a place to "put the helper on". One interlocking will be made up to look like an "armstrong" tower, and the others with either "electric motors" or "air plants" (my favorite). You joined the railroad too late to have very much interaction with operators (down to just VI and WJ by 1999?) but the history and atmosphere will live on with our layout. I always appreciate your perspective on the railroad. My late grandfather retired in 1975 and we always talked trains until his passing in 1999. I can remember being at their house overnight and hearing the phone ring. Grandma always answered it. Then she would wake Grandpa with something like "Grafton, 4:30" or "Paw Paw Turn, 5:00". Thus began his "day". It would seem that those "on your rest" calls are still the order of the day. And going from sixth out to first out in a matter of minutes! Stay safe out there.
As somebody living in the Netherlands watching your videos is so fascinating because everything is different from where I live. I wouldnt ever need to think about oh do I need single or double track, it would be do I need double or quadruple track haha. Also the stuff with the high wides, the idea of having a network which allows for enough flexibility for trains to stop and just wait is completely foreign for me.
I love hearing your perspective, since I haven't left North America YET. Hopefully 2023 or 2024. I am honored to have viewers from your area. Thank you so much for watching and engaging. Awesome!
God bless you and your TH-cam series it's a blessing to have an engineer and an engineer's in sight when having a personal model railroad and understanding the life of the railroad it is such a blessing to have DJ's trains God bless you sir and don't give up what you do and thank you for your time and your passion ✝️💪🧠👀🫀💸🫂
Greetings from the UK. Fun fact: when George Stephenson set out the tracks for the Stockton and Darlington Railway he set the rails of each track at 4ft 8in (the extra half inch was added later) and the tracks were set so that the nearest edges of the tracks were set at 4ft 8in. He did this so that wide loads could be carried on both sets of tracks. Later the gap between an individual pair of tracks was increased to 6ft and 10ft between any additional parallel tracks (sidings or running lines).
DJ, I am amazed. I thought that engineers never communicated with other engineers on any other train as a norm. Basically just speaking with dispatch or possibly a trainmaster. I figured that all occasions of stopping to let priority traffic to pass had already been calculated by HQ when it was decided what your manifest was to be. Please correct me on this..
sorry, completely wrong. We are always in communication with each other. We never see train masters unless they are trying to fire us. Dispatchers call audibles and redirect trains based upon everything from outbound crew availability, yard congestion, priority and more. Always fluid.
The streetcars used to run mostly double track, except for bridges, and certain sections with narrow right of way. Railroads vary. My aunt's house was right along the B&O main in Dawson, PA. I used to watch the EMDs go by in the 70s. My Grandma worked in the dispatch office for the Union Railroad. Her brothers worked on the B&O. My Grampa was a millwright, he was killed riding the ladder on a bumped car. I had HO model trains throughout my 20s and 30s. I moved platforms several times. If I ever build another layout it has to be set in the 70s. No modern era stuff. I saw the American Freedom Train in Pittsburgh in 1976. 1970 seems like a good year to base a layout in. I was 5 in 70. I got in trouble for playing on the tracks... and in the junkyard... Cars were cars in 70, and trains were trains. And double-stacked Conex containers, (and the extra-high tunnels to accommodate them,) weren't a thing yet. Semi trailers riding piggyback on flatcars was as close as you got to that. Welp, that's a long and rambling enough comment, I reckon.
Thanks for the interesting videos DJ! I recently discovered your videos on TH-cam. It's an amazing combination about real life train business and model train hobby in the U.S. Keep going the good work! Many greetings from Belgium!
A few things to remember when doing double track: Some countries are both LHD and RHD depending on the region (Alsace vs the rest of France). Some sections require even regular trains to slalom between RHD and LHD, especially when carrying TOFC or containers (old Gotthardt route) as the older tunnels are smaller. You can find triple track tunnels on double track sections if the route has regular oversized load traffic. The middle track is using the maximum height of the tunnel to allow Schnabel cars or rail cranrs
I would love to take public transportation, but the closest bus stop is either 1.5 miles north or 1.5 miles south, BUT If I could walk 1.5 miles I would not need a bus. Only other option is cab or Lyft if you can get one. Public Transportation-Whatever!
I first encountered super-elevation when I was researching a book about the 1951 PRR Woodbridge, NJ train wreck (85 killed; deadliest postwar wreck in US history and deadliest in NJ history). I had never given much thought to how a train goes around a curve, but that's what got me into learning about how railroads work...by researching how one *didn't* work! One of the questions investigators had was why they didn't have permanently posted speed limits. The explanation was in this busy area they had multiple tracks with different limits and that different kinds of trains required different speeds - freights, passenger, express, local, work trains, wide-load trains, haz-mat trains, military equipment trains, presidential trains (in pre-Air Force One days), even circus trains. Essentially, it wasn't practical because when it came to speed, depended on multiple variables. This video got me thinking about that again. I've commented before on your videos that I enjoy creating digital layouts on Train Simulator - no room and even less $$$ for an analog model trail layout...plus you get to be in the cab and operate the train! But the considerations are the same - how many tracks, what speed, where to have the signals, do you need super-elevation or not, etc. I am quasi-prototypical in my approach, but it needs to "make sense" even in that fictional world I'm creating as to why things are the way they are. Your videos like this are wonderful resources, whether you need inspiration for analog or digital modelling or are just curious how things work. If you ever get out my way into New Jersey, lemme know...I'll toss ya a pack of gum! ;)
I enjoyed this video. I especially liked the scene when you are answering the phone from a deep sleep. As usual I learned an incredible amount. I appreciate your talking about how you have fears about passing other trains at high speed. Once again I got more ideas about how to model. Thanks for “keeping it real.”
the nearest rail line to me is a CSX main line that runs from somewhere in New Jersey all the way down to Jacksonville, FL and where I am it is single track.
Great video tutorial abt doing double track and the necessities of it for model railroading. Interesting time limit w being on call to get ready and your travel time of getting there b4 the 2hrs expires. Thanks as always for videos and tutorials on whatever the topic of the day may be!
Running DT was a definite experience the first time I did it. Having a train blast around the corner at 50 was very unnerving. I got to do it all over again running passenger only we are going 79 with the oncoming train going by at 50.
Wow D J this was an amazing insight to double tracks and engineering. I had gotten hired by NS as a trainman but I had to turn it down :-( because of my health. Thanks again D J this was great if you can check out the Hobby shop in Kirkwood Mo Schaefer Hobby Shop amazing thanks again :-)
Some great info in this video.Nearest CSX rail line to me is the old L&N mainline sub Louisville to Nashville,it is a north south line.some of the trackage is doubled.
The C&NW (Chicago & North Western........Now UP) was an exception to your double track explanation. They (the C&NW) went geographically east on what would be the westbound track and vice versa.
Thanks DJ, great explanation of the progression from multiple tracks to two or one in some places, again depends upon traffic and the presence of timetabled Amtrak service. My model layout is two levels both double tracked, it adds operating interest and I’ve included longer middle sidings/crossovers for online storage and switching interest. Thanks DJ.
Getting called in the middle of the night goes along with a lot of jobs. For me it was something like "we got a floating knee with a grade III open tib/fib." Usually there would be a couple calls while other folks fixed more important things.
That Hatch building is interesting. Box car unloading doors on the ground floor, rooftop parking above. Think of the weight issues; cars and trucks, asphalt, snow etc.
Hi DJ, Pre-Conrail, Some sections of the old Southern Railway could be considered a North South railroad, but on NS you also had the N&W which was a East West railroad connecting Norfolk VA with Chicago, IL. Now since 1999 NS now owning the former PRR portion of Conrail, NS connects the East Coast with Chicago, St Louis and New Orleans, LA making it a pretty big East West railroad. Just my opinion, a couple good examples of North South railroads were the DT&I which connected Detroit MI with Cincinnati OH and the Illinois Central Railroad which connected Chicago IL to New Orleans, LA. Love the drone footage along the former P&LE near the West End Bridge and McKees Rocks. I remember when the P&LE was an all double track mainline and in some places had three tracks. The Third track was known as a "controlled siding". Before my time, the P&LE like the Pennsylvania railroad, had 4 mainline tracks. I have to tell you DJ, at my age I'm glad I now have a locomotive electrician job at the engine house, I'm on the same shift with the same rest days. No on call getting phone calls at all hours of the day or night. Yes I do get to move locomotives around the shop complex, but I've never moved a train, unless you want to count the 13 dead engines I moved one day 😁 Another great video DJ and thanks for the link, I'll have to look into a Ridge Wallet. Cheers, Rich S.
I'll probably see you at the N Scale show in Sept. I can guarantee you I'll still be using this wallet. I have table for the weekend. I'm doing strasburg tomorrow and sat, and then canada in June. Probably a few more events before September, but hope to see you this summer.
@@djstrains HI DJ, Yes I already have a vacation day scheduled for the Altoona N Scale Weekend. Can't get vacation for the July Greenberg show in Monroeville , so we'll have to see. But I look forward to catching up with you in Altoona. Cheers, Rich S.
Commonly the reason for Double Track is due to the traffic demand, usually Main Lines due to better "throughput". Meaning you can move more trains per an hour through an area then if you had single track with sidings.
CN and CP railroads avoid having to double-track their mainlines from the interiour of the province of BC down to Vancouver and the ports facilities etc.. by sharing their lines. Along the many miles of narrow canyons and river valleys with a lot of bridges and tunnels the two companies worked out an arrangement where all westbound traffic uses the same line (usually on the north side of the river) and the eastbound trains use the other track (usually on the south side). I don't know (yet) how they coordinate and schedule the movements but it obviously helps both companies move more trains more efficiently.
1 THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS INFORMATION WITH US 2 THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORT AND TIME I APPRECIATE IT AND YOU 3 HAVE A GOOD DAY TODAY 😊 I ENJOYED YOUR VIDEO AND INFORMATION ON THIS SUBJECT I ALSO AM A SUBSCRIBER. YOUR CHANEL IS VERY GOOD INDEED THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH US JIM KAMMERER OF PHILADELPHIA PA 👌 😀 😊
My local NS line was double track in most places until Conrail ripped out most of it in 1991-1993. Before they ripped it out they stopped maintaining it and relegated the trackage rights D&H trains onto it to make them go 10mph while Conrail freights flew by at 30-40mph. CSX's line was one of the few that were 4 tracks but by the time Conrail got it only 4 tracks remained and you could barely see it ever was 4 mains.
@@djstrains that's the speed of one of the local short lines today. Arcade & Attica with their GE Center-Cabs doesn't go over 10mph on their 15 mile trip to their one industry.
Does CSX still uses an actual crew caller or robo caller? The reason I asked is because I work for the UP.. They have been using a robo caller for over 15 years now. If a human calls me I know it's going to be a messed up day.
actually, I was an extra (non speaking) in several movies filmed 2012-2016. Batman, I am number 4, one for the money, mafia, Foxcatcher. about 22 seconds of screen time!!
I have a question for question for your next Q & A session. How do Railroads keep track of all there different rail cars & engine’s (know there location’s across the US)? Thank You for all the info you provide.
The software that the yardmasters use allows them to tap it in and see its last known location. Not sure if you know, but we have a lot of ID readers that scan the ID codes (cant think of the real name) on cars. Sometimes we leave a yard thinking we have 100 cars, but our defect detector will tell us we have 101. So the dispatcher will see it and say "you have an extra car, 40 deep, car number....etc".
DJ, the super e on trackage is complex. Unlike a roadway where the super e pivots around the center or one edge, the trackage super e is not only the rail bed and rail gauge, but the individual rail is supered as well. This means the rail bed begins the pivot, then the rails develop a difference in elevation, then the rail itself rotates. Pain to design, but it is cool when you see 12,000 tons at 50mph traverse it. Thanks for the videos love the channel.
Superelevation is not related (per SE) to gauge, nor are the rail "rotated." Superelevation is simple. As the track alignment (centerline) enters the spiral (change of alignment from straight track to a certain degree of curve l), superelevation is introduced by maintaining the low rail at the centerline gradient (level, or the track grade climbing up or down) and raising the high rail to the specified superelevation at the end of the spiral/beginning of the curve. The amount of superelevation is dependent on several physical contributing factors (train speed, both max. and min , rail/wheel wear, mechanics and physics of moving equipment loaded and empty, whew!). For a thorough explanation refer to engineering books and studies.
I graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering and worked in both roadway and railroad jobs. I worked 20+ years in track maintenance on a 90 mph territory (there was a curve restriction of 85 mph on 1 curve, others restricted to 80 and 75). Please check with REA, FRA standards and railway standards. What I presented is (or was) the Engineering Department Standards used to surface track according to the established design parameters I have ridden trackage, in Mexico, where superelevation was introduced PRIOR to entering any separating a curve (in the 1960's and I can assure you the ride quality was very different, not in a good way. Have you ever driven on a stretch of straight roadway with irregularities that introduce superelevation where it doesn't belong?
@@glennfoster2423 Unfortunately, I have, and I have been the EOR for remediation of other issues of that nature. During plans review, the two biggest issues I find are incorrect super e calculation and failure to account for drainage rate/volume. Would love to swap stories with you comparing the difference of road/bridge vs rail engineering. I have never worked rail, quite intentionally, as I enjoy roadway far more. I have designed several at grade crossings for RR. My primary area of practice is traffic, roadway, drainage. I will check the references you mentioned. Good response, by the way.
Many years ago I got a taste of what you describe about carbody swing. Riding the Amtrak _Pennsylvanian_ to Pittsburgh through Horseshoe Curve, we were passing a NS autorack train, and I got to watch the autoracks swing closer and farther from my window as we passed out of the Horseshoe, and then around the seemingly sharper curves immediately after that. Video at th-cam.com/video/f7Ounxw8fEA/w-d-xo.html , and the effect becomes particularly noticable after the halfway point. Somewhere in my collection I have video shot from the _Capitol Limited_ also headed toward Pittsburgh (last-minute rebooking after missing the Pennsylvanian "by _that_ much"), and passing a CSX autorack train headed in the opposite direction through curvy mountain ROW that effect was even more pronounced seated up in a Superliner, but I have yet to locate that video to post for some reason.
@@djstrains…never knew that! Cool. (Subscriber. Fav RRs are Duluth Missabe & Iron Range (northern MN iron ore, taconite prod/transfer), C&NW, Soo Line, Wisconsin Central, CSX, Conrail, Green Bay & Western (coal, power plant), MS&N (Mpls, MN). IMO, NS has such a boring plain black color scheme…its colorful heritage units are awesome!
FYI generally they are not "telephone poles", they are almost always power poles or utility poles. Very few poles are phone only. This from a 40 year phone company employee.
a few times. Can I tell you that I wasn't really impressed. It was weird, it didnt sound like what we were used to, at least not on the inside. I thought the trucks were odd looking. It seems a little bit longer too, when walking along side it to go to trailing engine. The bigger the engine, the slower it feels like it wants to move (avoid knuckles).
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! I have had it for a while now and I honestly cant believe I didnt switch to this earlier. Best thing I have used in a long time. Traveling all over this month and in June and this is ideal.
Out of gauge loads are published well in advance and details about the routes they must take (avoiding certain station platforms and so on) The signaller isn't allowed to pass the train onto the next box unless they have a copy of the paperwork - even if they are sitting next to each other
Railroads Built the United States FACT! reasons why town and city roads, streets are so messed up or why Railroading street track is a thing as the Railroad was there first and the railroad built the Town or City. DJ do you know why a Engineer sits on the Right side in cab of a locomotive there's a reason for that I'll give you a big "hint" think where a boat owner sits maybe you'll get it haha. I know I really need to make video's and tell, I'm getting there. Note railroads don't have Straight track as it's called "Tangent Track" which is slightly curved hidden by the naked eye knowing how steel is made it's impossible to have perfect straight Rails in the Railroad. Another note Railroad Crossings are controlled by a electric current going through the rail that is picked up by a locomotive and is digitally figured out how fast times weight to distance to Crossing until Gates are active now a day's. 9:01 Remember those days Don't miss them one bit. 99% of kids now a days don't understand that when reporting to job that a hour or maybe 30mins of the early work time you and Crew or Engineer, Conductor go over your work day plan Base of Operation War Plan. What need's to be done as to I was Yard Crew so we would figure out who's working where what was our job for the day and how we were going to achieve it, as a Road Crew aka Mainline Engineer and Conductor would do the same but different. Honestly to put it in a Great perspective as a Railroader almost everything you known as Regular life doesn't apply to railroader's as were a different breed of citizens. As a city or suburban police man or woman are only city or town qualified as they have No rights really to Railroading, which railroading has there own Police which is honestly worse do to it's Federal and you'll be paying more money than Public. Worse part of any Conductor's job is titled the "Long Walk Back" the long walk back every Conductor experiences it with-in 3 to 6 weeks of beginner and is NOT something anyone wants to do as it's your Job to do. If your Train strikes or Hits a Motor Vehicle it's your Job as Conductor to walk back and find out if anyone is alive in any state or form that there in NO MATTER what they look like, so if you hit a 7 year old boy "IT'S YOUR JOB TO FINDOUT IF HE'S OK" which if you have kids yourself isn't easy. Railroading isn't for everyone I'll say that. I think I got to deep with that last Comment!
"DJ do you know why a Engineer sits on the Right side in cab of a locomotive there's a reason for that I'll give you a big "hint" think where a boat owner sits maybe you'll get it haha." Nothing whatsoever to do with boats. It's for sighting of signals. On a steam locomotive, the boiler blocks vision to one side, so the engineer was placed on the same side as the signals. In most of the US, that was on the right; in the UK, it's on the left.
Not to get away from the subject of the video,but did I see that right??🤔 A parking lot on top of a warehouse??? Not that's an interesting subject to model!!!
I am mad at myself, because I showed this building in another video, but cant figure out which one, lol. Yeah, its wild. On our orders its called "Heinz spur". But it has been called different things over the years. Been over a decade since we gave them boxcars.
i dont how you fell but when i worked as a head brakeman i always got nervous when passing a train on the adjacent track esp at a high speed cuz you never know what can happen.
Big thanks to Ridge for sending me this wallet and supporting the channel! Here’s the site if you want to check them out! > ridge.com/djstrains
Awesome 👏 I got a rare Bessemer train race on a small section of double track just north of Calvin yard
I love my Ridge wallet!
I do appreciate your videos, lots of great information, especially going from a MTH DCS O scale layout to being a N scale newbie learning DCC and all that goes along with it. Thanks as always, I appreciate the time you put in. Nice plug for Ridge wallets but too pricey for an old triceratop like me.
TRICERATOP!! Lol!!
I know that PTSD is a serious condition. My brother is retired career Army and a combat veteran of two conflicts. Your job is incredibly tough and has disturbing consequences from time to time. I hope you are able to shed all that and relax with your modeling. It's a great way to push all the other distressing issues that life offers out of our heads. I always enjoy your videos. You put in a lot of time editing and it shows. Thank you for sharing.
I sincerely appreciate that John.
You fully explain so many things on the Railroad that most people didn’t realize may even be an issue. Thanks DJ. 👍
That was a very appreciated comment!
We're building a club layout down in Morgantown with a double track mainline (the layout will be set in the early to mid 1970s) heavily influenced by the B&O. We like the idea of continuous running during open houses and copying "right over" orders to run trains against the current of traffic during operating sessions. We plan to occasionally declare one track "out of service" for maintenance. Most of the double track will signaled for current of traffic but some blocks may be signaled in both directions. Four or five fully functional interlockings will guard the entrance to the yards or serve as a place to "put the helper on". One interlocking will be made up to look like an "armstrong" tower, and the others with either "electric motors" or "air plants" (my favorite). You joined the railroad too late to have very much interaction with operators (down to just VI and WJ by 1999?) but the history and atmosphere will live on with our layout.
I always appreciate your perspective on the railroad. My late grandfather retired in 1975 and we always talked trains until his passing in 1999. I can remember being at their house overnight and hearing the phone ring. Grandma always answered it. Then she would wake Grandpa with something like "Grafton, 4:30" or "Paw Paw Turn, 5:00". Thus began his "day". It would seem that those "on your rest" calls are still the order of the day. And going from sixth out to first out in a matter of minutes! Stay safe out there.
you are so spot on. But...I also have my first 10 years working new castle to willard and Newton Falls tower! Fun times!
As somebody living in the Netherlands watching your videos is so fascinating because everything is different from where I live. I wouldnt ever need to think about oh do I need single or double track, it would be do I need double or quadruple track haha. Also the stuff with the high wides, the idea of having a network which allows for enough flexibility for trains to stop and just wait is completely foreign for me.
I love hearing your perspective, since I haven't left North America YET. Hopefully 2023 or 2024. I am honored to have viewers from your area. Thank you so much for watching and engaging. Awesome!
God bless you and your TH-cam series it's a blessing to have an engineer and an engineer's in sight when having a personal model railroad and understanding the life of the railroad it is such a blessing to have DJ's trains God bless you sir and don't give up what you do and thank you for your time and your passion ✝️💪🧠👀🫀💸🫂
11 years on TH-cam. No plans to stop anytime soon! :).
Greetings from the UK.
Fun fact: when George Stephenson set out the tracks for the Stockton and Darlington Railway he set the rails of each track at 4ft 8in (the extra half inch was added later) and the tracks were set so that the nearest edges of the tracks were set at 4ft 8in. He did this so that wide loads could be carried on both sets of tracks. Later the gap between an individual pair of tracks was increased to 6ft and 10ft between any additional parallel tracks (sidings or running lines).
I learn something new every day!! :)
DJ, I am amazed. I thought that engineers never communicated with other engineers on any other train as a norm. Basically just speaking with dispatch or possibly a trainmaster. I figured that all occasions of stopping to let priority traffic to pass had already been calculated by HQ when it was decided what your manifest was to be. Please correct me on this..
sorry, completely wrong. We are always in communication with each other. We never see train masters unless they are trying to fire us. Dispatchers call audibles and redirect trains based upon everything from outbound crew availability, yard congestion, priority and more. Always fluid.
Great information love your videos I grew up seeing chessy and norfolk & western railroad locomotives every day in my small town of West Virginia
Very cool!
DJ, thank you for sharing this interesting and entertaining video.
Rich
Thanks for watching
The streetcars used to run mostly double track, except for bridges, and certain sections with narrow right of way. Railroads vary. My aunt's house was right along the B&O main in Dawson, PA. I used to watch the EMDs go by in the 70s. My Grandma worked in the dispatch office for the Union Railroad. Her brothers worked on the B&O. My Grampa was a millwright, he was killed riding the ladder on a bumped car. I had HO model trains throughout my 20s and 30s. I moved platforms several times. If I ever build another layout it has to be set in the 70s. No modern era stuff. I saw the American Freedom Train in Pittsburgh in 1976. 1970 seems like a good year to base a layout in. I was 5 in 70. I got in trouble for playing on the tracks... and in the junkyard... Cars were cars in 70, and trains were trains. And double-stacked Conex containers, (and the extra-high tunnels to accommodate them,) weren't a thing yet. Semi trailers riding piggyback on flatcars was as close as you got to that. Welp, that's a long and rambling enough comment, I reckon.
But your family legacy is really interesting!!!
Nice job explaining things that I do not know. Nice job DJ. Keep up the great work.
Enjoy the over 300 videos! th-cam.com/video/VonvWyIMuV0/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for the interesting videos DJ! I recently discovered your videos on TH-cam. It's an amazing combination about real life train business and model train hobby in the U.S. Keep going the good work! Many greetings from Belgium!
So honored to have viewers from abroad. Please see this video..th-cam.com/video/VonvWyIMuV0/w-d-xo.html
@@djstrains Thanks a lot DJ!
Could you, or have you described the different plate profiles? How they are used in the industry?
plate profiles? Im not sure what you mean..
A few things to remember when doing double track:
Some countries are both LHD and RHD depending on the region (Alsace vs the rest of France).
Some sections require even regular trains to slalom between RHD and LHD, especially when carrying TOFC or containers (old Gotthardt route) as the older tunnels are smaller.
You can find triple track tunnels on double track sections if the route has regular oversized load traffic. The middle track is using the maximum height of the tunnel to allow Schnabel cars or rail cranrs
Thanks!
Welcome!
Sincerely thankful for your support!!
I would love to take public transportation, but the closest bus stop is either 1.5 miles north or 1.5 miles south, BUT If I could walk 1.5 miles I would not need a bus. Only other option is cab or Lyft if you can get one. Public Transportation-Whatever!
Hi just enjoy your knowledge awesome I will look for the Playlist to create thank you DJ Railfan Tommy
Cool, thanks
I first encountered super-elevation when I was researching a book about the 1951 PRR Woodbridge, NJ train wreck (85 killed; deadliest postwar wreck in US history and deadliest in NJ history). I had never given much thought to how a train goes around a curve, but that's what got me into learning about how railroads work...by researching how one *didn't* work! One of the questions investigators had was why they didn't have permanently posted speed limits. The explanation was in this busy area they had multiple tracks with different limits and that different kinds of trains required different speeds - freights, passenger, express, local, work trains, wide-load trains, haz-mat trains, military equipment trains, presidential trains (in pre-Air Force One days), even circus trains. Essentially, it wasn't practical because when it came to speed, depended on multiple variables. This video got me thinking about that again.
I've commented before on your videos that I enjoy creating digital layouts on Train Simulator - no room and even less $$$ for an analog model trail layout...plus you get to be in the cab and operate the train! But the considerations are the same - how many tracks, what speed, where to have the signals, do you need super-elevation or not, etc. I am quasi-prototypical in my approach, but it needs to "make sense" even in that fictional world I'm creating as to why things are the way they are. Your videos like this are wonderful resources, whether you need inspiration for analog or digital modelling or are just curious how things work.
If you ever get out my way into New Jersey, lemme know...I'll toss ya a pack of gum! ;)
you know I'm gonna take you up on that!
I enjoyed this video. I especially liked the scene when you are answering the phone from a deep sleep. As usual I learned an incredible amount. I appreciate your talking about how you have fears about passing other trains at high speed. Once again I got more ideas about how to model. Thanks for “keeping it real.”
Glad it was helpful!
Great episode, one of the first things I was told as a young engineer is to be careful passing freight trains!
keep arms and head inside, lol
Fascinating insider's view - thanks DJ.
That’s my goal is to teach and share experiences to give viewers info they can’t find anywhere else
the nearest rail line to me is a CSX main line that runs from somewhere in New Jersey all the way down to Jacksonville, FL and where I am it is single track.
Great video tutorial abt doing double track and the necessities of it for model railroading. Interesting time limit w being on call to get ready and your travel time of getting there b4 the 2hrs expires. Thanks as always for videos and tutorials on whatever the topic of the day may be!
Love that segway in to ridge wallet nicely done DJ also amazing videos man
Haha Thanks Sean!
Running DT was a definite experience the first time I did it. Having a train blast around the corner at 50 was very unnerving. I got to do it all over again running passenger only we are going 79 with the oncoming train going by at 50.
I really liked the Charlie Brown teacher on the phone.
YEAY!!! MY COMEDY GETS APPRECIATED!!! WIN!!!
I have a big layout in my bedroom and it is all double track and the rail yard which has no stub ended tracks.
Wow D J this was an amazing insight to double tracks and engineering. I had gotten hired by NS as a trainman but I had to turn it down :-( because of my health. Thanks again D J this was great if you can check out the Hobby shop in Kirkwood Mo Schaefer Hobby Shop amazing thanks again :-)
Probably not in 2022. Getting ideas for 2023.
Some great info in this video.Nearest CSX rail line to me is the old L&N mainline sub Louisville to Nashville,it is a north south line.some of the trackage is doubled.
The C&NW (Chicago & North Western........Now UP) was an exception to your double track explanation. They (the C&NW) went geographically east on what would be the westbound track and vice versa.
Also wanted to add... I love my Ridge Wallet... Huge fan!!
They are awesome
Beautiful explanation of so many cool things!
Thanks DJ, great explanation of the progression from multiple tracks to two or one in some places, again depends upon traffic and the presence of timetabled Amtrak service. My model layout is two levels both double tracked, it adds operating interest and I’ve included longer middle sidings/crossovers for online storage and switching interest. Thanks DJ.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Getting called in the middle of the night goes along with a lot of jobs. For me it was something like "we got a floating knee with a grade III open tib/fib." Usually there would be a couple calls while other folks fixed more important things.
For what ever reason TH-cam is not adding your videos to my video feed. This is the 3rd video, I have to come to you to see the videos.
That is my fault, I fixed the notifications for future videos.
Good job on the video DJ. Thank you for organizing playlists. It helps.
Glad it was helpful!
That Hatch building is interesting. Box car unloading doors on the ground floor, rooftop parking above. Think of the weight issues; cars and trucks, asphalt, snow etc.
I know! Crazy, right?
Hi DJ, Pre-Conrail, Some sections of the old Southern Railway could be considered a North South railroad, but on NS you also had the N&W which was a East West railroad connecting Norfolk VA with Chicago, IL. Now since 1999 NS now owning the former PRR portion of Conrail, NS connects the East Coast with Chicago, St Louis and New Orleans, LA making it a pretty big East West railroad. Just my opinion, a couple good examples of North South railroads were the DT&I which connected Detroit MI with Cincinnati OH and the Illinois Central Railroad which connected Chicago IL to New Orleans, LA. Love the drone footage along the former P&LE near the West End Bridge and McKees Rocks. I remember when the P&LE was an all double track mainline and in some places had three tracks. The Third track was known as a "controlled siding". Before my time, the P&LE like the Pennsylvania railroad, had 4 mainline tracks. I have to tell you DJ, at my age I'm glad I now have a locomotive electrician job at the engine house, I'm on the same shift with the same rest days. No on call getting phone calls at all hours of the day or night. Yes I do get to move locomotives around the shop complex, but I've never moved a train, unless you want to count the 13 dead engines I moved one day 😁 Another great video DJ and thanks for the link, I'll have to look into a Ridge Wallet. Cheers, Rich S.
I'll probably see you at the N Scale show in Sept. I can guarantee you I'll still be using this wallet. I have table for the weekend. I'm doing strasburg tomorrow and sat, and then canada in June. Probably a few more events before September, but hope to see you this summer.
@@djstrains HI DJ, Yes I already have a vacation day scheduled for the Altoona N Scale Weekend. Can't get vacation for the July Greenberg show in Monroeville , so we'll have to see. But I look forward to catching up with you in Altoona. Cheers, Rich S.
Commonly the reason for Double Track is due to the traffic demand, usually Main Lines due to better "throughput". Meaning you can move more trains per an hour through an area then if you had single track with sidings.
CN and CP railroads avoid having to double-track their mainlines from the interiour of the province of BC down to Vancouver and the ports facilities etc.. by sharing their lines. Along the many miles of narrow canyons and river valleys with a lot of bridges and tunnels the two companies worked out an arrangement where all westbound traffic uses the same line (usually on the north side of the river) and the eastbound trains use the other track (usually on the south side). I don't know (yet) how they coordinate and schedule the movements but it obviously helps both companies move more trains more efficiently.
modern signaling.. ctc...and traffic density..affects all this...thank you....
thank you..I'll watch for your videos on signals...
Great video, DJ! Thanks!
1 THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS INFORMATION WITH US 2 THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORT AND TIME I APPRECIATE IT AND YOU 3 HAVE A GOOD DAY TODAY 😊 I ENJOYED YOUR VIDEO AND INFORMATION ON THIS SUBJECT I ALSO AM A SUBSCRIBER. YOUR CHANEL IS VERY GOOD INDEED THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH US JIM KAMMERER OF PHILADELPHIA PA 👌 😀 😊
You are so welcome
Great video. Thank you for explaining the play lists!
I still need to maybe redo some titles also.
I'd be willing to bet there's less flange squeak on super elevated curves. That is a sound that belongs only in nightmares :)
Yep.
Yay, more meat and potatoes info for modelling!! Thank you DJ!
More to come!
My local NS line was double track in most places until Conrail ripped out most of it in 1991-1993. Before they ripped it out they stopped maintaining it and relegated the trackage rights D&H trains onto it to make them go 10mph while Conrail freights flew by at 30-40mph.
CSX's line was one of the few that were 4 tracks but by the time Conrail got it only 4 tracks remained and you could barely see it ever was 4 mains.
10 mph, man, I feel that pain.
@@djstrains that's the speed of one of the local short lines today. Arcade & Attica with their GE Center-Cabs doesn't go over 10mph on their 15 mile trip to their one industry.
Does CSX still uses an actual crew caller or robo caller? The reason I asked is because I work for the UP.. They have been using a robo caller for over 15 years now. If a human calls me I know it's going to be a messed up day.
correct! Usually a deadhead and turn if called by caller.
Fantastic as always!
Great proto type infro DJ👍,gives me something to think 🤔 about on my pike while designing it, thanks & ya take care & stay safe. 👋😎🛤🚂
Great. I always appreciate your support, Jeff.
1:58 YN2 bonus 3,000.
3:28 Train meet bonus 3,000.
9:32 Angry tired engineer bonus capture lol. 50,000.
10:45 Westinghouse logo? Sacrilegious lol. Where's the GE meatball logo? 3,000.
11:29 Fallen Flag CR NYC marked gondola 3,000. 2 Depressed high & wide flatcars 6,000.
12:37 Over the bridge shot with MOF (maintenance of foam) equipment. 6,000.
13:21 All GP EMD power bonus. 9,000.
Total bonus points 77,000.
125,800 Total YT competitive railfanning foamer points awarded.
You made me spit laugh for the angry tired engineer comment.
👍👍✌️ Great job DJ keep them coming
Thanks, will do!
Haha good stuff. I liked the walk out off screen. It seems you have found your calling: acting! ;-)
actually, I was an extra (non speaking) in several movies filmed 2012-2016. Batman, I am number 4, one for the money, mafia, Foxcatcher. about 22 seconds of screen time!!
On CSX we said we have poles. I was always leary passing..
Always like your videos....so informative lotvof great information....
Much appreciated!
I have a question for question for your next Q & A session. How do Railroads keep track of all there different rail cars & engine’s (know there location’s across the US)? Thank You for all the info you provide.
The software that the yardmasters use allows them to tap it in and see its last known location. Not sure if you know, but we have a lot of ID readers that scan the ID codes (cant think of the real name) on cars. Sometimes we leave a yard thinking we have 100 cars, but our defect detector will tell us we have 101. So the dispatcher will see it and say "you have an extra car, 40 deep, car number....etc".
@@djstrains What happens after a car is empty is it sent back to it's owner or put in a holding area? 🤔
DJ, the super e on trackage is complex. Unlike a roadway where the super e pivots around the center or one edge, the trackage super e is not only the rail bed and rail gauge, but the individual rail is supered as well. This means the rail bed begins the pivot, then the rails develop a difference in elevation, then the rail itself rotates. Pain to design, but it is cool when you see 12,000 tons at 50mph traverse it. Thanks for the videos love the channel.
Yeah, its definitely an engineering marvel! Thanks for watching!
Superelevation is not related (per SE) to gauge, nor are the rail "rotated."
Superelevation is simple. As the track alignment (centerline) enters the spiral (change of alignment from straight track to a certain degree of curve l), superelevation is introduced by maintaining the low rail at the centerline gradient (level, or the track grade climbing up or down) and raising the high rail to the specified superelevation at the end of the spiral/beginning of the curve.
The amount of superelevation is dependent on several physical contributing factors (train speed, both max. and min , rail/wheel wear, mechanics and physics of moving equipment loaded and empty, whew!).
For a thorough explanation refer to engineering books and studies.
@@glennfoster2423 ever design the rail?
I graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering and worked in both roadway and railroad jobs. I worked 20+ years in track maintenance on a 90 mph territory (there was a curve restriction of 85 mph on 1 curve, others restricted to 80 and 75).
Please check with REA, FRA standards and railway standards. What I presented is (or was) the Engineering Department Standards used to surface track according to the established design parameters
I have ridden trackage, in Mexico, where superelevation was introduced PRIOR to entering any separating a curve (in the 1960's and I can assure you the ride quality was very different, not in a good way.
Have you ever driven on a stretch of straight roadway with irregularities that introduce superelevation where it doesn't belong?
@@glennfoster2423 Unfortunately, I have, and I have been the EOR for remediation of other issues of that nature. During plans review, the two biggest issues I find are incorrect super e calculation and failure to account for drainage rate/volume. Would love to swap stories with you comparing the difference of road/bridge vs rail engineering. I have never worked rail, quite intentionally, as I enjoy roadway far more. I have designed several at grade crossings for RR. My primary area of practice is traffic, roadway, drainage. I will check the references you mentioned. Good response, by the way.
Is there an explanation of dynamic brakes in your playlists? I have a basic knowledge of how they work but I have some questions.
probably in the life as an engineer series. Maybe on training on the mountain video. I cover it often but will try to explain more in future videos.
I wanna see just more abandoned stuff and abandoned siding and track stuff
I think I should have made that a playlist in hindsight. Some footage is hidden in videos like this:th-cam.com/video/uQzEdh5bpTQ/w-d-xo.html
I believe, double tracking an entire layout even tripling or quadrupling a layout just lowers the fun. All about single track and several CTC sidings!
agree
This was great
Thanks! Plenty of videos for you to watch on my channel.
Enjoy!
Many years ago I got a taste of what you describe about carbody swing. Riding the Amtrak _Pennsylvanian_ to Pittsburgh through Horseshoe Curve, we were passing a NS autorack train, and I got to watch the autoracks swing closer and farther from my window as we passed out of the Horseshoe, and then around the seemingly sharper curves immediately after that. Video at th-cam.com/video/f7Ounxw8fEA/w-d-xo.html , and the effect becomes particularly noticable after the halfway point.
Somewhere in my collection I have video shot from the _Capitol Limited_ also headed toward Pittsburgh (last-minute rebooking after missing the Pennsylvanian "by _that_ much"), and passing a CSX autorack train headed in the opposite direction through curvy mountain ROW that effect was even more pronounced seated up in a Superliner, but I have yet to locate that video to post for some reason.
isn't it scary, lol!!!
I’ve always wondered why on a bridge there is a set of tracks within the tracks?
th-cam.com/video/RNEM_qvgF_Q/w-d-xo.html
At BNSF, we just use them all as parking lots.
LMAO!!
What does CSX stand for?
Chessie / Seaboard / Corporation (2 previous railroads merged)
@@djstrains…never knew that! Cool. (Subscriber. Fav RRs are Duluth Missabe & Iron Range (northern MN iron ore, taconite prod/transfer), C&NW, Soo Line, Wisconsin Central, CSX, Conrail, Green Bay & Western (coal, power plant), MS&N (Mpls, MN). IMO, NS has such a boring plain black color scheme…its colorful heritage units are awesome!
50k, 50k, 50k!!! We want 50k!
100k and TH-cam will send me a plaque!! Lol
👉Playlist 👍
FYI generally they are not "telephone poles", they are almost always power poles or utility poles.
Very few poles are phone only.
This from a 40 year phone company employee.
Still would hurt if it bonked my head
Hey DJ,have you engineered the brand new SD70ACE-T4? If you have,what do you think about them.
a few times. Can I tell you that I wasn't really impressed. It was weird, it didnt sound like what we were used to, at least not on the inside. I thought the trucks were odd looking. It seems a little bit longer too, when walking along side it to go to trailing engine. The bigger the engine, the slower it feels like it wants to move (avoid knuckles).
I always thought the the GE's with the radial trucks looked cool.
Cool wallet 💯
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! I have had it for a while now and I honestly cant believe I didnt switch to this earlier. Best thing I have used in a long time. Traveling all over this month and in June and this is ideal.
I have a double track layout, and it's still bottleneck.
I found that comment hysterical, lol.
Like This Video it is good
What’s your favorite drone equipment?
DJI mavic
WIDE LOADS
In the UK loads like this are referred to as 'Out of Gauge'.......
James Hennighan
Yorkshire, England
Hahaha, here "out of gauge" means it fell off the tracks, lol.
Out of gauge loads are published well in advance and details about the routes they must take (avoiding certain station platforms and so on) The signaller isn't allowed to pass the train onto the next box unless they have a copy of the paperwork - even if they are sitting next to each other
I'd do anything for a free dj trains shirt.
Email me and I can offer you a discount code but I make literally pennies on my merchandise. djstrains@yahoo.com
Railroads Built the United States FACT! reasons why town and city roads, streets are so messed up or why Railroading street track is a thing as the Railroad was there first and the railroad built the Town or City. DJ do you know why a Engineer sits on the Right side in cab of a locomotive there's a reason for that I'll give you a big "hint" think where a boat owner sits maybe you'll get it haha. I know I really need to make video's and tell, I'm getting there. Note railroads don't have Straight track as it's called "Tangent Track" which is slightly curved hidden by the naked eye knowing how steel is made it's impossible to have perfect straight Rails in the Railroad. Another note Railroad Crossings are controlled by a electric current going through the rail that is picked up by a locomotive and is digitally figured out how fast times weight to distance to Crossing until Gates are active now a day's. 9:01 Remember those days Don't miss them one bit. 99% of kids now a days don't understand that when reporting to job that a hour or maybe 30mins of the early work time you and Crew or Engineer, Conductor go over your work day plan Base of Operation War Plan. What need's to be done as to I was Yard Crew so we would figure out who's working where what was our job for the day and how we were going to achieve it, as a Road Crew aka Mainline Engineer and Conductor would do the same but different.
Honestly to put it in a Great perspective as a Railroader almost everything you known as Regular life doesn't apply to railroader's as were a different breed of citizens. As a city or suburban police man or woman are only city or town qualified as they have No rights really to Railroading, which railroading has there own Police which is honestly worse do to it's Federal and you'll be paying more money than Public. Worse part of any Conductor's job is titled the "Long Walk Back" the long walk back every Conductor experiences it with-in 3 to 6 weeks of beginner and is NOT something anyone wants to do as it's your Job to do. If your Train strikes or Hits a Motor Vehicle it's your Job as Conductor to walk back and find out if anyone is alive in any state or form that there in NO MATTER what they look like, so if you hit a 7 year old boy "IT'S YOUR JOB TO FINDOUT IF HE'S OK" which if you have kids yourself isn't easy.
Railroading isn't for everyone I'll say that.
I think I got to deep with that last Comment!
"DJ do you know why a Engineer sits on the Right side in cab of a locomotive there's a reason for that I'll give you a big "hint" think where a boat owner sits maybe you'll get it haha."
Nothing whatsoever to do with boats. It's for sighting of signals. On a steam locomotive, the boiler blocks vision to one side, so the engineer was placed on the same side as the signals. In most of the US, that was on the right; in the UK, it's on the left.
Not to get away from the subject of the video,but did I see that right??🤔 A parking lot on top of a warehouse??? Not that's an interesting subject to model!!!
I am mad at myself, because I showed this building in another video, but cant figure out which one, lol. Yeah, its wild. On our orders its called "Heinz spur". But it has been called different things over the years. Been over a decade since we gave them boxcars.
@@djstrains I wonder what it looks like on the inside,as to how heavily modified that roof really is???most likely concrete and steel.. 🤔
i dont how you fell but when i worked as a head brakeman i always got nervous when passing a train on the adjacent track esp at a high speed cuz you never know what can happen.
Especially on curves