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Re: Dynamic braking question
Author: ex-BN
Date: 04-29-2016 - 05:11
Chris Walker Wrote:
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> Sheesh Coaststarlate,
> >>Going down the hill and thru Chumstick without
> dynos would have been challenging to say the
> least.<<
> if you can't take a train within braking load for
> that grade downhill on Airbrakes alone, you ain't
> no Enginedriver. How the hell did they get by in
> days of steam I wonder.
>
>
> Chris
> in New Zealand.
Retainers. Essentially you set more air than you need (as opposed to less air and supplement with dynamic) and drag them down the hill. Dynamic, and nowadays, "super-dynamics" make mountain grade so much easier. Of course it can be done without dynamics but it is hard on brake shoes and wheels, wastes fuel and time. In 1995 it was common to have non-functioning maintaining features on BN locomotives. I've taken 132 ton per operative brake trains down 2.2% grade with a non-dynamic unit and a #6 brake valve. So, yes, it can be done. In steam days it was even harder since riding the driver brakes could expand the tires causing them to come loose from the wheels.
"How the hell did they get by in
> days of steam I wonder." -- I asked the same question of my steam-era trainer when learning to handle big trains on mountain grades. I don't think he was wishing for a return to the "good old days".
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sheesh Coaststarlate,
> >>Going down the hill and thru Chumstick without
> dynos would have been challenging to say the
> least.<<
> if you can't take a train within braking load for
> that grade downhill on Airbrakes alone, you ain't
> no Enginedriver. How the hell did they get by in
> days of steam I wonder.
>
>
> Chris
> in New Zealand.
Retainers. Essentially you set more air than you need (as opposed to less air and supplement with dynamic) and drag them down the hill. Dynamic, and nowadays, "super-dynamics" make mountain grade so much easier. Of course it can be done without dynamics but it is hard on brake shoes and wheels, wastes fuel and time. In 1995 it was common to have non-functioning maintaining features on BN locomotives. I've taken 132 ton per operative brake trains down 2.2% grade with a non-dynamic unit and a #6 brake valve. So, yes, it can be done. In steam days it was even harder since riding the driver brakes could expand the tires causing them to come loose from the wheels.
"How the hell did they get by in
> days of steam I wonder." -- I asked the same question of my steam-era trainer when learning to handle big trains on mountain grades. I don't think he was wishing for a return to the "good old days".
