Re: UP East St. Louis Locomotive Auction--question for Shortline Sammie
Author: Shortline Sammie
Date: 10-22-2016 - 20:44
Units with non alignment control draft gear in buff have a tendency to allow the unit to shift to the side during dynamic braking and cause a rail to roll and cause a derailment. Alignment control allows the drawbars to swivel normally in draft but lock somewhat solid in buff.
Class I's do pretty much what they please..case in point is the UP96 SW10 donated to the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation here in Portland just arrived in Portland in train with non-alignment draft gear.
I see no good reason NOT to handle a non-alignment unit at the rear of a train like any other freight car
Go figure?
Dick Samuels