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Re: UP East St. Louis Locomotive Auction--question for Shortline Sammie
Author: OPRRMS
Date: 10-23-2016 - 11:39
Shortline Sammie Wrote:
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> 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
Plus, SP found out the hard way what can happen when the units were used in helper service.
SP eventually added removable blocks to 2450-2679 (and by mistake to 2684) that limited the horizontal movement of the drawbar. They were to be in place when in road service, and could be removed when in switching service.
This Craig Walker photo shows the most common type of drawbar block. Four blocks per unit. They were removed and hung on the wind sheet when not in use.
[www.railpictures.net]
-------------------------------------------------------
> 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
Plus, SP found out the hard way what can happen when the units were used in helper service.
SP eventually added removable blocks to 2450-2679 (and by mistake to 2684) that limited the horizontal movement of the drawbar. They were to be in place when in road service, and could be removed when in switching service.
This Craig Walker photo shows the most common type of drawbar block. Four blocks per unit. They were removed and hung on the wind sheet when not in use.
[www.railpictures.net]
