Re: Grass fires caused by carbon buildup in stacks
Author: OPRRMS
Date: 01-14-2009 - 20:02
Twice in the last couple of years UP has tried to burn the area west of Salk Lake City off the map, due to carbon sparks coming out an exhaust stack. I seem to recall in both cases a GE was involved.
UP also has restrictions on how EMD's with Roots blowers are to be handled in locomotive consists of trains (but not locals or yard jobs) in California. Ever wonder why the E9's don't come out here anymore? That's one of the reasons. Someone from BNSF told me they have similar instructions.
In UP's Roseville Service Unit, units with less than 2500 horsepower that are in freight train locomotive consists are supposed to be Isolated or shut down (depending on the specific circumstance). It used to only apply during the "dry" season, but unless it recently changed, it's now year 'round.