BOB2 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Chris Walker Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > BOB2 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > >
> > > And, having taken a train down the
> > > Acolita grade with a dynamiter and one
> > operating
> > > dynamic at 90 mph., I can attest that no half
> a
> > > mile of 4% grade, would have delayed us
> > much....
> > >
> >
> >
> > Bob2,
> > can you give us the whole back story on this;
> just
> > what is the gradient, normal tonnage braking
> limit
> > etc and detailing what lead to you getting in
> that
> > situation please.
> >
> > Chris
> > in New Zealand
>
> Well, you take about 7,000 feet (2,000 + plus
> meters for you folks on the upside down part of
> the planet...)... And, it weighs in at about
> 5,500 tons or so of the BSMFF, with a whole lot of
> pig flats with a notorious problem with
> "dynamiting" (going into full emergency with a
> minimum application, which we had... Then put
> 12,000 hp of locomotives on the point, with only
> two operative dynamic brakes, supposedly just
> enough per tons per operative brake on that grade,
> and have one of them crap out coming down grade.
> And on the down grade into the Salton Sea,
> westbound into Niland, passing old Tortuga (famous
> for bad accident and rule change back in the
> 1920's) and you can go from 70 mph. to 90, real
> fast...
>
> There is a long distant signal as you approach
> Niland, that always started it's cycle with 7
> flashing yellows, before turning green for the
> next CTC A signal at the east end of Niland, where
> the grade ends... Mu brekemen and I counted to
> seven and then when it turned green, we both
> relaxed... Had I needed to use the air, and it
> went into full emergency, we would have probably
> have easily taken most of the way to the west end
> of Niland, where the next A signal would have been
> red, to stop...
>
> Truly one of my more memorable experiences,
> because it was one of those "whoa" moments, where
> your butt really grabs the seat, and things don't
> present "good" options, plug the train now, or
> count the flashing yellows? Because RRing can
> sometimes have a few "unexpected" events wher you
> where you don't always have "good" choices...

How did you get to 90mph in ude? That grade coming into Niland isn't that steep, it certainly isn't anywhere near 4%? Your full of crap their Bobbie.