@gypsyThree97 Hmmm. The train was heading for the port of Long Beach carrying products made in China? Really? Hmmmm. Normally when these trains arrive in Long Beach we unload the containers and put them on ships bound for the far east (china, Japan, Korea, etc). but you're saying this train was carrying loads from China that we are going to ship....to china? Hmmm.
@Boss302fan I'm just giving you a hard time. No harm no foul. I honestly could care less what about this particular train or any other. Have a good day.
when you consider the number of trucks needed to haul that much cargo and the traffic congestion having that many trucks on the highway, not to mention the cost of fuel and wear and tear on the road, I think these long trains are a very good idea....
This is a pretty big train, but it doesn't compare to the monster train N&W ran back in 1967. That train was pulled by six new EMD SD45 high hood diesels with three in the front and three in the middle. They pulled 500 coal cars with a caboose at the end and the train weighed more then 43,000 tons with a top speed of 20-25 mph. Now that would be a sight to see. A monster coal train.
@trainengrbabe That's why I love Canada. If your train goes into emergency and the air comes back ... you just start pulling again. You only walk it if the air doesn't come back or you can feel hesitation when you start to pull.
@trainengrbabe The test was a disaster? Hmmmm. I don't recall the tests BNSF and UP made were categorized as a disaster. And no, we're not going to send out a train of this length with this many containers with 'junk'. And as far as how long it takes to walk the train, that was taken into consideration as well.
Sorry I am not buying the New Z boy's story about the 1 man train crew's being the new thing...Where I work it is single track, sometimes dark territory, and someone has to copy, and someone has to run the engine, my sidings aren't that big either.
I don't think that it would save money to eliminate 1 crew member, at least in my part of the world....
Maybe in remote areas of Austrailia and New Zealand.....but not here.....
that is already a fact, ie Global Hawk, Predator..once PTS is in service look down the road to trains operated from the Harriman, it will be a few years but it will come.
@KBurkitt2 first off the only thing I will thank the french for is Bridget Bardot and the only thing I know about naming the internet is Al Gore was Not responsible for it.
That's already been trialled in Australia with 300 car trains, going from 1 person crewing to 0 person crewing, and worked successfully. Trains would have been remotely monitored, but the plan has been shelved for now.
I am curious as to how many people posting here actually work for the railroad??? and how many are foamers who don't care if there is anyone on the equipment or not, who can tell you the difference between a DD and a GP but couldn't switch a giraffe from a flock of sheep.
May it be the safety of calling out signals together. Also a general understand of whats going on. Hence this is where many transportation officials and polititians have made their mistake. They only see what they want, hear what they want, they can not man up (or woman up), go out and and join train crews on everyday circumstances. Whether it be a switch crew or a road crew.
I do understand that there are many other countries out there that have one man crews, have you noticed though how many of those one man crews have been in positions where they have fallin asleep, had their train roll out on them while they were repairing or working on it, or all together been in a train collision. At a bare minimum it should be a two man crew, Safety is and should be at all rails highest concern
The last time we had a locomotive engineer here die from falling asleep, about 2002 I think, he was driving a 2 man crewed train (it was in remote territory). As far as I can recall, the 2nd man wasn't able to make a difference. Overall, serious incidents involving serious injury or death, have fallen since the introduction of 1 man crewing. This is thought to be because of less distraction for the locomotive engineer.
Thought to save costs actually, and sometimes when you are having a bad time fighting sleep a second man is a good thing driving the train for a certain time. But now the guys driving alone rely more on wakeup pills and stuff... I really don't know about this move, time will tell.
Again mountain grade territory train string lines, breaks in two (broken knuckle or air hose), your telling me that an engineer can replace an air hose and back his train down the grade back to his train with no one on the point to verify when his train has come back together....Again I ask you get behind the throttle get on some mountain grade territory, have your train break apart, and do the work yourself. I am very sure that I can arrange for you to give it a go.....
Here when a train breaks in two a second person is called out to assist, or the driver of a following train helps out. Depending on where it happens, it may or may not be slower or faster than if a second person was already present, but since it doesn't happen to every train every time, it is far more economical to have an occasional delay, than to pay extra wages for no return on the majority of runs, and at the end of the day it is the bottom line that keeps the company, and jobs, alive.
@tashannon96 This is a silly response. Of course there are situations where a second or even a third individual is needed. And there are many more where one individual can move the train safely and efficiently. I've railroaded my entire life. Apparantly you have experience. And you know for a fact that you have moved many trains where you could have done so day in and day out with just yourself running.
So I ask again, When is the last time you were behind the throttle in the cab of a Locomotive??? We have had our Dept of transportation behind the throttle. explain to me in Mountain grade territory where ther is limited or no access for a roving conductor to get to and assist in any incident, how it works?
One doesn't need to be behind the throttle in order to ask why something that is commonplace around the world is not also done in America. Regarding Mountain Territory - as I wrote earlier, here we have 2 man crews in areas with remote access. 1 man crew everywhere else.
I'm not rail management, and pointing out that railroads successfully run single person crews all around the world does not make one "a suit". I know for a fact that it works just fine. I think the US is about 20 years behind on crew arrangements, there are many trains in the US that could easily run with one person in the cab.
Oh and by the way, your government and political BS is not tolerated here so go away unless you can productively say that you would rather have more jobs in this country and get our economy back towards the upside than more of a down turn. Its people that have the mentalities like yourself that have driven this country as well as all the other countries in to the ground.
Discussing why US railroads require more staff to operate trains than in other places is not political. If you don't like reading it, then that's your decision. I'm not going to stop posting here just because you don't like it. Go watch my videos instead, and enjoy!
over here we run more cars and weight than this train, with just one person. heck one of our drivers is a 22 year old girl, and she has no complaints moving 300 cars on her own. you bloody yanks winge and moan too much, get over it
Well Mr Blackmore, Since my Dad is a rail, Here is my question for you....When there is that possible incident down the road when some one gets hurt, ARE YOU GOING TO BE THE ONE TO WALK TO THIER PERSPECTIVE FAMILY AND SAY IM SORRY BUT YOUR DADDY IS DEAD?????? Union propoganda my butt, you have no idea what it takes to runs a train, do you? When is the last time you were in the cab behind the throttle?????
I don't understand your question at all, but assume you are referring to grade crossing accidents, as you mention people dying. Grade crossing accidents are not related to how many people are in the cab, as your train isn't going to stop any faster by having more people in the cab!
Billion dollar railroads would risk this instead of cutting the train in half and having an xtra crew for the other half. Rule books?? Ef them as long as the presidents and CEO's keep making their $40 million a year in bonuses
this is the future...don't worry, you won't be having to tie any trains down...here comes the roving utility employee!!!!come in cajon mechanical!!!! oh wait. we already have cajon mech. lol. i have 13 years seniority..and i can barely hold a yard job..this train takes away about 2 more crews. on a different note..im glad ole WB is gonna get rid of a lot of managers.....he says the only thing he doesn't like about the bnsf is that its a little top heavy in management.........
Anyone who thinks this is the way to go is friggin nuts. I'm an engineer/conductor, do you have any idea how long it would take me to walk that train? It's insane. One little defect and the main would be shut down for hours, if close to hours of service ... a day. And if you think a train needs only an engineer to operate, you are a moron. Dream on foamers.
chefjavier, good question - It provides a lower per-unit cost for the customers and is more fuel efficient. These are things that railroads need to strive for to be as competitive as possible against road and shipping, and such gains ultimately grow the business. Expect to see a lot more of it in future. Of course such a change needs to be weighed up against the costs of modifying infrastructure, such as making arrival and departure roads longer.
This does not impress me one bit! it is just down right dangerous to the public. I would not want to be at a crossing waiting for this beast to go by.
Congress ought to get a handle on this sort of thing right now and stop it. This madness of eliminating employees is the leading cause of a failing economy. How many Engineers and Conductors are on this train? One each. How many should it have been? Four each! Even a kindergarten kid knows that 4 Engineers and 4 Conductors can buy and spend more in an ailing economy than can two employees. Maybe when Obama gets finished with the bankers & insurance criminals he can start in on the rails.
There isn't really a need for a conductor at all, as a train really only needs a driver and nobody else. Here in NZ we went from 3 to 2 person crews in the 1980's, then from 2 to 1 person in the 1990's. Second person only required on trains going into remote territory with no easy road access.
You're not in NZ, you're in "la-la land" if you think trains over here don't have their problems where someone needs to be able to get down on the ground.
You have no idea. Sitting in your car with a camera and scanner in no way qualifies you to make comments about my job. How about I come and spy on you at your job, then I'll post comments about me being an expert and your job should be eliminated.
So you're saying trains should have 3 staff, not 2, even though most modern railroads only have 1? If so many railroads around the world, including those who run 30,000 tonne iron ore trains can do it with 1, then why do you think it needs 3? That's union propaganda!
I'm all for employment, but not for making up positions that are not really needed. Better to work on building the business so you need more legitimate staff.
Doesn't sound to me like you're "all for" employment if you are persuaded that 18,000 feet of train with 8 engines only needs 2 crew people. I think you've been sitting up in the lap of your CEO too long!
That idiot's comment was that it needs only one! Every single one of those wheels needs maintenence they don't get anymore due to manpower cuts. Every other damn 8000 foot piece of shit train I get has something wrong with it. We have to stop, walk to the defect, identify the problem and set the car out at the nearest trailing point switch that still works. It's an equipment nightmare!
It's pretty hard to reason practicality with someone who thinks the reason the sun comes up is because the rooster crows! And you throw in Managers whose closest education to railroading is Business Economics 101, and you have rail operations where it is today.
That is exactly where these problems arrise from, recent business grads hired by a class 1 railroad, forced to drink the cool-aid and never set foot one near a real frieght train. These poor kids are brainwashed and tortured daily under threat of loosing thier jobs with no prior rights to fall back on. I've seen so many "managers" come and go in 11years with bright eyes on day one, only to be let go beat to death. It's discraceful. And until they see for themselves, same attitude.
dkjohannes: You are right on target. Around them every day. Right out of school, then to Ft. Worth or Omaha to get their "enima", and ... we're off to revolutionize railroading. I was trying to convince one recently why it was not wise to leave a cut of loaded, dangerous tanks in a siding on a hill. Make the mistake of getting into control valves, vibrations of passing trains and undesired releases, and it went way over his head. Come to work ... bring your prayer cloth!
So what you are saying is that you need spare staff on trains because they are not well maintained? So perhaps you need to start running trains with properly maintained equipment, so you only need 1 person onboard like they do in so many parts of the world, including the Pilbara where they run trains twice as heavy as this UP train, with only 1 person.
being a conductor, let me tell you. If this train was to go into emergency or have a problem, you can expect that train not to move for at least 3hrs. Imagine that blocking up 2miles of road crossings, where no emergency vehicles could cross to help someone in a life threatening condition. Also the railroads are not permitted to block a crossing grade unless an emergency or breakdown of some sort for over 5 min!
@fastmoparmike Amen to that roseville does the same thing with these big manifest run them over donner...... there the conductors got to walk they got to deal with the critters not to mention radio communication loss.....plus it cut's down on crews and money out of our pockets.......11 million in bounuses good stuff......
I thought I had a video of 550 coal cars. I will have to go back and count over. I know they are already raising cain in California about this train, but if this is what it takes to "economize", then bug off all you dumb ass mayors in California!
I actually paced this train from my away from home terminal in Pecos Texas to El Paso. The train ran flawlessly until it got to El Paso. It spent over 6 hours getting downloaded and such. I don't expect to see any more of these for a while. It did run in synchronized mode on the DPU and traversed a good portion of the 211 miles at 60 to 70 MPH.
Well, as the "Church Lady" would say, "Isn't that special?" Wonder how many opposing trains were delayed because of this lunacy? How many had to be recrewed before reaching their destination due to the inordinate delay of train meets eating up the maximum of 12 hours on duty for any one crew? Wouldn't that be interesting to know while we're throwing all these bouquets around?
EXACTLY! And noodle brain GeoffBlackmore (Geoff --- dumb name) seems to think an engineer alone can handle a train this size. Do they expect an engineer to tie down all the engines and go looking for a hot box? Can you say Recrew?
Perhaps you could explain why a 1000 metre train needs two people in the US, but in other countries only one person. Correct me if I'm wrong, but all freights, regardless of size, even light loco runs, operate with two people in the US. That is over staffing. As for my name, what does that have to do with anything? Perhaps you have some growing up to do?
It's called a "contract". I suppose they can run them as long as they want in NZ or the outbacks of Australia. But, in the large, almost continuous high occupancy areas of suburbia USA, common sense must recognize contingencies ... like stuck brakes, air hoses, etc. I know understanding this is an uphill battle for you, my friend, as most people who speak the Queen's English have had their common sense run down their leg!
A contract is not a legitimate reason why trains need 2 or 3 staff instead of 1. Trains everywhere have the same issues, including grade crossing accidents, burst hoses, pull-aparts, failed locomotives, derailments etc, and they run through suburban environments as well. But all those issues are dealt with effectively without the need for extra onboard staff.
Contract is a very legitimate reason, but you sound like the mindset that is willing to ignore it like so many rail managements. I think on the former planet Pluto they run those 20,000 meter trains ... one each way every century, without a problem ... outstanding. Why don't you tell us how to deal, with all the issues you mentioned, without staff. Quite frankly, I think your reasoning chromosomes are turned sideways! Give us a guideline to neutralize contingencies without staff.
Contracts are paper reasons, not a reflection of the physical capability of operations. I find your argument to be nonsense - as evidenced by your Pluto comment and insults, while still ignoring the question at hand. I have to assume you cannot answer it. I don't need to tell you how to deal with those issues as I have already explained they are successfully dealt with by single-person crewed railroads around the world. So the question remains - why can't the US do what others can do?
The Pluto comment is fittingly demonstrative and is not near as shallow as your position that all operating problems can be solved minus staff. I admit, I cannot offer correction to a situation that demands a living, breathing soul; and since you are the one who has declined to offer the trumpeted solution, you are, obviously, just blowing smoke. I beg you to answer the question: How do the "railroads around the world" replace air hoses without warm-blooded handwork?
Simple, the driver gets out and does it. I repeat - freight trains operate around the world with a single person onboard, and all issues are manged, including burst hoses, train pull-aparts, failed locos etc, including trains even heavier than this one. Sure, having a second person is handy, but is not a necessity. That's a proven fact as evidenced by the thousands of trains that operate around the world every day with just one person.
@GeoffBlackmore There are many jobs that I run on a daily basis out of this place that could be safely, efficiently and profitably run with one operator in the locomotive. There are others where we are going a lot of industry work where we need two and sometimes three individuals. There are always exceptions.
Let me ask this question then, as it will sort out for certain whether you see the issue as being of operational necessity or one of job protection - will you concede that light loco movements or short, easy to handle freights in the US, could be crewed by 1 person? If not, why not? Also, and I ask this question because I don't know the answer - how many staff do Amtrak have in their locos on their passenger trains?
Operational necessity, and therein lies the disparity. Current Federal and Carrier regulations require, before any ground work is done around any rolling stock, a "safety zone" must be established which mandates the Engineer must be at the controls. Otherwise, if no zone exists and the Engineer vacates attendance, then every unit must have the handbrake applied .. also a Federal requirement. You can now see where more than one staff member is an actual, mandatory reality. Don't know about Amtk.
So the question remains, why can't the US railroads manage to achieve single person crewing, on at least some trains, when so many other railroads around the world can? AFAICT it is merely an issue of unions protecting the employment of their members. You mention commonsense - well commonsense says you shouldn't have staff with their feet up on the window going along for the ride in case there is something for them to do!
Thanks for the information. The train had 295 cars and 618 containers. I won't be surprised that we start seeing trains of this size appearing in the future.
In the future that's all trains will be is nothing but containers. The railroads will do away with regular freight cars. No more tank cars, boxcars, hopper cars, etc. All Containers and Gevos and Dash 9's leading. No more EMD except switchers.
I heard about this thing. It's 3.5 miles long! This is a youtube record too. Longest US train ever filmed. Very nice catch. When you saw this thing how did you react?
Most containers return empty to the Orient for reloading, eastbound shipping rides high in the water ; )
HHenkelmann 3 months ago
Products made in China
gypsyThree97 4 months ago
@gypsyThree97 Hmmm. The train was heading for the port of Long Beach carrying products made in China? Really? Hmmmm. Normally when these trains arrive in Long Beach we unload the containers and put them on ships bound for the far east (china, Japan, Korea, etc). but you're saying this train was carrying loads from China that we are going to ship....to china? Hmmm.
Boss302fan 3 months ago
@Boss302fan Hmmm. And your certain that all of those containers are packed with American made good going to Asia? Really? Hmmm.
gypsyThree97 3 months ago
@gypsyThree97 Where in any of my posts here did I say that the containers are packed with american goods destined for Asia?
Boss302fan 3 months ago
@Boss302fan I'm just giving you a hard time. No harm no foul. I honestly could care less what about this particular train or any other. Have a good day.
gypsyThree97 3 months ago
@gypsyThree97 Same to you man.
Boss302fan 3 months ago
well i would have hated to have been the yard hands who put this whoppper together
dueltruck700 6 months ago
@dueltruck700 Not that difficult. To put together a train like this is actually less complicated than a 100 car manifiest train.
Boss302fan 5 months ago
@Boss302fan true because a manifest has all sorts of different freight to be dropped at different places...sort of like LTL on a larger scale
dueltruck700 5 months ago
when are the other locos
sd70m2man 7 months ago in playlist EVOLUTION SERIES
カッコイイ！ スゲーよコレ！
fy1028 7 months ago
im sure the people stuck at the crossing loved this
PaulPeirceFan 7 months ago 3
look locotrem ef carajas 340 vagoes
clfetter 10 months ago
That's great!! 9 locos, a big amount of wagons.
Definitively american have inclination to grandiosity.
Great job, astonishing video.
jflaviovidal 11 months ago
when you consider the number of trucks needed to haul that much cargo and the traffic congestion having that many trucks on the highway, not to mention the cost of fuel and wear and tear on the road, I think these long trains are a very good idea....
Darthbelal 1 year ago 2
This is a pretty big train, but it doesn't compare to the monster train N&W ran back in 1967. That train was pulled by six new EMD SD45 high hood diesels with three in the front and three in the middle. They pulled 500 coal cars with a caboose at the end and the train weighed more then 43,000 tons with a top speed of 20-25 mph. Now that would be a sight to see. A monster coal train.
kmothersil 1 year ago
I wish they still used cabooses. Freight trains are just not the same anymore without the caboose on the end.
cool45010 1 year ago 4
Wow.
gvtuber 1 year ago
Comment removed
trainengrbabe 1 year ago
@trainengrbabe That's why I love Canada. If your train goes into emergency and the air comes back ... you just start pulling again. You only walk it if the air doesn't come back or you can feel hesitation when you start to pull.
GEES44DC 1 year ago
Comment removed
trainengrbabe 1 year ago
@trainengrbabe The test was a disaster? Hmmmm. I don't recall the tests BNSF and UP made were categorized as a disaster. And no, we're not going to send out a train of this length with this many containers with 'junk'. And as far as how long it takes to walk the train, that was taken into consideration as well.
charlieb640 1 year ago
有沒有這麼誇張阿
a99422000123 1 year ago
Holy Crap!!
SSCexpert 1 year ago
Sweet Jesus, hope he doesn't trip the detector...
Sorry I am not buying the New Z boy's story about the 1 man train crew's being the new thing...Where I work it is single track, sometimes dark territory, and someone has to copy, and someone has to run the engine, my sidings aren't that big either.
I don't think that it would save money to eliminate 1 crew member, at least in my part of the world....
Maybe in remote areas of Austrailia and New Zealand.....but not here.....
DS
Dispatcherr 1 year ago
@Dispatcherr would be fun to send this puppy up the Canyon Sub in the winter,
twmike308 1 year ago
It would be cool if all the locos were heritage sd70ace
CSXrules1 1 year ago
Nice capture!
sgtredbluered 2 years ago
The overwhelming majority of train vids on YT barely deserve a one or tow rating, but giving this a five was a no brainer. Really nice.
sjtom57 2 years ago
That is one long test train. I saw it on the news.
alrodness 2 years ago
Train Kept A Rollin"
Moose9105 2 years ago
I can't wait for a remote train with no crew.
twmike308 2 years ago
Would you fly in a plane with no pilot?
BordelDeMerle 2 years ago
that is already a fact, ie Global Hawk, Predator..once PTS is in service look down the road to trains operated from the Harriman, it will be a few years but it will come.
twmike308 2 years ago
Try to clean a switch with 0 man, good luck.
BordelDeMerle 2 years ago
been there done that
twmike308 2 years ago
what is the guy in the hi-rail truck for?
twmike308 2 years ago
Are they trying to do like the Military?
chefjavier 2 years ago
A lot of inovation has come from the military, without DARPA there would be no internet, in spite of what Al Gore says.
twmike308 2 years ago
Don't forget ArpaNet, Cern, and Cyclades.
without Commerce, Education, and Military, there would the Internet would never have existed. Oh, and thank the French for the name "Internet."
KBurkitt2 1 year ago
@KBurkitt2 first off the only thing I will thank the french for is Bridget Bardot and the only thing I know about naming the internet is Al Gore was Not responsible for it.
twmike308 1 year ago
That's already been trialled in Australia with 300 car trains, going from 1 person crewing to 0 person crewing, and worked successfully. Trains would have been remotely monitored, but the plan has been shelved for now.
GeoffBlackmore 2 years ago
May you have a terrible day for saying that...
WSOR6604 2 years ago
I am curious as to how many people posting here actually work for the railroad??? and how many are foamers who don't care if there is anyone on the equipment or not, who can tell you the difference between a DD and a GP but couldn't switch a giraffe from a flock of sheep.
twmike308 2 years ago
Roggg that.
WSOR6604 2 years ago
IDILBF-08 - Lead unit is the UP 7454 (Train is DP'ed 3x2x2x2)
295 Loads - 0 Empties - 15,498 tons - 18,061 Feet
AmtrakSilverStar 2 years ago
May it be the safety of calling out signals together. Also a general understand of whats going on. Hence this is where many transportation officials and polititians have made their mistake. They only see what they want, hear what they want, they can not man up (or woman up), go out and and join train crews on everyday circumstances. Whether it be a switch crew or a road crew.
tashannon96 2 years ago
I do understand that there are many other countries out there that have one man crews, have you noticed though how many of those one man crews have been in positions where they have fallin asleep, had their train roll out on them while they were repairing or working on it, or all together been in a train collision. At a bare minimum it should be a two man crew, Safety is and should be at all rails highest concern
tashannon96 2 years ago 2
The last time we had a locomotive engineer here die from falling asleep, about 2002 I think, he was driving a 2 man crewed train (it was in remote territory). As far as I can recall, the 2nd man wasn't able to make a difference. Overall, serious incidents involving serious injury or death, have fallen since the introduction of 1 man crewing. This is thought to be because of less distraction for the locomotive engineer.
GeoffBlackmore 2 years ago
Thought to save costs actually, and sometimes when you are having a bad time fighting sleep a second man is a good thing driving the train for a certain time. But now the guys driving alone rely more on wakeup pills and stuff... I really don't know about this move, time will tell.
BordelDeMerle 2 years ago
Again mountain grade territory train string lines, breaks in two (broken knuckle or air hose), your telling me that an engineer can replace an air hose and back his train down the grade back to his train with no one on the point to verify when his train has come back together....Again I ask you get behind the throttle get on some mountain grade territory, have your train break apart, and do the work yourself. I am very sure that I can arrange for you to give it a go.....
tashannon96 2 years ago 2
Here when a train breaks in two a second person is called out to assist, or the driver of a following train helps out. Depending on where it happens, it may or may not be slower or faster than if a second person was already present, but since it doesn't happen to every train every time, it is far more economical to have an occasional delay, than to pay extra wages for no return on the majority of runs, and at the end of the day it is the bottom line that keeps the company, and jobs, alive.
GeoffBlackmore 2 years ago
@tashannon96 This is a silly response. Of course there are situations where a second or even a third individual is needed. And there are many more where one individual can move the train safely and efficiently. I've railroaded my entire life. Apparantly you have experience. And you know for a fact that you have moved many trains where you could have done so day in and day out with just yourself running.
Boss302fan 4 months ago
So I ask again, When is the last time you were behind the throttle in the cab of a Locomotive??? We have had our Dept of transportation behind the throttle. explain to me in Mountain grade territory where ther is limited or no access for a roving conductor to get to and assist in any incident, how it works?
tashannon96 2 years ago
One doesn't need to be behind the throttle in order to ask why something that is commonplace around the world is not also done in America. Regarding Mountain Territory - as I wrote earlier, here we have 2 man crews in areas with remote access. 1 man crew everywhere else.
GeoffBlackmore 2 years ago
Geoff sounds like an ordinary suit. Dollars before safety.
arnoldguy78 2 years ago
I'm not rail management, and pointing out that railroads successfully run single person crews all around the world does not make one "a suit". I know for a fact that it works just fine. I think the US is about 20 years behind on crew arrangements, there are many trains in the US that could easily run with one person in the cab.
GeoffBlackmore 2 years ago
Oh and by the way, your government and political BS is not tolerated here so go away unless you can productively say that you would rather have more jobs in this country and get our economy back towards the upside than more of a down turn. Its people that have the mentalities like yourself that have driven this country as well as all the other countries in to the ground.
tashannon96 2 years ago
Discussing why US railroads require more staff to operate trains than in other places is not political. If you don't like reading it, then that's your decision. I'm not going to stop posting here just because you don't like it. Go watch my videos instead, and enjoy!
GeoffBlackmore 2 years ago 2
over here we run more cars and weight than this train, with just one person. heck one of our drivers is a 22 year old girl, and she has no complaints moving 300 cars on her own. you bloody yanks winge and moan too much, get over it
MUSECam 2 years ago
Is that the girl who was on Australia's Got Talent? I don't think she's driving solo yet?
GeoffBlackmore 2 years ago
Well Mr Blackmore, Since my Dad is a rail, Here is my question for you....When there is that possible incident down the road when some one gets hurt, ARE YOU GOING TO BE THE ONE TO WALK TO THIER PERSPECTIVE FAMILY AND SAY IM SORRY BUT YOUR DADDY IS DEAD?????? Union propoganda my butt, you have no idea what it takes to runs a train, do you? When is the last time you were in the cab behind the throttle?????
tashannon96 2 years ago
I don't understand your question at all, but assume you are referring to grade crossing accidents, as you mention people dying. Grade crossing accidents are not related to how many people are in the cab, as your train isn't going to stop any faster by having more people in the cab!
GeoffBlackmore 2 years ago
Billion dollar railroads would risk this instead of cutting the train in half and having an xtra crew for the other half. Rule books?? Ef them as long as the presidents and CEO's keep making their $40 million a year in bonuses
arnoldguy78 2 years ago
"Hot box, South side axle 1,312...."
arnoldguy78 2 years ago
Good thing I did not have to walk it, I retired, had I walked it, another record...Hawkeye
rrman23 2 years ago
this is the future...don't worry, you won't be having to tie any trains down...here comes the roving utility employee!!!!come in cajon mechanical!!!! oh wait. we already have cajon mech. lol. i have 13 years seniority..and i can barely hold a yard job..this train takes away about 2 more crews. on a different note..im glad ole WB is gonna get rid of a lot of managers.....he says the only thing he doesn't like about the bnsf is that its a little top heavy in management.........
poondoc1 2 years ago
i think that we need more trainmasters!!!!! lol
poondoc1 2 years ago
Of course since this is no where near a seamless video ... I seriously doubt this is even real.
dkjohannes 2 years ago
Anyone who thinks this is the way to go is friggin nuts. I'm an engineer/conductor, do you have any idea how long it would take me to walk that train? It's insane. One little defect and the main would be shut down for hours, if close to hours of service ... a day. And if you think a train needs only an engineer to operate, you are a moron. Dream on foamers.
dkjohannes 2 years ago
How come did UP ran this type of stack train?
chefjavier 2 years ago
O M G
dkjohannes 2 years ago
chefjavier, good question - It provides a lower per-unit cost for the customers and is more fuel efficient. These are things that railroads need to strive for to be as competitive as possible against road and shipping, and such gains ultimately grow the business. Expect to see a lot more of it in future. Of course such a change needs to be weighed up against the costs of modifying infrastructure, such as making arrival and departure roads longer.
GeoffBlackmore 2 years ago
Thank you for quick response.
chefjavier 2 years ago
I will agree with that! I think the 10,000' trains are long enough if not still too long. Long trains just are problems waiting to happen.
mrlrrconductor 2 years ago
Lucky. Where I live trains are very short! :(
Nathanrailfan 2 years ago
This does not impress me one bit! it is just down right dangerous to the public. I would not want to be at a crossing waiting for this beast to go by.
fortyfivish 2 years ago
It's only dangerous to the public if they are standing on the track!
GeoffBlackmore 2 years ago
Highball that rollby
cinechromefilms 2 years ago 2
Congress ought to get a handle on this sort of thing right now and stop it. This madness of eliminating employees is the leading cause of a failing economy. How many Engineers and Conductors are on this train? One each. How many should it have been? Four each! Even a kindergarten kid knows that 4 Engineers and 4 Conductors can buy and spend more in an ailing economy than can two employees. Maybe when Obama gets finished with the bankers & insurance criminals he can start in on the rails.
doodlejtr 2 years ago 2
They are doing the same in Italy only one conductor for train... and the safety is for sure less that two conductors for train....
And you're totally right more worker can help tthe economy a lot !
baldes 2 years ago
There isn't really a need for a conductor at all, as a train really only needs a driver and nobody else. Here in NZ we went from 3 to 2 person crews in the 1980's, then from 2 to 1 person in the 1990's. Second person only required on trains going into remote territory with no easy road access.
GeoffBlackmore 2 years ago
You're not in NZ, you're in "la-la land" if you think trains over here don't have their problems where someone needs to be able to get down on the ground.
doodlejtr 2 years ago
Management baloney! You fix it when it breaks and you put it away at the end terminal .... then comment again!
dkjohannes 2 years ago
You have no idea. Sitting in your car with a camera and scanner in no way qualifies you to make comments about my job. How about I come and spy on you at your job, then I'll post comments about me being an expert and your job should be eliminated.
dkjohannes 2 years ago
So you're saying trains should have 3 staff, not 2, even though most modern railroads only have 1? If so many railroads around the world, including those who run 30,000 tonne iron ore trains can do it with 1, then why do you think it needs 3? That's union propaganda!
GeoffBlackmore 2 years ago 2
I'm all for employment, but not for making up positions that are not really needed. Better to work on building the business so you need more legitimate staff.
GeoffBlackmore 2 years ago
Doesn't sound to me like you're "all for" employment if you are persuaded that 18,000 feet of train with 8 engines only needs 2 crew people. I think you've been sitting up in the lap of your CEO too long!
doodlejtr 2 years ago
That idiot's comment was that it needs only one! Every single one of those wheels needs maintenence they don't get anymore due to manpower cuts. Every other damn 8000 foot piece of shit train I get has something wrong with it. We have to stop, walk to the defect, identify the problem and set the car out at the nearest trailing point switch that still works. It's an equipment nightmare!
dkjohannes 2 years ago
It's pretty hard to reason practicality with someone who thinks the reason the sun comes up is because the rooster crows! And you throw in Managers whose closest education to railroading is Business Economics 101, and you have rail operations where it is today.
doodlejtr 2 years ago
That is exactly where these problems arrise from, recent business grads hired by a class 1 railroad, forced to drink the cool-aid and never set foot one near a real frieght train. These poor kids are brainwashed and tortured daily under threat of loosing thier jobs with no prior rights to fall back on. I've seen so many "managers" come and go in 11years with bright eyes on day one, only to be let go beat to death. It's discraceful. And until they see for themselves, same attitude.
dkjohannes 2 years ago
dkjohannes: You are right on target. Around them every day. Right out of school, then to Ft. Worth or Omaha to get their "enima", and ... we're off to revolutionize railroading. I was trying to convince one recently why it was not wise to leave a cut of loaded, dangerous tanks in a siding on a hill. Make the mistake of getting into control valves, vibrations of passing trains and undesired releases, and it went way over his head. Come to work ... bring your prayer cloth!
doodlejtr 2 years ago
So what you are saying is that you need spare staff on trains because they are not well maintained? So perhaps you need to start running trains with properly maintained equipment, so you only need 1 person onboard like they do in so many parts of the world, including the Pilbara where they run trains twice as heavy as this UP train, with only 1 person.
GeoffBlackmore 2 years ago 2
being a conductor, let me tell you. If this train was to go into emergency or have a problem, you can expect that train not to move for at least 3hrs. Imagine that blocking up 2miles of road crossings, where no emergency vehicles could cross to help someone in a life threatening condition. Also the railroads are not permitted to block a crossing grade unless an emergency or breakdown of some sort for over 5 min!
fastmoparmike 2 years ago 4
All it would take would be a leaf blown over the lense of a hot box detector sitting face up on the ground ....
"Hotbox detector malfunction - walk entire train"
dkjohannes 2 years ago
@fastmoparmike Amen to that roseville does the same thing with these big manifest run them over donner...... there the conductors got to walk they got to deal with the critters not to mention radio communication loss.....plus it cut's down on crews and money out of our pockets.......11 million in bounuses good stuff......
wrcchamp 1 year ago
@wrcchamp look on the bright side, fresh air, exercise and a Renzberger ride to finish the trip.
twmike308 1 year ago
Comment removed
trainengrbabe 1 year ago
@fastmoparmike 3 hours? How fat and out of shape are you?
charlieb640 1 year ago
Wow!! That was one long and fast train!
sniperjdp 2 years ago
That thing is amazing! What a train and it's flying too! Nice catch -
GlenVerdugo 2 years ago
I thought I had a video of 550 coal cars. I will have to go back and count over. I know they are already raising cain in California about this train, but if this is what it takes to "economize", then bug off all you dumb ass mayors in California!
anselb2000 2 years ago
I actually paced this train from my away from home terminal in Pecos Texas to El Paso. The train ran flawlessly until it got to El Paso. It spent over 6 hours getting downloaded and such. I don't expect to see any more of these for a while. It did run in synchronized mode on the DPU and traversed a good portion of the 211 miles at 60 to 70 MPH.
Hunterhoghead 2 years ago 2
Well, as the "Church Lady" would say, "Isn't that special?" Wonder how many opposing trains were delayed because of this lunacy? How many had to be recrewed before reaching their destination due to the inordinate delay of train meets eating up the maximum of 12 hours on duty for any one crew? Wouldn't that be interesting to know while we're throwing all these bouquets around?
doodlejtr 2 years ago
EXACTLY! And noodle brain GeoffBlackmore (Geoff --- dumb name) seems to think an engineer alone can handle a train this size. Do they expect an engineer to tie down all the engines and go looking for a hot box? Can you say Recrew?
dkjohannes 2 years ago
Perhaps you could explain why a 1000 metre train needs two people in the US, but in other countries only one person. Correct me if I'm wrong, but all freights, regardless of size, even light loco runs, operate with two people in the US. That is over staffing. As for my name, what does that have to do with anything? Perhaps you have some growing up to do?
GeoffBlackmore 2 years ago
It's called a "contract". I suppose they can run them as long as they want in NZ or the outbacks of Australia. But, in the large, almost continuous high occupancy areas of suburbia USA, common sense must recognize contingencies ... like stuck brakes, air hoses, etc. I know understanding this is an uphill battle for you, my friend, as most people who speak the Queen's English have had their common sense run down their leg!
doodlejtr 2 years ago
A contract is not a legitimate reason why trains need 2 or 3 staff instead of 1. Trains everywhere have the same issues, including grade crossing accidents, burst hoses, pull-aparts, failed locomotives, derailments etc, and they run through suburban environments as well. But all those issues are dealt with effectively without the need for extra onboard staff.
GeoffBlackmore 2 years ago 2
Contract is a very legitimate reason, but you sound like the mindset that is willing to ignore it like so many rail managements. I think on the former planet Pluto they run those 20,000 meter trains ... one each way every century, without a problem ... outstanding. Why don't you tell us how to deal, with all the issues you mentioned, without staff. Quite frankly, I think your reasoning chromosomes are turned sideways! Give us a guideline to neutralize contingencies without staff.
doodlejtr 2 years ago
Contracts are paper reasons, not a reflection of the physical capability of operations. I find your argument to be nonsense - as evidenced by your Pluto comment and insults, while still ignoring the question at hand. I have to assume you cannot answer it. I don't need to tell you how to deal with those issues as I have already explained they are successfully dealt with by single-person crewed railroads around the world. So the question remains - why can't the US do what others can do?
GeoffBlackmore 2 years ago
The Pluto comment is fittingly demonstrative and is not near as shallow as your position that all operating problems can be solved minus staff. I admit, I cannot offer correction to a situation that demands a living, breathing soul; and since you are the one who has declined to offer the trumpeted solution, you are, obviously, just blowing smoke. I beg you to answer the question: How do the "railroads around the world" replace air hoses without warm-blooded handwork?
doodlejtr 2 years ago
Simple, the driver gets out and does it. I repeat - freight trains operate around the world with a single person onboard, and all issues are manged, including burst hoses, train pull-aparts, failed locos etc, including trains even heavier than this one. Sure, having a second person is handy, but is not a necessity. That's a proven fact as evidenced by the thousands of trains that operate around the world every day with just one person.
GeoffBlackmore 2 years ago
@GeoffBlackmore There are many jobs that I run on a daily basis out of this place that could be safely, efficiently and profitably run with one operator in the locomotive. There are others where we are going a lot of industry work where we need two and sometimes three individuals. There are always exceptions.
charlieb640 1 year ago
Let me ask this question then, as it will sort out for certain whether you see the issue as being of operational necessity or one of job protection - will you concede that light loco movements or short, easy to handle freights in the US, could be crewed by 1 person? If not, why not? Also, and I ask this question because I don't know the answer - how many staff do Amtrak have in their locos on their passenger trains?
GeoffBlackmore 2 years ago
Operational necessity, and therein lies the disparity. Current Federal and Carrier regulations require, before any ground work is done around any rolling stock, a "safety zone" must be established which mandates the Engineer must be at the controls. Otherwise, if no zone exists and the Engineer vacates attendance, then every unit must have the handbrake applied .. also a Federal requirement. You can now see where more than one staff member is an actual, mandatory reality. Don't know about Amtk.
doodlejtr 2 years ago
So the question remains, why can't the US railroads manage to achieve single person crewing, on at least some trains, when so many other railroads around the world can? AFAICT it is merely an issue of unions protecting the employment of their members. You mention commonsense - well commonsense says you shouldn't have staff with their feet up on the window going along for the ride in case there is something for them to do!
GeoffBlackmore 2 years ago 2
Ha, the longest train I have seen is 7 Passenger cars...
bigboy4016 2 years ago
Yes 295 cars 18,061 feet, 15498 tons
ANDREWAMTRAK 2 years ago 2
Anyone here a detector readout......how many axles?
caseyrs77 2 years ago
Good question
pompeiijazz98 2 years ago
It just keeps coming!!
4223037 2 years ago
By the way how long did it take to pass?
kmothersil 2 years ago
4-5 minutes is about the actual time.
MarkConductor775 2 years ago
Thanks for the information. The train had 295 cars and 618 containers. I won't be surprised that we start seeing trains of this size appearing in the future.
kmothersil 2 years ago 2
In the future that's all trains will be is nothing but containers. The railroads will do away with regular freight cars. No more tank cars, boxcars, hopper cars, etc. All Containers and Gevos and Dash 9's leading. No more EMD except switchers.
Nathanrailfan 2 years ago
In the future they will probably float too ... friggin genius foamer!
dkjohannes 2 years ago
I heard about this thing. It's 3.5 miles long! This is a youtube record too. Longest US train ever filmed. Very nice catch. When you saw this thing how did you react?
kmothersil 2 years ago