A CLOSE LOOK AT A HEATED POWER SWITCH 7-18-'10.wmv

[The5150Clown]

I Think the switch frog you were looking at was a self guiding one. But I have only seen then in some rail yards

[baldfatgit1]

Interesting vid this i thought id watch about 10 seconds of it then move on but no i had to watch it all. It was very interesting and you put it across so that i could understand what i was seeing. Here in the UK we dont have trains that long and i was very suprised to see all thoes engines pulling it then to cap it all there was also a pusher at the end very good thanks for sharing. :)

[ncplantdoctor]

Thank you. I found this vid interesting. I know automatic switches exist, but I had never thought about how ice might affect their operation.

[maddennis55]

@ncplantdoctor Thanks for your comment. It is not an automatic switch, it is remote control. The dispatcher turns the switch and controls the heater. A frozen switch would not be good.

[CPRailRTC]

Why are you on the tracks. Trespassers give all railfan a bad name. Respect railway property.

[maddennis55]

@CPRailRTC Thank you for your concern! But, how do you know that I don't work on the railroad? I could be a track inspector for all you or anybody else might know!

I give you demerits for improper grammer and punctuation!

BTW, you take care of our Canadian subsidiary!

[CPRailRTC]

@maddennis55 Trust me - I've worked in the railway biz long enough to know the difference of how an employee is supposed to act around dangerous pieces of equipment like automatic turnouts.

If you are an employee, YOU'RE the one that's going to be facing demerits for your unsafe conduct.

Stay off of railway property. Period. You don't belong there, and publishing videos of your reckless activities gives railfans both a bad image and a bad impression.

There is no excuse for trespassing.

[maddennis55]

@CPRailRTC As I said, thanks for your concern!

[robertgift]

NIce catch getting the switch changing!

Thanks for explaining.

Can they not heathis electrically witheat just where needed?

[maddennis55]

@robertgift Thanks. Electric heat would not be hot enough in open air.

In some locations, they actually have live flame heaters.

[barbarotico]

My question is: What would happen if I put my fingers into that switching rails?

[sturmovikdragon]

Wow, amazing timing. Are you sure that wasn't staged ;-)

[Miababee1]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz­zzzzzz

[lighthouscolor]

oops! sorry! you do say where it is located. I just did not expand the caption.

[lighthouscolor]

You mention the switch being controlled from Omaha. But where is this switch. Makes you realize how expensive railroad infrustructure is. Probably costs more to heat that switch than my house.

[CMRCHS]

@lighthouscolor Thanks for stopping to see my vid., I see it's been a few months . UP's mainline switches (turnouts) are all controlled from the dispatch center in Omaha, Neb. This switch is in Caldwell, Idaho. It is the end of the Nampa double track to the normal single track mainline. Nampa is the division point on this section of the railroad.