NS 34N (3-17-08) DEAD ON WATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, after school I came home and heard some action on the radio. NS 34N with conductor Aubin and engineer Parkhurst was losing water on lead unit NS 9447. the engineer told dispatcher Mike, and Mike at first was going to have Staunton Fire Dept. come and put water in the unit. They both thought that be a hassel so the engineer and Mike said, "Try your best with pulling with that second locomotive." So they did, Aubin then got his warrant to Taylorville, IL. The train is to Decatur, IL. though. I called Mike and talked to him and he said that he was running them to Decatur like that and Fire Dept. didn't want to fill the unit.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• NS
• 34N
• Staunton
• IL
• No
• Water

[est86leo]

Typical Fire figher bullshit. Now if that engineer and conducter were topless dumb blonde models that FDept would of rolled up on the scene with the fleet! ... Just wondering thought, how many cars or tonnage can a single loco pull before a second power is needed?

[CQDX018]

Well, with one unit..depending on that type of unit, it could probabley haul close to 8,000foot...almost 2 miles long.

[railfanner91019]

Could you explain to me the importance of water on a train?

[CQDX018]

Keeps the engine cool from the extreme heat like coolant in a car.

[NSwannabeEngineer]

oh okay thanks so waht happened to that locomotive anyway?

[CQDX018]

Ran it in with the second.

[JKnadler54]

I like sniffing diesel exhaust.. I do it for a living..

[silicon212]

Bet the engineer wishes there were an EMD in the consist!

[U33C]

One word: Tripod.

[ashlandrailroad]

@robertgift water on the older engines commonly leaked into the lubricating oil in the pan and water wont damage the bearings on the crankshaft like antifreeze will . in cold weather the company and the dispatcher send a report often over the radio called a freeze warning where if any locomotive is sitting and turned off should be started immediatly to prevent locomotives from freezing because the diesel engine creates a larger amount of heat which keeps the water warm.

[robertgift]

@ashlandrailroad Interesting! Thanks again, AR. Yes, water is more dense and better heat conductor.

But don't understand where bearings would bexposed to it.

But what about shutting down locomotives now?

And if a locomotivengine fails in sub-zero weather, they will need to immediately drain the radiator and later thengine or they will crack stuff..

[ashlandrailroad]

@robertgift i just read that most diesel locomotives don't use antifreeze because it damages the bearings in large locomotive engines.it would reduce horsepower output . water on the other hand allows better heat transfer and cooling of the engine and a 20% reduction in the size of the radiator.

[robertgift]

@ashlandrailroad Even though antifreeze costs money, I would still expect antifreeze because sub-zero air flowing through the radiator tubes could quickly freeze it. Once a freeze blockage, water flow ceases and then it can HARD freeze there and rupture tubes. Antifreeze also acts as a lubricant for water pumps and an anti-oxidizer to decrease corrosion.

So, thengineer was in the lead locomotiveven though it was completely shut down? Thank you, AR. (Don'they now shut down if long off?)

[ashlandrailroad]

@robertgift this system also controls the engine notch and brakes and other components of the units. it also can send a signal up to the cab of the locomotive in command when an emergency occurs on one of the locomotive and engine need to be shut down.it would be a bad idea to keep the locomotive turned on and idling because the diesel engine produces a lot more heat than a normal car engine and would become damaged rather quickly. the engines in these locomotive cost quite a lot to repair. p2

[ashlandrailroad]

@robertgift dead on water means their is no water in the coolant resivor to keep the locomotive diesel engine cool . locomotives don't use antifreeze that's why the are constantly running in the winter. leeks occur all the time when the tubes wear out. to operate the lead unit from the second unit they use a system called a (mu) or multiple unit hookup which when 7 air hoses and 1 27 pin electric cable are hooked up they can control anything on a trailing or receiving unit including lights. p1