10 loco power!

Here's a train I caught recently with 10 units on the point:



Harold

 

This was train 349 that came in to town (Raleigh) with only 5 units (all of the GE's at the far end of the picture). The 5 original locos uncoupled from their train and backed down to Glenwood Yard and picked up 5 more locos, including the UP and Oakway units.

A very interesting sight!

Harold

 

Here's another view of the locos backing down to pick up their train:


Harold

 

Would they use all ten locomotives to power the train, or would they just be moving some to another location?

Is there a limit on how many locomotives can be put together to power a train?

 

IIRC, 24 powered axles... or three Crap9s... is the limit for head-end.

 

So it's limited by operating rule, but not neccessarily limited by technology?

 

It was a power shifting move to take locos back to Linwood Yard.

NS does take into account technology, so that newer, hi-adhesion locos and extended range dynamic braking counts for something like 1.25 or 1.33 for every axle they have...

 

You have it right Chessie.Not every axle on a locomotive is counted as 1.High adhesion axles are counted with the 1.25 1.33 depending on what engine it is.That application is mainly used for dynamic brake force more than power. It must also be considered in power due to going from power to dynamic braking you will have to cut out axles and it against the rules to do that on the lead locomotive.

SRF,You can MU and use as many engines as you want together but you lose the speed of engine braking whenever you add more locomotives to the consist.

 

Operating rules take into account technology... they have to. Drawbars can only stand so much force before they break.

 

Okay, so you guys have layed out the number of axles that can be providing power. Howerver, doesn't NS have rules regarding the number of locos that can be in a consist even if the extra locos are "dead in tow" or "idling and in tow"?

 

I've never seen one stated... trailing tonnage is trailing tonnage

 

Ten locos in a consist is the most I have ever seen on NS in North Carolina. I think I had a thread a while back about a sighting with 9 locos out of Asheville....

Harold

 

Let me check my rule books but I don't think there is one. A few years back when we were transporting the Ferromex AC4400's or Dash9's to them we would get 15 to 20 of them in tow.They are just considered boxcars but the tonnage sadly wasn't figured in to the train most of the time.