Colorado U.P. Action

bravogjt Feb 18, 2008

  1. k3ndawg

    k3ndawg TrainBoard Member

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    The most I've ever heard of was 15, and the most I've ever been on was 12. Usually, they've move 8-9 at a time, cause that's all there is to spare. :)

    Sorry, I was confusing SD80MACs with SD9043s. Currently, CSX has 13 and NS has the other 17 that Conrail had originally ordered. UP will on occasion do power swaps or run-throughs, so it our references have the stats for them.
     
  2. bravogjt

    bravogjt TrainBoard Member

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    I love this site! I learn something new every day.

    Ben
     
  3. tootnkumin

    tootnkumin TrainBoard Member

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    These big 6 axle locos seem to have a much shorter useful life span than the 4 axle Geeps or the smaller SD 40-2's. Considering that they're not the sort of locos that short lines would probably want, what happens to them once the class 1's have finished with them?
     
  4. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Great question! Part of the reason 2nd Gen power lasts so long is that it was built robustly and simply. Today's big technotoaster locomotives are technological marvels and have loads of electronics and such in them. I think that when it starts to fail or wear out, the loco will largely useless without an electronics rebuild.
    Where will the loco go at that point? Scrap is my guess.
    This is all a wild guess, but most electronic things do not last 30-40 years or more. Simple appliances built decades ago were built to last, and were built as simply as possible.
     
  5. pastoolio

    pastoolio TrainBoard Member

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    That was an interesting bit of reading! I never thought to look how many units were up and running with a light move like that.

    I've been slackin' at uploading a few more photos from my trip up to see Ben and hang out in Colo. Hopefully get the rest uploaded in the next few days. :)

    Rainy morning at Radium. The sun did come out a few times for me though

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    Interesting load

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    Mike
     
  6. tootnkumin

    tootnkumin TrainBoard Member

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    I'm pleased that you included that interesting load pic (they look like they're underground mining trucks). What interests me in particular is it's one of the very few pics of an 89ft car that I've seen and specially in profile and it displays the loading arrangement of the 2 vehicles with one end placed over each 2 axle truck rather than keeping the total load between the trucks (something that was stated as being required with 68ft cars on the BNSF customer website)

    Other things that I found interesting was the lack of stake pockets found on the 60ft cars and that the sides extend above deck height so it looks like this car might be a converted F89F. There appears to be only fore and aft chains attached to the vehicles, I guess the side walls are sufficient to prevent side movement of the loads. Also noteworthy (to me at least, being a long distance modeler) is the Trailer Train logos as I was under the impression that they would all have been repainted by now.

    Just as another point of interest, I can read the number of the car but not it's type, there's a lonely post blocking the view, don't happen to know what it was, do you? The BNSF info say's it's an ITTX.

    Ray
     
  7. k3ndawg

    k3ndawg TrainBoard Member

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    tootnkumin, Those are US Army HEMTTs, commonly referred to as Hemmits. The BNSF hauls them on the UP through Colorado fairly often. Usually, as you see it above, as part of a manifest train. As for the TTX cars, the military operates quite a few. I'm not entire sure whether they've purchased them and haven't renumbered them, or perhaps the cars are part of a long term lease, but I've had them as part of a empty flat car train headed from Fort Lewis, Washington to Fort Carson, Colorado.

    I really want to start sneaking a camera with me into the yard, but the company has done a good job of "putting the fear of God" into me about electronic devices.... :)
     
  8. pastoolio

    pastoolio TrainBoard Member

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    Ray, I have a larger file of the pic, it's a TTOX flat. A quick google search shows that all are Military. Must be why it has the older TT logo.

    Mike
     
  9. tootnkumin

    tootnkumin TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks mike, yes it would seem they have quite an eclectic mix of cars. Some with US Army on them and others from BN etc. Found some pics taken by Rob Ahlers Photography in 2010 showing trucks etc being loaded circus style and there a few youtube vids as well.
     
  10. bravogjt

    bravogjt TrainBoard Member

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    Good stuff Mike!

    Ben
     
  11. k3ndawg

    k3ndawg TrainBoard Member

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    Here's a little something different. A couple of firefighting tanks. These two were used to assist with the DeBeque canyon fire back in July. I took the pictures in September and forgot about them. DOH!

    There's some really cool details here, though I admit the lighting is complete crap. For me, I love the old white tank. Sure, it's got the pumps and "monitor" on it, but the rivets really do it for me. :D

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    Here's the "tender" tank.

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    And, for you detail nuts, here's a close up of the hose and fittings between the two (but it's the worst of the pictures... :( )

    [​IMG]
     
  12. tootnkumin

    tootnkumin TrainBoard Member

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    Darn it, I've just sold off all my old single dome tanks. They would make a great kitbash.

    That rivetted one must be really old, notable too is the different tiedown methods to the wagon frame.
     
  13. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    What's the capacity of the white car? I cannot read the stencil. What powers the monitor?
     
  14. k3ndawg

    k3ndawg TrainBoard Member

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    In the original picture, I can make out 12,XXX gallons, which, while not exact, is close to 110,000 lbs on the tank side. I'll have to make a trip back to the yard tomorrow and check. I seem to remember some additional water and firefighter cars on that track a couple of days ago. I'll also get a better look at the build date.

    As for power, that blue box next to the monitor is a diesel pump. Not sure what's under the blue tarp. Guess I'll have to find that out too! :)
     
  15. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    That riveted car is ancient! Awesome finds!-
     
  16. tootnkumin

    tootnkumin TrainBoard Member

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    I was gonna try and count 'em all, but I ran out of fingers and toes (even after borrowing some)
     
  17. Eagle2

    Eagle2 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Also neat to see that they haven't been "Borged" yet, always a treat to see older stuff in old marks.
     
  18. bravogjt

    bravogjt TrainBoard Member

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    Awesome photos k3ndawg! I have been taking a few around the western slope but have yet to resize and upload them. Maybe I will add to this thread this weekend. Did you by chance catch any shots of the two un-patched SP units that were running around here last month?

    Ben
     
  19. bravogjt

    bravogjt TrainBoard Member

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    Let's see if I can get caught up on posting some images....

    Local Switching 10/8/12

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    Local Switching 11/4/12

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    Un=Patched SP 335 11/4/12

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    Ben
     
  20. bravogjt

    bravogjt TrainBoard Member

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    Large Load 11/4/12

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    Fire Fighting Cars 11/4/12

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    Grande Flat Car 11/4/12

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    Ben
     

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