What's the most units in a MU you have seen?

moose Dec 14, 2000

  1. moose

    moose TrainBoard Member

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    Here's some power! [​IMG]

    I count 8! Whats the most you have seen? Any photos of it? [​IMG]

    Credit for this picture goes to Moss E. Hulsey and was obtained from http://archive.trainpix.com/ which has some cool BN pics!

    [This message has been edited by moose (edited 14 December 2000).]
     
  2. slsffriscokid

    slsffriscokid E-Mail Bounces

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    Hey Chief!

    Nice photo, but remember this:

    Under FRA regulations [​IMG], only a certain number of axles can be live. The rest are all dead weight. This is because too much power will literally pull the train apart. Rest assured, your photo shows motive power on a transport run.

    Anyway, those 8 equal up to 2 4-8-2's anyway! Steam RULES! [​IMG]

    <marquee> STEAM IS KING! DIESELS ARE JUST WANNA BE'S! [​IMG]</MARQUEE>

    Sorry!

    Randy
    SLSFFFRISCOKID

    Oh, by the way, how many of those were repainted FRISCO's. I bet more than one!

    <MARQUEE>BNSF - Been Nothing Since Frisco! [​IMG] </marquee>

    Whooo Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk!

    [This message has been edited by slsffriscokid (edited 14 December 2000).]
     
  3. Ed Pinkley#2

    Ed Pinkley#2 TrainBoard Member

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    well the most units ive seen together is 17.the first two on line and the other 15 in tow to the tfm. they were brand new wide bodies and came through decatur yard about a month or two ago.

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    anyone need a car call ed pinkley,home of the pinkley taurus.
     
  4. Barry Draper

    Barry Draper New Member

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    I have seen 10 units, all working, on the Southern Pacific, but that was many years ago, and they were a mix of F-7s and GP-9s, so the total horsepower was no more than you get with 3 units MU'ed now!
     
  5. Dash

    Dash TrainBoard Member

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    Ive seen a string of 9 UP AC units and 2 SP DC units (total of 11) pulling an intermodal train through Cajon pass consisting of 40 YOFC cars on BNSF tracks. UP really needs to straighten up, at least put them on a manifest where they are needed! Ive also seen a string of 10 BNSF locos running loose (w/o a train) through cajon pass, and 2 locos running loose through Fullerton!

    Cya down the line!

    Dash
    Dashtrak.com
     
  6. SSW9389

    SSW9389 TrainBoard Member

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    Saw 14 GP30/GP35s on a westbound Santa Fe through Williams, Arizona in the early 1980s. The 777 train was known for distributing power along the line on its way from Winslow to Phoenix, Arizona.

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    Cotton Belt: Runs like a Blue Streak
     
  7. ATSF160

    ATSF160 TrainBoard Member

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    I've only been a railfan for less than 3 years, so I can't quite match you guys (yet).
    Most I've seen on a train is 10, and on strictly a power move, 11.

    UP moves a lot of power around out here, so I'm sure I'll see more soon!

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    Mark Weiher
    Trainboard Member #60
    Frequent Visitor to The Loop
    ATSF/BNSF Fan & Modeller
     
  8. tunnel88

    tunnel88 TrainBoard Member

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    Being in Denver the most i see is on the UP power moves as well, so i guess that doesn't count, even though i've seen some huge moves! [​IMG]

    6 units on a BNSF intermodal isn't really that mentionable except for the fact they were all SD40-2s... [​IMG]
     
  9. Interwest

    Interwest E-Mail Bounces

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    The most I have seen at one time is 31.
    I was living in Southern California at the time and had ventured into Santa Ana Canyon.
    This was a power move between Los Angeles and points east.
    It was a mixture of C44's, C41's, C30's, a couple of SF30C's, GP7 or 9's, a bunch of SD40's, and a couple GP35's.
    Some of the units were destined for Barstow, others probably headed all the way east as one large move.
    I have pics, but no scanner yet [​IMG]. As soon as I scan them, and the other 4 boxes of prints, I will get them posted. [​IMG]

    [This message has been edited by Interwest (edited 17 January 2001).]
     
  10. BN9900

    BN9900 TrainBoard Member

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    ATSF in Chicago area between Willow Springs and Corwith runs trains with like 7-10 units and one car.
     
  11. QTRAIN

    QTRAIN TrainBoard Member

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    The most MU units I've seen ever together was a whole whopping 27 :eek:. However, only 8 were operating; 10 were idoling, and the remaining 9 were dead. but ALL had their electrical MU's,independent brake MU's, and brake/trainlines tied into the string. They were heading westbound from West Colton yard to Taylor yard in Los Angeles over the UP early one March morning back in '98.
     
  12. DaveCN5710

    DaveCN5710 Profile Locked

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    Ok all , here at CN the most motorized axles allowed is 24 , no more than that .

    I don't know if that law is federal or what but thats what is in our Operating Rules , that also applies for Dynamic Brake , maximum 24 axles is it .

    I had 8 units in a consist before on train #148 a intermodal train , actually they were 8 SD75I's , I only had 4 on-line , 6 axles a piece = 24 . The others were isolated , they were running but not responding to the throttle .

    [ 12 April 2001: Message edited by: Davecn5623 ]
     
  13. Chessie_SD50_8563

    Chessie_SD50_8563 Permanently dispatched

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    The most pulling a train is 7 units on the CSX New Castle Sub near akron ohio.
    SD9043MAC (UP)
    AC4400CW (CSX)
    AC4400CW (CSX)
    C44-9W (CSX)
    C40-8W (CSX)
    C40-8 (CSX)
    C30-7 (CR/NYC*)
    (*NYC is a CSX former CR renumbering)

    Living in Elkhart and Toledo I saw some preety massive power movents. I was only a small child when I lived in Elkhart but I can remeber a 20 something unit Power Movement. Then in Toledo I saw a few power movemnts from the yards there. One of the wierdest was when a CSX yard preety much emeptyed its spare power. This thing had a TON of Leased units. only 2 units were online (CSX C40-8W) the consist totaled 20 and had FURX SD40-2, HLCX EMDs and GEs, 2 Warbonnets (C44-9W and a GP60M) 1 BN SD40-2, a UP SD40-2, 1 NS C40-9W, a few EX CR units, and the rest was CSX units. Also one time when I was in Toledo at the end of NS' Maumee Branch there was 8 Units siting at the entrance to the yard but they wernt coupled to each other but all were online.
    C40-9W (NS)
    B32-8 (NS)
    B30-7A (NS)
    GP38 (NS)
    GP40 (NS)
    SD40-2 (CR PRR*)
    GP38 (CR PRR*)
    SD50 (NS former CR repaint)
    (*PRR is NS subletering for ex CR units)
    By the end of the week all were gone except the SD50, GP38 (NS), and the SD40-2. I have seen NS use everything from brand streken new C40-9W to old anchent flaming CR B36-7
     
  14. T.K.Marletter

    T.K.Marletter Passed away June 2001 In Memoriam

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    would you guys believe I've seen a a train with only 35 units?!?!? It ain't no lie either. Iwas one who helped to operate it. anyway. it was a train (acutally about 15 of the similar type) that went to cumberland, MD with old GP9s and GP7's and GP30's and other old crap like that, (mostly in Chessie or B&O/C&O paint) that was going to be scrapped, only aboiut 8 were operating and the rest were acting like freight cars, just dead and with no operating brakes (which can be tricky and scary with 27 units pushing you down the hill) 7 trains with 35 untis went to Cumberland maryland(that I know of) and about 8 with 40 units headed to Huntington,WV ALL to be scrapped, this was in the falle back in the 80's (87-88, I think) I have pictures, but no scanner. :( iyt was a lonely sight seeing about 120 vandalized locomives setting in the roughest temporary track you ever seen with wed about 3 feet high all around. most engines sat for about 1.5 years before being moved agai for scrap after setting with others in scrapping locations. the following items were saved:
    1)GP30/GP35 body and chassis
    2)GP and SD trucks
    3)couplers
    4)access doors
    5)horns/bells
    6)very few cabs

    Remeber if yoiu a CSX engine go by, there is a good possibility that it probably has parts on it older than the engine it self(10+ years ) I think CSX 2661 has 2118 stenciled on the side. that's from CSX GP38 #2118 when it was scrapped they saved the trakcs but didn't repaint them when they evidentally replaced the origional's. :eek:
     
  15. upfoamer1

    upfoamer1 TrainBoard Member

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    Just saw 18 today at work (BNSF's Hobart Yard, Los Angeles, CA). It was a power movement to the yard from the Engine Facility 2 miles to the east. It passed on the track right in front of me! Yes ALL were on!!!
     

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