Parked freight trains with running engines.
Discussion
We have a number of railway lines that run alongside our office car park. Quite often a freight train will be parked for four or five hours with the engine running. Is there a reason they aren't switched off? This happens summer and winter so it's not the driver keeping warm 
Not a moan by the way, just interested.
Not a moan by the way, just interested.
If they are class 66's then at this time of year it's for frost protection I think. Apparently they don't much like the cold. Might be wrong though. Might also be as the freight trains take a while to pump the air into, or just laziness. I know that GBRF were instructed to turn theirs off for a while if stood to save fuel.
There are two different sizes of batteries on the various sub classes of 66, those fitted with long range fuel tanks have smaller batteries so are often kept running in cold weather to save having to start them up again.
Not sure which location you're talking about OP but it may well be a regular reliving point, if the previous driver has shut the loco down for more than an hour the train will require a brake continuity test to be carried out before it can depart, in which case another driver or a shunter needs to be present to do this. If the loco has been shut down for several hours the wagon brakes can leak off after a while, the standard ruling is to put the loco parking brake on in any case but some of the wagon handbrakes must also be applied, the number depends on the length and weight of the train and the presence of a gradient also has to be taken into consideration.
Not sure which location you're talking about OP but it may well be a regular reliving point, if the previous driver has shut the loco down for more than an hour the train will require a brake continuity test to be carried out before it can depart, in which case another driver or a shunter needs to be present to do this. If the loco has been shut down for several hours the wagon brakes can leak off after a while, the standard ruling is to put the loco parking brake on in any case but some of the wagon handbrakes must also be applied, the number depends on the length and weight of the train and the presence of a gradient also has to be taken into consideration.
I recently watched a program about a freight train disaster in Canada carrying crude oil I think it was. Basically the engine was left on to keep air pressure to the brakes, the engine set fire, Fire brigade turned engine off via emergency stop and then after a while it started rolling before gradually picking up speed and derailing.
The engineer on the Canada freight train was instructed to engage 10 carriages mechanical brakes due to the size and weight but he only engaged 7 which could not support the weight of the train once engine was off.
Possibly the reason the freight train by your office kept the engine running is to supply the brakes.
The engineer on the Canada freight train was instructed to engage 10 carriages mechanical brakes due to the size and weight but he only engaged 7 which could not support the weight of the train once engine was off.
Possibly the reason the freight train by your office kept the engine running is to supply the brakes.
I think you need air to release the brakes, any loss of air will engage them. (Engage on failure, that's the way it works on vaccum ones anyway)
Non-Braked stock will be be individually braked with the lever.
We have a Class 08 and the fuel tank is big enough to run for 2 weeks continuously. It's probably because the driver is keeping his dinner/tea/soup warm on the hotplate
Non-Braked stock will be be individually braked with the lever.
We have a Class 08 and the fuel tank is big enough to run for 2 weeks continuously. It's probably because the driver is keeping his dinner/tea/soup warm on the hotplate
A while ago we had an instruction sent out which said we're supposed to shut our loco down if it's likely to be left idling for more than fifteen minutes but practicality soon took over and we (mostly) keep them running permanently on the jobs we do. The instruction was sent out due to complaints from nearby residents.
As well as frost precautions at this time of year the cabs are bloody cold unless the engine is running and the heater is on. Class 66 cabs are like metal boxes with very little insulation and once the engine is switched off the temperature plummets very quickly. Since September last year, most days (and nights!) I've usually had the heaters on full and had to resort to leaving the cooker hob on full to keep warm.
As well as frost precautions at this time of year the cabs are bloody cold unless the engine is running and the heater is on. Class 66 cabs are like metal boxes with very little insulation and once the engine is switched off the temperature plummets very quickly. Since September last year, most days (and nights!) I've usually had the heaters on full and had to resort to leaving the cooker hob on full to keep warm.
P5BNij said:
A while ago we had an instruction sent out which said we're supposed to shut our loco down if it's likely to be left idling for more than fifteen minutes but practicality soon took over and we (mostly) keep them running permanently on the jobs we do. The instruction was sent out due to complaints from nearby residents.
As well as frost precautions at this time of year the cabs are bloody cold unless the engine is running and the heater is on. Class 66 cabs are like metal boxes with very little insulation and once the engine is switched off the temperature plummets very quickly. Since September last year, most days (and nights!) I've usually had the heaters on full and had to resort to leaving the cooker hob on full to keep warm.
I'm going to take a wild guess and say you work for FLHH. As well as frost precautions at this time of year the cabs are bloody cold unless the engine is running and the heater is on. Class 66 cabs are like metal boxes with very little insulation and once the engine is switched off the temperature plummets very quickly. Since September last year, most days (and nights!) I've usually had the heaters on full and had to resort to leaving the cooker hob on full to keep warm.
AJB88 said:
P5BNij said:
A while ago we had an instruction sent out which said we're supposed to shut our loco down if it's likely to be left idling for more than fifteen minutes but practicality soon took over and we (mostly) keep them running permanently on the jobs we do. The instruction was sent out due to complaints from nearby residents.
As well as frost precautions at this time of year the cabs are bloody cold unless the engine is running and the heater is on. Class 66 cabs are like metal boxes with very little insulation and once the engine is switched off the temperature plummets very quickly. Since September last year, most days (and nights!) I've usually had the heaters on full and had to resort to leaving the cooker hob on full to keep warm.
I'm going to take a wild guess and say you work for FLHH. As well as frost precautions at this time of year the cabs are bloody cold unless the engine is running and the heater is on. Class 66 cabs are like metal boxes with very little insulation and once the engine is switched off the temperature plummets very quickly. Since September last year, most days (and nights!) I've usually had the heaters on full and had to resort to leaving the cooker hob on full to keep warm.
Can we have an ask a train driver thread?
Reason being is a friend (passed away now sadly) was a driver on one of the North London networks and he told me a story of how a London Underground train (on the overground section) missed a signal and went "bang road" (????) up one of the mainlines (to Harrow(???)) - the nearest place to turn round/back.
Drivers of the "big" trains going past were peeing themselves with laughter, whilst platforms were full of bemused poeple wondering if they were at their right stations. He analogised it to "seeing a kid on a chopper bike in Lane 1 of the M1" Going the wrong way. Naked.
Reason being is a friend (passed away now sadly) was a driver on one of the North London networks and he told me a story of how a London Underground train (on the overground section) missed a signal and went "bang road" (????) up one of the mainlines (to Harrow(???)) - the nearest place to turn round/back.
Drivers of the "big" trains going past were peeing themselves with laughter, whilst platforms were full of bemused poeple wondering if they were at their right stations. He analogised it to "seeing a kid on a chopper bike in Lane 1 of the M1" Going the wrong way. Naked.
P5BNij said:
Oh it's al the rage now, when it decides to work properly that is. Works fine when you can reach the control from the driver's seat without knocking yourself out on the driving control pedestal!
Brilliant fun in the summer as well, is it the number 1 end which blows the hot air from the engine into the cab when the windows are open?. A slightly more helpful forum where I googled after your reply led me straight to someone having also blogged the story, I dodn't suppose you even tried to look as you haven't actually given any basis why didn't happen. Shame your mother didn't happen to use birth control.
http://www.districtdave.co.uk/html/confession_time...
So I may have a fact or two slightly wrong in my transcription as I heard the story years ago, but this was pretty much the story I was told by David, RIP.
http://www.districtdave.co.uk/html/confession_time...
So I may have a fact or two slightly wrong in my transcription as I heard the story years ago, but this was pretty much the story I was told by David, RIP.
pherlopolus said:
We have a Class 08 and the fuel tank is big enough to run for 2 weeks continuously. It's probably because the driver is keeping his dinner/tea/soup warm on the hotplate
Today I learned of the existence of BR Class 13 - two Class 08s permantently coupled together as a master-and-slave unit, with the first 08's cab removed and the rear locomotive controlling both diesels. Huge English Electric straight-6s too.Certainly glad I didn't fck your mum.
Why such an agressive negative non constructive response in the first place?
I only asked an innocent question in the first place if we coul have a train driver thread. Don't tell me you were the driver / singnaller?
Sorry for interupting your corner of the internet, I had a work collegue whom used to reply like you to e-mail - I can recommend a good CBT course if anger management is your issue?
Why such an agressive negative non constructive response in the first place?
I only asked an innocent question in the first place if we coul have a train driver thread. Don't tell me you were the driver / singnaller?
Sorry for interupting your corner of the internet, I had a work collegue whom used to reply like you to e-mail - I can recommend a good CBT course if anger management is your issue?
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