mackb4 posted:I 've handled 272 car loaded coal trains before with only head end power. I've never handled a DPU train at all so I can't explain those.
On the 272car trains I've had one with (3) SD-40's and one with (3) four axles of mixed power. I've also run to many to count 200+ car trains over 25 years.
But on the route I have ran them all on is a pretty level one,with a few changeling grades,but nothing extreme.
I have found that you tend to use the terrain to control the speed of the train,because of the length. I mean were talking loaded coal trains over 10,000 feet long. And believe it or not the longer trains are much easier to control than the shorter trains.The shorter trains will push you around and in my opinion are much harder stopping in a better controlled manner.
Of course getting some of these "Pokey Monsters" as I refer them,are hard to get to speed ,if you ever do. And backing one of them into a terminal or siding takes patience and nerve,oh and a good set of eyes watching the shove.
Main thing on a big train is to always think ahead,more so than you already do. Thank goodness over the last 25 years the blocks (distance from signal to signal) have become longer by the elimination of signals on each end of siding tracks. It has been a big help in train handling.
Also the vast improvements in locomotives have been tremendous in the safer handling of these BIG trains.
As far as slack,you can gather slack on the BIG trains with the newer locos if you know your territory. Run-in's will occur if you get on the dynamic brake too hard in the wrong place,then wham !! ,the slack runs out (or backwards) and you might get a busted knuckle or even a draw-bar
.
The older units like the SD-40's didn't seem to do this a much because some of them lacked the extended range dynamic and were there for more manageable sized trains.
Hey there Collin Mac, how you doin?...........................Brandy here!
Just watched a great training video of your Railroad, and was very interesting!
