Re: Trains and Tractors

Posted by Mark on April 18, 2006 at 17:43:21 from (172.148.247.197):

In Reply to: Trains and Tractors posted by Kirk in PA on April 18, 2006 at 08:05:51:

Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder! I spent 27 years of my life as an engineer for CSX..I took an early retirement 2 1/2 years ago. If you had to sit 12+ hours a day on one of those throbbing engines, finding it impossible to ever get comfortable and with a 2 way radio blaring in your ear constantly with a bunch of garbled nonsense, all the while trying to keep 30,000+ tons of train going in the right direction and hoping some idiot doesn't pull out in front of you (they always lose) and do this with little rest..I think your opinion would be different. I don't miss it for one minute! When I went to work, they were still using some of the first generation diesels bought in the early 50's (GP7's)...railroading with a 1952 locomotive is no different than trying to farm with a 1952 tractor! Those old engines were 1500 HP. The latest generation of GE and EMD loco's are 6,000, but the railroads have detuned most to 4400...to save fuel....by turning the injector pumps back (electronically controlled). That old locomotive that can be seen is a GP9..I can tell by the dynamic brake grid louvers. They were a whopping 1750 HP. We called them Jeeps and the only thing good about them...they were quick...instant throttle response because of 2 reasons, they used a load regulator response system (later system was called throttle position) and they had no turbo (zero lag). They rode good and were tough as nails. Most of CSX's old Jeeps went to Mexico...I suppose to the NdeM. Over the years, I had the privledge to see all sorts of unique items being transported....nuclear weapons was one. The Fed's had their own armored cabooses they used. It was a regular caboose covered in armor plate and the windows were just slits like an armored car...all sorts of electronic gear and antennae mounted. Enough rambling...train fascination to me is like tractor fascination to a guy who has made his living glued to the seat of tractor for the last 40 years..ho-hum! But for the guy on the outside looking on...I understand it. By the way, that countryside there in Pa., looks just like it does here in eastern Ky.

Replies:

• Re: Trains and Tractors Kirk in PA 04:41:30 04/19/06 (0)
• Re: Trains and Tractors Island A 19:36:56 04/18/06 (1)
  • Re: Trains and Tractors Mark 20:38:42 04/18/06 (0)

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