Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Will the thrill - atgatt


The Motorcycle group I am with have a saying... atgatt... All the gear all the time
This is why. It can happen so quick. Riding in the rain the bike hydroplaned and dumped Will off on his left side. He was doing 75 mph and came out of it all just very sore but no major injuries and no head injury. He still is a cerebral guy. And a friend... whew!

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

RR content - Der Undercutter




An undercutter isn't a big weed whacker... it actually recycles ballast and lowers the track ie. in a tunnel to allow larger equipment to pass through. As RR equipment has gotten bigger more room is needed. Most tunnels are lined with concrete and it is cost prohibitive to enlarge the openings.

Friday, May 23, 2008

RR content - Greycliff day


Raining for the 4th day in a row....

I'm in the siding a Greycliff on a 17000+ Coal train using the KOA campground connection...

Broken rail ahead.... Officers special behind us

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Summer is coming... finally

Worked a LAUSPO last night 1430-0400... 6 hours to Livingston. I ran LIV-HEL after that straight shot.

It is 86F in Helena and a bit windy. i got in at 0400 and got some decent sleep. Went for a bike ride.

5.69 miles
avg spd 11.3
max spd 43.4

avg hr 121
max hr 218
above target 3:16
below target 10:40
in target zone 32:57
total miles this season 546

called for 1735 on PASSAG

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

RR - Careful what you wish for


I had never had the opportunity to br qualified for DP's by a roadforman... I finally just talked my way into it. Careful what you wish for. Yesterday I had a Coal mty that had DP problems not covered in the guides (imagine that) The DP's would drop out of normal and go to idle... I could feel the train run out then about 40 seconds later, an alarm light and indication of idle and DP brake valve cut out. Executing normal would get it to load but the brake valve would stay cut out and did not reset until stopping and running the train check. It wasn't a problem really on a Coal mty but I sure as hell don't want this setup on a load.

I love the DP's on a Coal Load

8800hp front, 8800hp rear and the MRL aces 13000+ hp in the middle... 30500+hp total

photo above... retired Engineer Goodson in the middle 11/07

No worries!