nwgs sanctions an "Official Train Thread"

I remember going on a NS steam excursion with my Dad in the 80's. We got off the train for a photo op flyby and watched 611 steam by at 80 something mph. This was on a flat section of track between Lynchburg and Roanoke, VA. It was a sight to behold.

I know exactly where you park!

Mmmm. . . Circle K coffee.

There is a nice little taco stand just a block north of where you park.

Strange things are afoot at the Circle K, as they said in "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure"

If you want fru-fru coffee, without the Walmartians, 2 blocks north, at Stella Blue, (ugly graffiti art on the side) they'll make you a good cup. (Tues-Sat, open fairly late) They might even have a band playing.

An interesting slice of history, something I knew nothing about. (Who am I kidding, I know nothing about much of this stuff ) UP's turbine locomotives, 8500hp strong. Worth the watch IMHO.

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I have a great book about the UP turbines. They are (were) very awesome. I wish they still had an operating locomotive.

Cool video.

Hard on the underpasses, too.

There were a couple of turboliner sets that Amtrak ran, based out of Chicago at the beginning of Amtrak. I believe they were made by the French company Rohr.

It bums me out that I did not take photos during the early days of Amtrak (I was 7 or 8 years old). My grandparents lived in Franksville on the Chicago/Milwaukee mainline for the Milwaukee Road. I remember seeing the all yellow Hiawathas, followed by the mixed breed early Amtrak trains and then the full Amtrak sets.

MR and CNW had lots of interesting power in the Racine, Wi area while I was growing up and I did not take any photos.

Sigh.

Just posting to keep up with this thread on Tapatalk. :)

Yes, Jurgen is watching Train Videos.

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Interesting, full strip of a GP9 then a rebuild with a gen-set motor. Supposed to be much more fuel efficient. But one of the commentors, says "Gen-sets are fuel efficient because they're broken down all the time and don't run." Any of you real RailRoad guys have any comments on this?

I wonder how much cheaper a rebuild like this is compared to buying a new, or used "only driven by a little old engineer to and from the barn on Sundays" engine?

What do you mean by Gen Set engine?

Aren't all diesel-electrics by nature gen sets on wheels?

One example:

http://www.gwrr.com/about_us/community_and_environment/gwi_green/genset_locomotives.be

The video Jurgen posted explains the difference between a regular diesel/electric and a gen set.

I like trains....got myself a book at the local charity thrift store. 2003 edition and priced right at $1.00. Original price was $65.00, I gave them $5.00 for that one and another rather "expensive when new" recent book.Oh! Thank you very much they said.

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Train peeps- what is the right way to pick up a wrecked train? A tracked crane???

Wifey and I decided to take the Light Rail and check on the progress of the Denver Union Station project, ride the new West Light Rail Line, and train spot.

Denver Union Station and the new train hall canopy




BNSF coal looking south from Millenium Bridge






Closeup!


Looking north from Millenium Bridge toward the Denver Union Station Light Rail station

Last month we had a rather serious train accident here in Belgium.

Some footage: http://www.deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws.english/videozone_ENG/eng.130504_footage_train_explosions

On Youtube:

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With all the solid oil and ethanol trains traversing the countryside, it is kind of surprising that we have not had a similar derailment and explosion here.