[27] Insanity on the CSX Abbeville Sub, Railfanning Athens - Elberton GA, 02/27/2016 ©mbmars01

[@phuchoanggia8499]

Cool! Just 2 engines but could lead a 10,874ft long train monster (R667-26)

[@steventurner820]

Rewatching old videos again, would hate to be the one who had to inspect V142, ouch!

[@mbmars01]

Very cool you watch the older ones again.

[@Cherryblossom656]

5243 has a k5hl with a #1 piece and that is my favorite sound of a k5hl so beautiful 😍

[@mbmars01]

Nice!

[@TNandTXRailfan]

6:58 and that’s why GE is better then EMD hands down with that awesome chugging

[@shnimmuc]

Interesting get a bit of drama there. Thanks Robert

[@mbmars01]

+shnimmuc Thanks! It is true; while typically crews and dispatchers are rather cool and relaxed, yesterday it was way more tense and everyone was a bit unnerved by the way operations were run.

[@davidvanschaick5565]

Good stuff MB !!

[@mbmars01]

Thanks :)

[@dragonpullman23]

I'm surprised R667 had only 2 engines, considering it was 184 cars long.

[@mbmars01]

+Thomas Carmody That's what I thought, too. I guess, most cars were empties.

[@sowegarailproductions4089]

+mbmars01 nice video

[@HeadFargo]

How do you know how many cars it had?

[@phuchoanggia8499]

@@HeadFargothe Defect Detector told him how many axles the train had, and then just do some simple calculations and you would know how many cars the train had

[@JOINTBAW]

Ok thanks and keep up the awesome videos

[@mbmars01]

+zippa .way Cool. Thank you!

[@FlyToChina0071]

Another nice video :-) A couple of questions for the experts: - I see some signal posts (like at the 25:10 mark), where you have 3 signals on top of each other. Could someone explain me why / the function of them? - Many of the tank cars are painted black. What is the reason for that? They may get very hot during a sunny (summer) day Thanks in advance - Cheers Adam (From Denmark)

[@mbmars01]

Thank you. On the CSX Abbeville Sub, the two top lights can be red, yellow, or green, the bottom one red or white. They can also be flashing. Hence, different signal color combinations are possible. So, for example, red over green ("diverging clear" - train takes the track that diverges from the main line) has a different meaning than green over red (all clear, train follows the main line). Yellow typically means "approach" in various combinations, i.e., the following signal is red. White means the following block is occupied, but the train may proceed at restricting speed etc. The combinations can vary from railroad to railroad, sometimes from line to line. Signals in the US are not standardized (maybe except that "all red" means stop everywhere).

[@FlyToChina0071]

Hi mbmars01 Thank you for your long and informative answer. Nice to know a little more about what you see in the videos. I hope the train drivers have a clear view on the different signal combinations, especially if they change during the same ride. I guess the idea with the different light combinations goes back the the age before mobile phones and / or good radio communications. Cheers Adam

[@RailheadRailfanProductions]

Great video!

[@mbmars01]

+RailheadRailfan Productions Many thanks!

[@Cherryblossom656]

14:10 I just love the way that 6000cw is chugging while accelerating :D

[@mbmars01]

I miss the AC60s on CSX!

[@Cherryblossom656]

@@mbmars01 so do I but look at the bright side at least union pacific still has them

[@jordanwilkison895]

great video

[@mbmars01]

Thanks!

[@anthonytidey2005]

Could CSX extend the passing loop as it mean the stationary train would be on the level or as it looks on a down grade, so as to make it easer for the engines to start thus saving fuel and wear and tear on them as well, it would also be ready for longer trains in the future. Thanks for the video

[@mbmars01]

No, there's no way the sidings can be extended anymore. It would also require additional maintenance and this is expensive. They have to live with it as is. You're welcome.

[@joshsmith3772]

Great catch, by the way I noticed a couple of tank cars with six axles on them. Any idea what material they carry I've never seen any of those before.

[@mbmars01]

+Josh Smith Thanks. Yeah, these cars a unusual. I don't now what they are used for.

[@sofaking9682]

Those tank cars are carrying Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM). Place I used to work we used it to make Polyvinyl Acetate. Has a very sweet smell that will take your breath away, literally. I've also seen DUPX cars that carry Hexamethylenediamine that they use to make Nylon.

[@roboftherock]

I've just stumbled upon another very good collection of railroad films. This was the 2nd one of yours I watched. If the rest are as interesting, then I'm set for a number of bad TV nights! Q. Do you advise CSX of these track defects which you find when 'on location'? Comment. The drivers who need acces to or egress from the side roads across the various passing loops must have 'The Patience of Job' considering the length of time they can be 'stopped up'. I'm a viewer rather than a producer, so I cannot offer anything in return except my thanks for a fine product. Rob.

[@FloridaRailfanningHome]

That airhose on 5243 at 6:06 looked a little low!

[@mbmars01]

+FloridaRailfanning Indeed, I also saw that and wondered whether it could cause issues at some point.

[@FloridaRailfanningHome]

mbmars01 Not sure, but it was interesting to see it get hung up when they went through the switch! It also seems like this line would greatly benefit from a second main, with all those meets.

[@mbmars01]

+FloridaRailfanning Well, the videos only document when there is action on this line. There also these long hours of literally nothing happening. So it's more a question of efficient use of the line and spread of trains over the entire day. However, if there is only a single problem somewhere on main track, congestion is the logical consequence. Recently, it happened relatively frequently, in particular, when overlong trains were involved that do not fit into a siding and must be pushed through at all costs. I wonder if one day it may happen that they have to tie up such a train on the main!

[@michaelwuest9944]

Do the wheels on the trucks have any end play...I often hear the wheel flanges rubbing the rails? Sorry if this is a dumb question!

[@trainlover1234]

What was the most trains you've ever seen in 1 day on the ABBEVILLE sub? is there a specific day that they run this much?

[@mbmars01]

I think it was 10 or 11. The total number of trains that come through here on a normal day is 15-20, depending on the day and season. Unfortunately it is not really predictable which day is to become a busy day.

[@kjames1551]

if csx going to run monster trains on abbeville sub they need to extend they siding to 11 thousands

[@mbmars01]

Currently, trains aren't that long here anymore. Extending the sidings sounds reasonable, but isn't that simple.

[@Cherryblossom656]

CSX Q210-26 WB Autorack CSX 498-AC4400CW=YN3b Narrow Font K5LA CSX 690-AC6000CW=YN3

[@pontiacgpse]

mbmars01, have you seen any Remote driven Locomotives??

[@mbmars01]

Yes, but only in rail yards.

[@kjames1551]

that was a long train.That engineer drove that train.

[@shemarperkins7167]

imagine 14:00 that train was s long as the one that coulndt fit in the side track...

[@opticalillusional1]

What's the longest train you've ever seen on the main line there?

[@mbmars01]

Oh I don't remember. There were a few with 200+ cars, about 12-13 kft long. In the upcoming video, there will be a monster train with 193 cars.

[@Utubin]

5:26 someone tell me,are the tracks bent ?

[@oldtown6240]

Always good videos. It may be of interest re 6 axle tank car. The reporting mark was CELX which is CELTRAN, INC. A SUBSIDIARY OF CELANESE INTERNATIONAL CORP. (copied without changing case.) A good website is RailWhales about 6 and 8 axle tank cars. You may have caught the last of them. See .www.railgoat.railfan.net/railwhales/a-1971-2013.htm?

[@mbmars01]

I know their time is running out, unfortunately. They are spectacular.

[@johnreesejr1161]

How far north do most of these trains go?

[@mbmars01]

The nearest terminal is Greenwood, SC and then Hamlet, NC.

[@bruceperkins7253]

CSX signed a RITE OF TRACKAGE agreement with U. P. A FEW YRS BACK so their trains can go further North then they used to. The agreement was valued 1.6 BILLION$. At the time. I don't know how long it was Supposed to be in effect for.

[@kjames1551]

Yeah i know it cost money and man power.New rail ties tracks signals and maintenance. of way. And cause delays of trains.

[@kylorenter]

How do they get multiple engines to drive together?

[@davidbarnett9312]

www.quora.com/How-are-several-locomotives-controlled-by-one-single-train

[@thomasmleahy6218]

They are attached electrically by an MU cable, and by air with train line air, and 2 smaller hoses for engine braking and 1 for main drum (air supply) from main reservoir. The trailing engines do exactly the same thing that the lead engine does, throttle position, direction, engine brakes, but only the lead engine controls the train brakes (train line).

[@kylorenter]

@@thomasmleahy6218 thank you so much.

[@JOINTBAW]

wat makes one train more important then the other?

[@mbmars01]

+zippa .way Time, schedules, perishables or time-sensitive freight - altogether priority.

[@JOINTBAW]

o ok another question but kinda the same how do they use priority is the like a guide line or do the just wing it?

[@mbmars01]

+zippa .way I'm not working for the CSX so I don't know how they determine the priority of their trains.

[@StonewallTitlow]

+zippa .way It's probably from the cargo the train carries

[@bruceperkins7253]

It's all determined by the type of freight, and where it's going and when it's due. That's all set up by the dispatcher

[@coleharvey9757]

I like trains

[@mbmars01]

Cool.

[@coleharvey9757]

@@mbmars01 I liked trains ever since I was little

[@mbmars01]

Same here...

[@magiofeler8963]

6

[@helenmckinney2669]

.

[@norfolksouthernguy9350]

great video

[@mbmars01]

Thanks!