Radio: BNSF Coal Train Has Engine Trouble Coming Up Agency Hill

[@Yomobdiba]

The coal cars in this video terminate in the city I live in. They are assigned to the Karn-Wedock Consumers Power facility in Bay City, Michigan. What state and near what city is Agency Hill? I've been lucky enough to see our coal cars travel through Fostoria, OH. and Chicago, IL. on different occasions.

[@ATrainVideo]

Chris Klemm As mentioned in the description, Iowa.

[@Cnw8701]

Gotta' love those microprocessor controls! =D

[@Henry5623]

Having worked for UP for a bit over 18 years now as an engineer trust me when I say that myself and our electrical departments wouldn't trade computer chipped units for any others. Being able to have on-board systems diagnose problems (like what was shown in this video) beats the hell out of two guys and a volt meter checking to see what's grounding or tripped. Modern units have their problems but had the situation seen in this video played out a couple generations ago not only would the train have likely stalled it'd have almost certainly not have been able to be a simple on the road repair. Instead requiring the unit to be set off and new power added. All the while our hours of service are ticking away and the the train isn't moving. Not a good combination.

[@ATrainVideo]

Didn't hear anything about them having trouble after this.

[@rjlewis9999]

In a best case scenario you just have to do a computer reset to get a digital control system working again. Was that the EOT device making an automatic transmission on the radio close to the end?

[@ATrainVideo]

There's a defect detector giving a report near the end.

[@paulgibbs9835]

He is not talking to his conductor he is talking to the Locomotive Shop.

[@Henry5623]

He - IS - talking to the conductor as there would no crew communications between themselves and mechanical/electrical department staff. The closest you would get would be a discussion with a service crew that would be called if needed which even they themselves would not have direct communication with a given train crew but rather would be receiving instructions from dispatch which would consequently have communications with the active train crew. Not to mention the fact that at 6:05 in the video the engineer blatantly tells the conductor if he is to return to the lead unit to pause till the train is over the approaching crossing to protect the conductor from being exposed to the blaring horn. Not trying to sound like an asshole here but I've worked for UP for a bit over 18 years now as a engineer and you can definitely tell real RR staff from foamers. Their comments alone prove who actually knows what the hell they are talking about and who doesn't.

[@KieraCameron514]

Was the SD70MAC/SD75M not running?

[@stephenhunter70]

@@jwalker7567 PCC Computer froze by the sounds of things.

[@stephenhunter70]

@@jwalker7567 Engine running, but idling with no load

[@josiahduarte5947]

I see the 8971 behind A BNSF SD70Ace

[@derekobrien4703]

Best make that 4 minutes + of snowclad scene and nasely communicator.

[@MatthewMello]

Why would he be talking to the conductor. The engineer is in charge of his engines.

[@Henry5623]

The engineers responsibilities are to operate the locomotives in conjunction within rule limits, track warrants, and signal indications. The conduction is in essence the manager of the train dealing with railroad/customer related paperwork, a ground man if a road freight needs to drop off or pick up cars, as well as being a general assistant to whatever the engineer needs assistance with. In cases like this where the train is in motion and not parked/secured the engineer is federally required to remain in the lead unit. The engineer consequently has a comprehensive knowledge of how the locomotives work since it's his job to operate them and thus know how to manage the motive power as well as all on-board systems. So in situations like what that which was shown in this video the conduction is sent back to try to diagnose why the second unit isn't loading and was in communication with the engineer as they both worked to get the second unit to cooperate. Had the train been stopped and secured the engineer would have likely dealt with the matter himself or a service crew would have arrived if needed. Given the fact that it was a loaded unit coal train, on a grade, the last thing you want to do is stop a the train that heavy on that same grade loosing all momentum and risking difficulties getting the train moving again or breaking drawbars/knuckle couplers in the process. Plain and simple yes it's the engineers job to operate the motive power and he has full knowledge of how to do so as well as all on-board systems, however in situations like this it's extremely common to have a conductor be sent back to examine what's going on with other units while the engineer continues to keep the train in motion. I personally have done this more times then I can count being an engineer for UP for a bit over 18 years now.

[@adventurekid9242]

I thought Engineers were supposed to know the equipment and troubleshooting procedures and have basic FIM procedures.

[@BigTex9752]

Guy Spiher They do and know the basics,but not everything that the guys at the Locomotive shops know because those are two completely different fields.

[@brianburns7211]

The computer systems are just so complex that the shop has flow charts about the various resets. There is just too much for us engineers to keep manuals on hand. We’d need them for every brand and model too. Sometimes the mechanical department can remotely tap into the locomotive systems via satellite too. I was an engineer on this line back in the late 1990s.

[@AllanLoveJr]

GOTTA LOVE COMPUTERS ON TRAINS.

[@38911bytefree]

Sure you will. Metros today are precision instrumments. You like them, you hate them. I used to think that way too. But once you get the benefits ... hard to let them go. Tractions is controlled with insane accuracy, drivers had tons of data available on different screens Eventually, they break down ... of course.

[@derekobrien4703]

Three minutes + of a snowclad scene. Where the hell's the train?

[@eddieknox9874]

I was expecting bigfoot to come out of those woods

[@HOTRAILProductions]

Cool

[@KflanntheRailfan]

Seems to be pulling pretty good with engine troubles. And a pusher app n the back. Great catch. Subscribing to you, can you sub back.

[@stacyflick2226]

Lol