Switching Main Line Customers

[@yardlimit8695]

danny, i watch other train videos like i'm sure we all do.........but NOBODY AND I MEAN NOBODY does a video like you. your comments and knowledge are remarkable and make all your videos extremely interesting. i don't know why more guys don't copy your style. maybe some do but they don't come close.......keep these switching videos coming, they are really interesting when done in your inimitable style. thanks for the great work.

[@distantsignal]

Thank you so much, Yard! I like doing these and enjoy putting the extra time into them. Working in my free time, it takes about ten days to produce one of these videos

[@TrainVideoPro]

Such a great job loaded with great commentary and professional camera work. Always a joy to watch your videos.

[@erleclaire]

The drone is a nice add, and explaining why they do things the way they do is appreciated ... Detail is everything! (N, HO, and of course Full Scale - TCRX)

[@therookie9276]

I love the Amtrak knocking down the searchlight in the intro

[@DelcoImagery]

Same

[@therookie9276]

@@DelcoImagery sup man

[@donnebes9421]

Very cool drone footage, excellent video as always. Thanks Danny.

[@Florida8499]

Great shot at Plant City Crossing with your drone. I love those videos from above. You have made my rail fanning so much more productive with your teaching videos. i know where to go, what to look and listen for. Have a good day.

[@blueshell6048]

I just noticed in your intro how the signal changes from Green to Red, honestly it made my day

[@ToddReuterOutdoors]

Danny, I absolutely love these switching videos. I was so thrilled to see this come up in my feed. I would love to see more switching videos such as this!!

[@midwestmodelrailroadworkshop]

I subscribed a long time ago and I must say your videos keep getting better all the time! I absolutely love the information and the detail you put in every one! Please keep them coming!!

[@geoffreybradford]

The invention of photographic drones has revolutionized videography, this is just so nice to watch! Great job!

[@distantsignal]

Yes, I saw my first DJI drone almost 5 years ago. A guy was flying it in a big city parking lot. I knew instantly I had to have one of those! I'm now on my 3rd one. The camera drone adds a perspective to railfan videography no one dreamed of 20 years ago.

[@TaberBucknell]

Wow! ... What a great drone shot!! 👏👍

[@mysteriousj3019]

All your videos are such high quality, it's actually amazing to see. You also have a great voice, like a professional narrator or newscaster. Keep up the great work!

[@channingframpton1034]

I LOVE your videos! They always tell a great story. Those drone shots are fantastic!

[@rickwiedmayer2350]

Great video Danny. I particularly like the way that you switch between ground shots and drone shots. Keep up the excellent work that you do.

[@csxfloridafunnelrailfan3065]

That's a pro railfan tip right there. Know where you are in relation to those defect detectors so you know whether the train is coming to you or already past you.

[@hwoods01]

Atkinson, ky?

[@tfs4499]

Great video, audio, & narration!

[@throttletherapy9998]

I never get tired of those drone Shots! Great viddeo

[@oaktadopbok665]

Wow. You make beutiful videos, Danny. Superb drone work!

[@distantsignal]

Thank you so much!

[@MikeInPlano]

Love the drone shots. Great new perspective on trains.

[@TheDaf95xf]

Great shots of trains Danny 👍🏻 The best bit of your videos is the commentary so I understand what’s going on!! It’s better than just watching long videos of trains rolling by not knowing what there doing!! Thanks Stevie 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@mas7475]

Excellent! The use of a drone adds so much more depth to your videos. Keep up the good work!

[@landrover4444]

Drone shots are great. Good production. Thanks.

[@jtdavis62]

Good drone shot at the end.

[@loganmartin59]

I love the professional quality of your videos! Not many rail fanning channels can have such high quality! Keep up the good work!

[@nathancreel9866]

Danny always look forward to watching your new videos very well narrated and informative.

[@distantsignal]

Thank you so much, Nathan

[@danmartin8414]

Great aerial shots again, Danny. I really enjoy your videos.

[@godragons100]

Love Plant Cities Train Viewing Platform. We’re getting one in our hometown of Lindale, Ga. spring of 2019. I’m excited!!

[@rdgandrew]

Excellent work! Really enjoyed it. Nice mix of ground-level and drone.

[@distantsignal]

Thank you!

[@kenkramer6529]

Very nicely done. Good audio and informative narration.

[@FDNY8231]

GREAT Job Danny ... That CSX 480 had an AWESOME K5LA .... Loved it ...

[@distantsignal]

Yes!! I absolutely LOVE the tuning on those. They came on the dash-8's and the AC44's.

[@lowcountrytrains3312]

Great shots man!

[@peter15871]

great video love the drone footage

[@delano62]

This guy should do voice over work for commercials. His voice sounds very good to listen to.

[@KnoxvilleRailfanProductions]

I think he has

[@paulw.woodring7304]

Nice explanations. A couple of minor points. Anytime equipment is left sitting - main, siding, yard, etc. - at least one handbrake has to be set and usually 10%, more depending on the grade and any local special instructions (there are FRA requirements for grades exceeding 1% and 2%). Good call on the car being used as a backstop, that is exactly what they were doing. Also, in my experience, CSX never had a preference for which way engines faced, as long as the crew didn't complain loudly, and the dispatcher was willing to let them turn it if a place was available and traffic wasn't too heavy. It was pretty much just take it the way it sits. Personal note, SD50's were the first engines I ran as an engineer trainee. Big cabs, not cramped up at all. Plenty of power for working an automobile ramp, which is where I was training at - Jessup, MD, before everything was converted to remote control. I know they were not considered a successful model, but I enjoyed running them.

[@eoinpkav152]

When switching I like to set at least 1 per 10 cars

[@lawrenceplatt9322]

Another great video Danny! You have really gotten good at using that drone. Getting a look at the loads from that perspective is great!

[@tomroise9426]

Always enjoy your videos Hope to hear from you soon In the new year Danny

[@nicholaswhitfield9341]

For what it's worth, CSX's SD50s at least have long been de-rated to 3000hp, the same as a SD40-2. Would have been one slow boat to China on that local, too... no ditch lights on the long-hood end means 20mph over crossings. Which depending on the density of crossings can make for a train that's effectively limited to 20mph all the time.

[@MacquarieRidge]

I love these. Reminds me of the VHS tapes i used to watch about trains.

[@Faolanwolfsavor]

right, his voice reminds me of the vhs tapes of America's Historic Steam Railroads

[@realcanadianrailfan110]

It's really nice from the drone to see just what tracks look like Danny, especially a diamond. Yet another great video! Greetings from Canada.

[@richkrill5229]

Thank You for all your hard work in putting together very informative videos and bringing them to all us railfans on KZbin, Especially railfans like me who cannot get out and see live trains. I model CSX in O scale with intermodal as my main theme. Keep up the great work!

[@ollieahokas9179]

Always looking forward to your videos, they are the best!

[@vrmntthb]

Getting real good with the drone work there... and love that “big band” sounding horn on the coal train in its tone and Key it is in. Thanks as always and hope all is well...

[@phillyfilms8849]

These videos are amazing. He has a voice that would be great for the news.

[@distantsignal]

Thank you!

[@CFRF13]

CSX continues to change up their local operations. O713 is gone, replaced by either A784 or A864 in the middle of the weekday night. This summer they’ve also pushed back Q604’s departure time by 5 hours. Another nice video.

[@KutWrite]

The drone views add a lot to the video. Well done!

[@jacobstraessle5874]

You have a good voice for recording. Thanks for sharing.

[@eoinpkav152]

I love those platforms on those tank cars, very comfortable imo.

[@Mercatoyd]

Your wealth of knowledge shared is so helpful.

[@LordCarpenter]

Great video. Very professionally done. You have a great voice for these videos.

[@distantsignal]

Thanks!

[@mark12.31]

You're getting good at the drone! Another good one!

[@TrainTrackTrav]

Great stuff as always, Danny. Loved that LHF SD50. Thanks for sharing.

[@SmokeStack684]

Great video Danny! Someday you should catch that little switcher engine at the sand mine in Davenport. Last I knew it was still painted in ACL colors.

[@distantsignal]

Yes, I hope to do that before long.

[@austinyingst5902]

Liked the video. Narrative much appreciated. Thanks.

[@WaffleDragon]

I seem to remember seeing the Tropicana pass an autorack several years ago at the Valrico siding, back at the little Miller Rd. crossing. They must have been fairly short trains.

[@joeahearn4413]

Like the videos, and really like how well you identify where the location is. I can find them on Google Maps and see the overhead view.

[@dennisbrowder6316]

Great stuff enjoy your work.

[@oneandahalfrailfanners8719]

That Valrico siding was ideal back in the o825 (The Truck Eliminator) days to and from Central. Those consists were generally under 4000 feet...

[@distantsignal]

That's true. I thought Valrico had been extended to 10,000 feet, but checking the timetable today I was surprised to see it's still 4075. SAL length. Ha!

[@csxfloridafunnelrailfan3065]

Distant Signal Well at least Hunter Harrison had the vision to make many of the sidings obsolete with some of these 11,000 foot long trains. Lol

[@DoubleSpikeProductions]

Those SD50s are amazing. I would never think of one switching out an industry or on a local.

[@csxfloridafunnelrailfan3065]

DSP KZbin yeah you'd usually think 4 axle power GP38 or GP40s

[@DoubleSpikeProductions]

CSX Florida Funnel Railfan - Indeed!

[@brandonseyfried1251]

Good video, Danny. Modern "in the field" local switching coverage is great...I'd like it to focus on crew practices with radio coverage thrown in. Keep 'em coming.

[@therookie9276]

Yeah or SW1500's or SD38's

[@russellgxy2905]

It seems in this day in age, GE widecabs are the norm for road trains. The spartan cabs, four and six axle varieties, seem to be common for any local run. Though with how long they are, I do question the effectiveness of running a LHF SD50

[@JJRicks]

It's quite sad that your Christmas video got taken down! :( That was one of my favorite on your channel! Still, thank you for the quality content! I love how you get better and better as a pilot in every video!

[@channingframpton1034]

And the horn on N-003! Wow!

[@ratfink55]

Nice work Danny! Now I want a cocktail. ;)

[@MicrobyteAlan]

Interesting and well presented thanks from Orlando

[@walterfink9782]

Another great video. Glad to see you. Thanks.

[@wayneslayton5561]

Good morning I hope you and your wife and family are safe

[@ThornappleRiverRailSeries]

An E-bell on a Geep is literally evidence of the devil.

[@channingframpton1034]

Thornapple River Rail Series agreed! LOL

[@eoinpkav152]

Ha ha, that’s actually pretty funny.

[@barrycarlisle8206]

Another great video Danny!!!!

[@berkeleygang1834]

Great video(s). You almost make me want to go back to railfanning. :)

[@billbaber6653]

You do a fine job.

[@jeanhorton7335]

Always like your videos! Please keep them coming!

[@jerrysinclair3771]

Danny, as always, great video! I learn new stuff every time you release a video which works out to about 12 new things I learn from you every year! 😀: :😎

[@briankeith5437]

Nice video first ever seeing it from a drone angle nice view

[@bobgallo2178]

Cool post, always like to see action on a diamond.

[@kutamsterdam]

You're a smart fellow aren't you Danny, good detective work there....thanks man love your vids!.

[@55nimrod55]

Nice switching action.

[@jamesshanks2614]

The GP-38/GP-38-2 were the last great EMD locomotive's that could do it all. EMD now has a program called the Eco program. Let's say your railroad has a lot of GP-9's left in service or storage. EMD will take that engine in trade strip the accessories rack, the DC main generator, air compressor, auxiliary generator, rebuild them to new specifications, build a new locomotive frames, rebuild the trucks and install a new V-8 710 series engine rated at 2000 horsepower. You then have a useful locomotive for local or yard service that's modern and inexpensive to maintain. The real problem is most of the GP-9 series locomotive's were already traded in unless you look at CP Railroad which still has a lot of them either in storage or in service. The new rebuild called the ECO locomotive less than 50 percent of the fuel an old GP-9 would use and was equipped with modern parts instead of scrounging for 50 plus year old parts to fix an old locomotive. What EMD needs to do is start taking trade ins of 645 power instead of older 567 power. To me the power I fell in love with was the GE FDL-7 B23-7. First time I used one on a switcher I loved the throttle response, put the throttle in the third notch and watch the power climb up to 800 to 1000 amps with DC motors, 2250 horsepower, a comfortable cab with an excellent electric heater, a full bathroom, and when pulling a heavy drag the faster the drag moved the harder the engine worked. Had to double over 100 ballast cars from a bowl shaped yard and at 6 mph I was in the 6th notch of power listening to the turbo pick up more and more of the load so when I went under the Cambridge street bridge she was showing 31 pounds of boost on the turbo gauge with 50 cars being dragged behind me. This compared to an EMD SW-1500 doing the same exact move the day before and struggling to move the 50 loaded cars. EMD still builds a good product I'm my humble opinion. In my career I worked with first and second generation road power from the GP-7 to the SD-80MAC. I started with PC and finished with Conrail and Amtrak. GE took over all road freight starting with the GE C30-7A. Yup that makes me an old timer. And I spent a lot of time crawling over the engines finding fixes to keep them running so we could get over the mountain. And everything from the GE U25-B single center window ex new haven up to the last new power we got the GE B40-8 for TV train service. Had lots of fun in the good old bad days. We thought Penn Central was in bad shape until Erie Lackawanna power started showing up in Boston and the shop forces discovered they didn't even have oil filters in the engines! Just refilled them with fuel, oil, and sand and sent them out on the road. Cheers

[@anjuarunderwood6869]

Sweet video brother

[@mikeyoungblood1706]

That is just GREAT video !

[@tommy4trains]

Excellent video

[@popsi50]

Thanks Danny. Nice trains.

[@YardLimit]

Great video, Danny!

[@fstop6139]

Noticed the Central Florida conductor used his radio to couple that light engine-don't understand why hand signals aren't used. We used them night and day.

[@kgirl4078]

So awesome Danny ! Your work is superb and now to top it off you use a drone ! Thanks for sharing your fantastic video :-))

[@LelandRogers]

There is a video about rebuilding an old GP9 by removing the prime mover and replacing it with 3 gensets which are computer controlled. This allows the loco to use less fuel by only starting as many gensets as needed for the load.

[@DruSteel69]

Cool video. Very informative too. - Drew

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

Nice video enjoyed watching.

[@boweandrew3]

your videos are classic keep them coming nice motorola radio too

[@michaeldaniels8241]

I am an engineer and I think u know more about trains than I do😁😁

[@randallbyrd1973]

Thank you for sharing

[@billnye7183]

Another awesome video

[@jaberosier9853]

I caught the Quincy Local M-746 coming out of the BASF mine siding and they have to back down that grade long hood forwards so they can pull the cars out! Do you know of any railroad tunnels in Florida? I think Quincy is home to one of the only ones! It makes for a nice backdrop for M-746!

[@GenericRailfan]

Awesome video!

[@redleader8952]

nice catch with the sd50!! ive never heard of one being used on a local before

[@CFRF13]

redleader895 Winston will throw just about anything on a local. Lately they’ve been using a single GP39-2 (4311), a couple of SD40-3 (4012, 4043), and a few ES40DC’s (5376, 5445), plus an AC44CW (300) for local power.

[@redleader8952]

holy cow gevos and an ac44?? wow thats cool

[@CFRF13]

Yeah man seeing an ES40DC running long hood forward with those big radiators is pretty awesome.

[@ICGDeltaDivision]

Awesome video! I'm guessing you talked with a member of the crew about details of the operation. Either way, I enjoy watching switching more than any other aspect of freight railroading. If you're into them, you can find GP50s working the yards and hauling loads for the ATN in Alabama.

[@distantsignal]

Thanks! I went to north Alabama last fall. I can't wait to go back

[@jimbo9357]

Fantastic picture at Plant City.

[@shnimmuc]

Superb as always

[@railyardfilms6491]

Great story again

[@jeannelson8532]

Another great video !!!!

[@emmittbunn181]

awesome video

[@traditionallarry5378]

Thank you for the reply,appreciate it

[@CentralPennRailProductions]

Nice one!