This Is Why We Need Smaller Locomotives for Switching

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If you're reading this, I want to let you know that you have influence over the lives of others. Stop waiting for permission, an go out there and DOMINATE.
THIS IS WHY WE NEED SMALL LOCOMOTIVES FOR SWITCHING
Hashtags: #Trains21 #SeriousRailroading

[@davidbarnett9312]

I see capable switch engines in Europe and Japan. The Japanese use engines with the cab in the middle. I see a lot of innovation in Japan, Germany, Norway, and Switzerland that could be used right here, but that would take money and we all know the investors must be rewarded before much needed improvements. The one problem Europe has that they share with the US is graffiti. Japan? Haven't seen any graffiti anywhere. It's gratifying to see one of those capable switch engines with a string of rail cars unmarred in Japan.

[@cdavid8139]

Absolutely investors must be rewarded. That is the reason for the investment. If I buy stock in a corporation, I expect a return. Absolutely. Why do it otherwise. Railroads in the US have invested heavily in new power over the past decade. So much so that hundreds(thousands) of older units are in storage. As far as European innovation being used on North American (US,CA,MX) rail freight operations keep in mind we railroad very differently here. Their short haul, fast, low-tonnage freights do not compare to the long distance, heavy tonnage requirements of Mexico, the US and Canada.

[@trainandtruckmodeler786]

@@cdavid8139 it's more emissions standards then anything.....class 1 have to follow strict tiers while shortlines and regionals for some reason don't.....I find it amazing how all you Americans blame investors.....excuse me mister American, do you have a 401k???

[@cdavid8139]

@@trainandtruckmodeler786 Emmissions...and fuel efficiency. Also the ability to run DPU and GE(Wabtec) new software. So much is involved. It's amazing how so much almost new power is stored. Class I tiers (and short lines) can vary from state to state as well. And yes, people invest in a 401k and want maximum return. But then they turn around and blame greedy investors for all that's wrong in the world.

[@raymondleggs5508]

The European switchers are built by VOSSLOH

[@trainandtruckmodeler786]

@@cdavid8139 I have had UP and BNSF stock since the early 90s....that's why I no longer live in America....I hate to say it but Americans are some of the dumbest people ever....legalize illegal drugs, can't pass a drug test....then blame someone else for their problems ...example if UPs shares are 274.00 the dividend is about 1.84 per quarter....how is that greedy???

[@Pensyfan19]

I always find it amusing when 6 axle road diesels are utilized for switching duties like this, especially since NS is selling pretty much everything that isn't a GE Widecab. Knowing NS, they're probably going to use this as an excuse as to why they want to discontinue switching ops even though they sold their switchers in order to save costs because of PSR. Shouldn't Sell So Soon!

[@terrywallace8922]

THE BIGGEST MISTAKE NS MADE WAS GETTING RID OF THEIR SWITCHERS!THEY SHOULD HAVE KEPT THEM. AND NOW BECAUSE OF PSR, THE ARE USING BIG GE LOCOMOTIVES TO SWITCH WITH. THOSE MP15S AND SW1500S WOULD HAVE BEEN IDEAL FOR SWITCHING INDUSTRIES LIKE THIS!INSTEAD, THEY OPTED TO SELL EVERY SWITCH LOCOMOTIVES THEY HAD!NOW THESE GES MAY BE THE TOP DOGS ON THE RAILROAD, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO SWITCHING FREIGHT CARS, THEY ARE USELESS!THEY NEED TO BRING Back the SWITCHING locomotives. And let them do the SWITCHING jobs!

[@chromediesel444]

They're obsessed with operating ratio.

[@cdavid8139]

Class I roads began selling off switching locomotives decades before PSR.

[@ThunderRiffs87]

Shoulda kept the B23-7s and B30-8s and rebuilt em into AC23B’s and AC30B’s lol

[@dsmith9964]

@@cdavid8139 CSX still uses a couple of switchers to shunt cars between Osborne Yard and a few nearby industries.

[@iusetano]

We had lots of tight curves an 100lb rail. Our switcher worked well. Excellent video AC.

[@SuperForged]

Dude the quality and topics of your work recently has been spot on. The narration is sweet and the knowledge sharing is even better.

[@Trains21]

Tnanks Man. I appreciate you watching.

[@johnsergei]

Smaller shunters/switches have several advantages, including able to negotiate tighter curves, but the big reason is they are cheaper than big locos. 1000 HP or even a little SAR 500 class shunter with a rating of only 500HP from it's 4 cylinder engine can move 1000t on relatively level track, which most rail yards are & you don't need speed.

[@georgew.5639]

I guess our society has reached a point where it’s a disastrous inconvenience to have to stop and wait a few minutes for a train. What’s worse is that people are killing themselves over this. How? By trying to cross the railroad tracks with a train coming. It’s been happening frequently in Florida where a new commuter rail system has come into existence. My advice is this. Slow down and live.

[@stretchlimo7275]

Nothing like using 864,000lbs of locomotives to drop a boxcar. Interesting 👍🏼😁

[@Trains21]

When you put it like that.... 🙂

[@stretchlimo7275]

@@Trains21 great work btw my man, love your content 😎

[@Trains21]

@@stretchlimo7275 Thanks, much appreciated!

[@kens.3729]

My brother-in-law has been “Stuck” on the Wrong Side of the Tracks several times but the Worst Case Scenario was 3 1/2 hours which is Ridiculous. UP was Culprit. 🤪👎

[@chromediesel444]

It's not new seeing massive six axle locomotives doing local switch like these Gevos. Heck when I was trucking in Iowa few years ago, I saw UP using SD70M for local switching at a industrial park where I sat for good 15 minutes for the same reason like in this video. It's atrocious seeing what Class 1's have become these days with implementation of PSR and selling locomotives that were designed to handle on rails that were too tight for 6 axle big locomotives. I'm lucky to have local shortlines around my home that don't follow that mentality of Class 1's. Geeps are seen often here even the former NS units. If they want customers to have spurs that can handle weight of six axles, then look at Carload Express. They invest on their infastructure improvements, bringing in new customers, expanding the existing customers, and buying good emd power (Geeps, end cabs, SD40s, SD60m's).

[@billconserva1461]

Nobody will admit it but to solve a Switcher issue is quite simple. What is needed is a unit that has about 2500 HP, geared for Freight use @ about 62 mph, a high center cab for excellent visibility with a complete unobstructed view to both ends of the unit. A 4 axle truck for tight radius curves. Easy access on and off the engine. Why it won't be built is more of the Railroads won't spend money on a specific engine to do a job that can't run the mainline the same as the rest of their fleet does. This world of engines with 3 axle trucks with universal usage has gone to far and switching crews are paying the price and railroads will continue to patch up branch/service tracks from overweight locos. Safety seems to not be of a concern either in switching operations today.

[@gdrriley420]

Stadler makes that right now for Europe, VR group bought 60 customized as Dr19. Given their recent entree into NA I wonder if anyone will buy it. Knoxville makes a MP/SW style loco upto 1500HP and typical GP/SD style upto 3200hp. EMD and GE will both sell you new or rebuild 4 axle units but new ones mean T4 emissions which the class 1 hate having to deal with. It doesn't help they didn't want DEF.

[@ZombieSlayer-dj3wb]

O heavn forbid if it emitts to much

[@johnsergei]

There are several 115-130t 200 -3000 HP box cab units with double cabs on pilot duty in Australia. There were the pride of the railways in the 70s & 80s & have great views for shunting. Most of Australia's typical shunters of 500- 1000HP are gone. These were all hood units.

[@tropicalties3806]

NS had them. They're called GP38s!

[@RMSTitanicWSL]

They also got some of CR's GP15-1s, but got rid of them.

[@jeffbyland7128]

I agree 100% but it's like the railroads don't want to go after any business anymore ... .

[@Trains21]

100% agreed.

[@sharkheadism]

Keep in mind that is is probably privately owned track, so it's not up to the railroad to upgrade it. The industry is responsible for it.

[@stevenramiza9249]

Nice to see Robbie in action last DH Hudson conductor when he retired

[@Trains21]

Yeah. Wish I coulda' been there for it.

[@NWFProductions]

You know NS, you could just upgrade the spur with new ties and rail.

[@adrianmontelongo9707]

An excellent trains of the day switching tracks 🚂

[@irish00011]

To me, it looks like it is time for some upgrades to the rails on the spur siding and the rail bed if the railroad isn't going to spend the money on different switching equipment.

[@jasonwest3484]

People don't realize that the crossing belongs to the state, city or county but the railroad tracks still belongs to the railroad which they have the right away automatically. Get use to and get over it or move somewhere else.motorists has no say so when it comes to the railroad

[@irish00011]

@@jasonwest3484 I'm sorry, not all situations are a glove fit. It is not the issue of the road crossing being blocked. The issue is if the railroad wants to be a great neighbor, or should they come to this conclusion to crap it out on everyone else? I know of a situation many years in my community, back when a conductor had fallen from the end rigging of a hopper car being switched at a road crossing and was run over and killed. The engineer moved the switching locomotive back to the yard instead of staying at the scene while the investigation had begun. This was a coroner's case, and the coroner was dammed angry, wherefore the message went out to have the locomotive and the engineer return to the scene, under pain of arrest and prosecution if he refused.

[@cdavid8139]

The railroad may not own the track leading into the plant. They usually only own the mainline and runarounds. It is the industries responsibility to maintain their own track (or farm it out)

[@robbierichmondtyrecop3916]

Usually the GP38 is good for this

[@billmoran3812]

It’s not weight that’s the limitation. Many industrial sidings and branches have tight curves that the 6 axle locomotives can’t handle. That’s why the class 3 railroads stick to 4 axle units like older GP’s. The Class 1’s prefer having a Class 3 partner to take the local service. Switching takes time and tying up road locomotives and crew to switch a single or even a few cars isn’t cost effective for the Class 1’s. That said, there is definitely a need for switching locomotives. In most cases, one or two GP’s can switch anything the have to. I’ve cut and set out many 150 car trains with a one or two 4 axle locomotives. Two unit power on a local is useful because sometimes you can run with power on both ends of your train to allow servicing turnouts in either direction. And for the record, forget those “genset” switchers. They are junk. Unreliable and a PIA. A little 1200 HP GP15 makes a great switcher.

[@SantaFe19484]

Nice to see Conrail cars still in use!

[@terryl4219]

They make trackmobiles just for this purpose. Drive over ground, set down on the rails and couple the cars. I was a trackmobile mechanic for many years.

[@sigmanfloyd7179]

~ A couple of MP15s would be handy!

[@Zach_Bloomquist]

Nice to see an unpatched Conrail gondola (g43a?) with its original number without a ton of graffiti. Sad that it is used as a buffer car because a certain class one is too stupid to remanufacture its GP38s/38-2s in the early 2000s and mostly retired them.

[@Zach_Bloomquist]

Also that was a lot of former Maintenance of Way grey gondolas.

[@Trains21]

Hey Zach, nice to see that you're still hangin' out with us! Long time no hear.

[@Zach_Bloomquist]

@@Trains21 I have been watching your latest vids to include the GOAT SD40-2 one just haven't commented. I like that you discussed the changes ongoing around the area too as I don't live in the northeast but still like to keep up with the area where I grew up. I still think Conrail was better than NS lol. Are you still going to do other videos like this on the knock-on effects of PSR and downsizing the locomotive fleets?

[@Trains21]

@@Zach_Bloomquist I've got a ton of ideas on backlog. I'm sure that some of them will fit the description of what you just mentioned.

[@Zach_Bloomquist]

@@Trains21 Sounds good man. Glad you are back after that long delay due to your life and computer problems. I can only watch so many Railroad Media Archive vids lol before I want to see what is going on today on your channel or South Jersey Trains channel.

[@paultk4063]

5-10 mins....lucky. my local town will block multiple grade crossing for 30mins or more with one train. The RR has no cares even when you call the number about the blockage. It has gotten so bad the the City is fighting with the RR because it effects emergency vehicles at times

[@alcopower5710]

Sure do miss the old Delaware & Hudson days. Great video as always AC👍

[@Trains21]

Thanks.

[@billgraff4809]

Even regional lines like the Buffalo & Pittsburgh RR are using SD40/50/60s to switch many of their lines.

[@jimmimlitsch3425]

Class one railroad that are lead buy college educated business people, can’t figure out how easy this blocking the intersection situation is to be solved. All some clown from upper management has to do is literally read comments here. Bring up a gp38 to do this job. Hell, borrow one from the R&N that you sold them or go to the Delaware& Lackawanna and borrow one of their c420’s.

[@cdavid8139]

Railroads have been blocking intersections since the founding of the first railroads. And they were there first.

[@lwilton]

Why you need, what, 9,000 horsepower? to switch a cut of 8 empty hoppers and a couple of boxes has always been beyond me. All I can assume is either there is an FRA rule that you can't have less than two power cars on mainline track, or the railroads just assume that the power is so unreliable that you will be lucky to have one powered axle out of 12 by the end of the shift. Back before the railroads went digital and encrypted, that seemed to be the case around where I live. Half the chatter on the radio was a crew talking with the dispatcher or a specialist to figure out how to reset or reboot the loco so it would move again, and I don't think I ever heard a local crew say all axles were working. A shame that we can't use SW1500s anymore.

[@cdavid8139]

You don't need 9000 horsepower. But if that's what you have then you are not going to set one out. You go with it. And what you don't know is that a mile down the road they may be picking up 4000 tons and moving it uphill from a start. You can't look at what is in the video and make judgements without knowing what else they have to do.

[@richardreid6377]

I think they are using 2 units to have cab in the lead for either direction.

[@kensingtonchapp4819]

@@cdavid8139 Foamers always seem to overreact and go into an abject panic when they see one thing they don't understand in a 3 minute video, and every one of them "can fix the problem if it were up to them."

[@cdavid8139]

@@kensingtonchapp4819 Yessir. Not all of them but there are a few that point out how poor a job the professionals are doing and then wonder why crews are not as friendly as they used to be

[@kbruns33]

Having a guy chasing you around all day long with a camera in your face monetizing your work has a bit to do with it as well.

[@ZombieSlayer-dj3wb]

Should have kept the end cabs but muh enviorment

[@Greatdome99]

Like Southwest Airlines with its all 737 fleet, there is great economy in having only one model of anything so pricey. Railroads are making due with older road units to save money, despite the disadvantages. They've also reduced service on branchlines and local switching (selling them off to shortlines), so fewer switchers are needed.

[@TyDeSimone]

7686 is an ES40DC, Not ES44DC. It says right on the side of the cab. Just saying that’s all. Cool video either way

[@Trains21]

7686 is an ES44DC, Not ES40DC. I don't care what it says on the cab. All 4,000 hp GEs were uprated to their intended 4,400 hp around 2015. Just saying that's all. Thanks for watching either way.

[@TyDeSimone]

@@Trains21 gotcha. Thanks for the info. I’m looking forward to your next upload.

[@cdavid8139]

very well shot

[@c.d.porter9366]

Have always believed that if a piece of equipment served successfully 95% of the time it is correct .

[@jonathansabatino3987]

Great video thank you !

[@The80Mac]

Did anyone else catch the Penn Central 2.0 drawn in the grime on 3642😆😆

[@Trains21]

Yes I did! Maybe I'll do a video on it (and others I've seen)!

[@LetsGoRailfanning]

Have 10Z bring a GP38-2 up from Enola and put it the K81.

[@BNSF8500yt]

Nice catches of the GE locomotives

[@gdrriley420]

NS has some recently rebuilt GP2xECOs and GP3xECOs but they need more. Find more units to rebuild or go buy some new units. GE, EMD, Knoxville locomotive works all sell new lighter 4/6 axle units.

[@lackawannavalleyrailfan]

Back when my railfan journey began, I was always confused why our K81 always had road locomotives instead of switchers. I guess it’s so that they could handle the freight on the K82 or H97 back then…now in 2023 I believe the local power is a solo rebuild SD40-3

[@Trains21]

Interesting. I didn't realize that NS had SD40-3s.

[@Trains21]

BTW - I'll be binge watching your last 30 or so videos tonight! I just made up a playlist!

[@lackawannavalleyrailfan]

@@Trains21 Oh thank you!

[@Rook00]

I would love to see a four axle gevo

[@ernestimken6969]

Apparently RR policy is use 6 axle road locos where ever they fit, but many customers have sharp curves where only an NW2 type loco can operate. Are they pressuring these customers to buy their own switcher? I think so.

[@MrYAMAHA32177]

Those are some rookie railway blockages. Come down to Baldwin Fl for some real backups of up to two hours +/- or more and dozens of trains per day.

[@sernajrlouis]

Great video

[@countdooku1971]

That is ridiculous using two behemoth GE’s to do a job like that when one Geep could handle it with no problems. The railroads have obviously lost their ever-loving minds smh

[@Trains21]

Check out my "When PSR Goes Wrong" video. Sometimes there were three engines! Great to look at, unusual to switch with I think.

[@Retired88M]

College boys that never got there hands dirty that only see numbers and $$$$

[@davidblowe9096]

I watched a crew park 2 loco’s over a level crossing for 15 minute’s - just because they could !

[@Trains21]

That's not very polite!

[@davidblowe9096]

@@Trains21 they were dropping a helper off and the train it was going on to was ready to pick it up, they could have moved off the crossing but didn’t, they sat there detached from the helper until the other train picked it up, they moved off the crossing for 3 minute then blocked it again while the reattached to their train and waited for the signal to leave which didn’t take long.

[@poowg2657]

When the papermill I work at was switched by SOO Line and then Wisconsin Central they only used Geeps due to the tight cuvature. When CN took over they sometimes used a pair of SD60s and found they could only couple up to cars on straight sections. Now that our mill has a track mobile the railroad no longer switches us and we pick up and set cars on the lead track. Some people in the rail industry say that in the near future the major railroads won't do any switching at all and it will be handled by independent switching companies.

[@Trains21]

It wouldn't surprise me. I've talked about it in past videos over the last 30 days or so.

[@mr.oliver_11]

In Memphis there’s this BIG BNSF yard and by that yard there’s a switching puzzle. When I saw a train it was being switched by RJ railroad company not BNSF but 500 yards is the BNSF mainline.

[@poowg2657]

@@Trains21 Sorry man, you're probably more up to date about the subject than I am. I have a friend at WATCO and he says they've been hearing rumors the company wants to pick up some of this business

[@Trains21]

@@poowg2657 No worries, I was just mentioning that the subject had been brought up. But WATCO moving into terminal switching and operations wouldn't surprise me.

[@cdavid8139]

Very common practice. There are hundreds of locations where switching operations serve the larger mills. Makes total sense. However we are talking about larger industries. Not smaller ones like these that are located on a Class I main

[@northtexasrailroadproduction1]

I’m just saying a smaller switcher would still block the crossing or keep the gates down becuase it is so close to the tracks. And why would they bring a switcher out there for one box car? It’s just not practical for them to do that.

[@unaizilla]

better a four axle switcher than two six axle road locomotives

[@northtexasrailroadproduction1]

@@unaizilla what? Ya I guess if your in a yard but out on the mainline no

[@jeromyt6873]

No, they had to build the train that long to reach into the barn because of the weight limit on the siding. A smaller, lighter unit could go right into the barn and get the cars and not have to build a longer train to reach from the crossing. The crossing would be closed much less.

[@raymondleggs5508]

The US railroads could buy the Vossloh G 6 3 axle switcher or the 4 axle G1700BB they are good locomotives, it's just that they'd have to be shipped overseas and customized for US useage.

[@frankgrabasse4642]

I thought NS still had plenty of GPs. I wonder what the cost of running these big 6 axle units vs a pair of geeps or mother slug combo is. Maybe the railroads are just doing everything they can to run off customers...

[@Trains21]

Conrail tried to run off customers too. Then ripped up the tracks to avoid competition. Slash and burn. Sad, but sometimes true.

[@frankgrabasse4642]

@@Trains21 If you really want to see poor railroad management. The neighbors to the north. They had the worst name they could find. Pan Am. As for ripping up tracks to avoid competition, the real competitor was trucks. Another railroad cant steel your tracks. A short line can lease them, but that just feeds you freight. It all boils down to short term gain for wall st stock prices.

[@Trains21]

@@frankgrabasse4642 Yep.

[@chromediesel444]

That's where trucking took the advantage.

[@Trains21]

@@chromediesel444 Exactly

[@legotech7268]

This is just another reason we need conrail back modern railroads are so impractical and because of that we have less local freight if conrail came back and was sane this would not be an issue.

[@Retired88M]

This is how the big railroads will get out of switching In this area we gave RBMN and also recently R J Corman who still have a multitude of endcab switchers and lightweight GP’s NS will probably grant trackage rights in the near future to these lines to do there work

[@cdavid8139]

Yeah. We need Conrail back so they can run off more smaller customers. They were infamous during their empire for just not serving those they did not want to.

[@legotech7268]

@@Retired88M lets hope so

[@legotech7268]

@@cdavid8139 ok what i meant by that is bring conrail back but this time to be a railroad that is trying to convert companies to use rail instead of road.

[@cdavid8139]

@@legotech7268 Well, Conrail was not big on converting companies from truck to rail. They loved to take out switches at a moments notice. They were famous for it. Outside of that not sure what a combined NS/CSXT would do but create even more of an east coast mess

[@mikeashely8198]

Be a good idea start reconditioning all them old SWS and a like the handle that

[@Trains21]

I think so. Or some 4-axles at least.

[@stevenlitkey9354]

What do you expect ?? Big class 1's that worry more about profits and stockholder dividends than investing in power, rolling stock, or trackage. All the while slashing crew numbers to the bone causing delays, congestion, and a disgruntled workforce.

[@cdavid8139]

Big Class I roads worry about profits and stockholder dividends BECAUSE THAT IS WHY THEY ARE IN BUSINESS!!!! As far as investing in power, there has been incredible investment in power over the last decade. Same for track.

[@stevenlitkey9354]

@C David of course businesses exist to turn a profit. When you see corporations neglect to reinvest in assets and opt to buy back stock to bolster dividend return that's a different story. Class 1's doubling and tripling train lengths to the point of choking the capabilities of their own system is ridiculous. New locomotive production has tanked. Estimates show numbers as high as 11,000+ Locomotives in storeage, yet class 1's hesitate to rebuild these units to modern spec, sidestepping tier 4 requirements. Double track is disappearing, all the while bean counters stingily add some siding length. All said and done, Precision Scheduled Railroading, the noose around the rail industries neck !!

[@cdavid8139]

@@stevenlitkey9354 New locomotive production has tanked. As it should. No need to buy something you do not need. Are you suggesting railroads invest in multi-million dollar power that they don't need. Why would a responsible business do that with 11000 in storage. Why would you rebuild units if you do not need them. (There are units being rebuilt currently). But in the past decade there were significant capital investments by the industry. That continues. And double tracks have been disappearing for decades. That isn't recent. In the long run we may find that PSR doesn't work as it does in many other nations. Time I suppose will tell.

[@stevenlitkey9354]

@@cdavid8139 Agreed . . . . !!

[@taffboyslim]

BR Class 08 'Gronk' 350 HP, 3 axles, 60 years old, still going strong

[@altermike3197]

If only we invented smaller shunter engines specially made for switching duties

[@bradhig]

where did all that dirt on the white lines of engines come from?

[@Trains21]

Probably road grime.

[@billmoran3812]

@@Trains21 Diesel soot and oil.

[@zachpetersen9425]

CN somewhat smart around me in Northern Illinois and currently use GP38-2s and GP40, not dumb big GEs and EMDs

[@conrail666]

But how big are their locals and tonnage? Figuring that it's NS it's a big local and high tonnage

[@epistte]

I see NS switching and running locals with GP38s.

[@conrail666]

@epistte I do to. All depends on length tonnage and I forgot about ruling grade.

[@jimmimlitsch3425]

I see larger and longer locals then this video shows in my area being pulled by geeps. The reading and northern use gp38’s and gp39(upgrade 30’s) pulling their regular freight. To say that it’s tonnage is wrong. It’s class one higher ups thinking that they are so smart they try to reinvent the wheel. Also blocking a road that long when you could use a different locomotive and not need the buffer comes is a problem. That’s just stupid or ignorant on managements part.

[@conrail666]

@Jim Mimlitsch and what's the grade on that line vs this line? Get use to 6 axle. Theu are just as good as a road switcher as 4 axke. Rather have a 6 axle over a 4 any day. Way better at getting it moving.

[@southernpennsyrailfan8579]

Since when do they use ES44s for switching

[@cdavid8139]

Since the first ES44s hit the rails

[@JacksonTheRailfan]

Usually when i see a gondola train (consists of like NS, NW, and SOU Gondolas but they are like beaten like they have big holes and they are puffed out, just look at one of the NS gondola train videos, theres proof on this channel so it surpised me how old ns and conrail gondolas are not in this condition as i see them usually.

[@davidbarnett9312]

I see Missouri Pacific gons to this day on UP trains, and yes, they are beaten up but still surviving.

[@JacksonTheRailfan]

@@davidbarnett9312 are they like how i discribed? (Graffiti included ofc)

[@sblank0525]

Is that air test still good?

[@natehill8069]

Looks like the consist should have had 2 AC44s and... an SW-1. Or grab a kid from McDonalds, double his pay, and have him drive a Silverado 3500 trackmobile (via roads) out to this spot for them to switch with; prolly cheaper than the operating cost of 2 AC44s performing this dance.

[@Dansvideos03]

Selkirk they have SD50 and SD40 solely for switching purposes

[@joshbenton4080]

What ever happened to say, the EMD SW1000, SW1200 switcher engines to do switching operations on lines with 100 pound rail or even 80 Pound rail? Obviously, these older tracks with the lighter weight rail can't handle the weight of these modern freight engines.

[@RMSTitanicWSL]

They were all retired or sold off by the big railroads as being too light and underpowered to do anything. A lot of GP15s were sold off, too, for these reasons. But even a GP38 would be able to switch this out, and NS still has quite a few of those. Likely, they just didn't want to send one there.

[@cdavid8139]

@@RMSTitanicWSL Exactly. Why go find a smaller unit when these are doing the job just fine. There's no telling how much work with heavier tonnage took place elsewhere.

[@raymondleggs5508]

Screeeee Screeeeeeeeeeeeeppppp!!! go the wheels!

[@MrGeorgeyf]

Damn , were there really 3 tracks here and a siding back in d&h days?

[@Trains21]

Indeed there were!

[@thebluehero2219]

what would happen if he locomotives went over the siding rail? I feel like nothing major would happen right?

[@lwilton]

Depends on the track weight and how well the track is maintained. Those locos are _heavy_. Lightweight rails with a too far apart tie spacing for the load could dip significantly under the load, potentially rolling the engine. More likely the spikes could pull and one of the rails lay over on its side, derailing the engine. Alternately the track might spread and drop the engine down onto the ties. Other than laying the engine over on its side , none of those outcomes are a major difference from daily railroading, but it could end up tying up that intersection for a couple of days.

[@MsFred58]

Should of pushed the gondola and boxcar into the building by themselves.

[@JV-pu8kx]

As said, the road bed for the siding track cannot support a six-axel locomotive. The other cars were used so the locomotives did not have to get on that track. A smaller, switching locomotive is needed.

[@fredcsensits4476]

That s called progress. Seems like a switcher with a cow could do the job

[@cdavid8139]

It could. But why have both if you don't need them. I would rather have the horsepower/traction of these big units doing road work out on the main than 50 year old switch engines. Now I will say that there are industrial/yard jobs where I really miss the SW15 type of units. BUt this isn't one of them.

[@richardreid6377]

@@cdavid8139 This job should be run by a GP38 or equivalent. Which still might be too much for that ratty old customer owned spur.

[@animenut69]

Still curious if ns/ csx will merge, don't see how the eastcoast can support 2 class 1's.

[@radiationroom]

NS + CSX = CONRAIL!!!

[@Trains21]

I seriously doubt it. The rumor is that after this CPKC amalgamation is complete the merger madness (among Class 1s) will be over. But if another were to happen it would have to be east-west.

[@cdavid8139]

Both are profitable right now.

[@opieshomeshop]

We Need bigger Locomotives for Switching. Much much bigger.

[@deepsleep7822]

Big Boy?

[@RMSTitanicWSL]

@@deepsleep7822 Naw, something bigger. XD

[@DouglasP201]

@@RMSTitanicWSL EMD DDA40X?

[@Dennis-vh8tz]

@@DouglasP201 Big Blow GTEL?

[@DouglasP201]

@@Dennis-vh8tz GG-1?

[@jeffreycollins7297]

I feel for the guys who know they aren't working with the proper gear and have traffic all messed up time and time again.

[@cdavid8139]

That started in 1850 or so and hasn't changed in railroading since. I started working the ground in 1972. We said the same thing in the 70s, 80s and 90s.

[@derrickconnor1303]

Lmao using 2 or 3 big GEs or EMDs for a tiny 7 car train, when a smaller switcher can handle that, whats wrong with these railroads besides being cheap lol

[@lwilton]

Well, they could have used 4 units instead of 2.

[@deepsleep7822]

Could be the customer as well. If heavier rail was put in, who would have to pay for it? I know this is a NS leaning vid but a local company was told by CSX they would no longer switch for the company. The company had to lease a lok and set cars close to the main line. Well, I assume CSX wouldn’t switch for them. Maybe CSX started charging a ridiculous price and the company could do it cheaper. I’ve not been able to find out the details.

[@jamessimmons1888]

I have seen railroads tell companies that until they fixed a industrial lead they wouldn't switch it. Too big of a risk for them to risk derailing because of a customer's bad tracks. On a lot of NS industry tracks, they have signs that clearly mark their " maintenance ends"

[@jamessimmons1888]

Also if a switch crew isn't available in the area when a customer needs to be switched, do you expect them to delay switching them and potentially losing a customer because they can't provide timely service? Another reason is the railroads like to have locomotives that are general purpose, instead of just designed for only 1 thing.

[@sharkheadism]

It's possible they'll pick up 80 cars somewhere down the line.

[@zekeblake5914]

So. If you have only one engine that's 5 feet long it would block the intersection. So your premise is deeply flawed. A possible answer is to leave cars behind and not take as many into that siding.

[@jeromyt6873]

If they had a smaller, lighter engine they wouldn't b have to build a train so long to reach it and not block the crossing. They had to build a train that could reach into the building because the engines were too heavy for the track. If you had a lighter one, you could possibly take it right into the car barn.

[@jeromyt6873]

Remember when he said that was basically as far as the locomotives could go? That was because of the weight limit on that siding.

[@robertprice7246]

Should stick a GP15 in the consist

[@NW-gi1cp]

Every 0-6-0 in America: 😉

[@conrail666]

4 axles units barely can handle the tonnage of these new locals. Did he ride into that building? Smh. Oh well if it takes 5 minutes. Hell the engineer should of switched end to make it longer or inspected the units for the fun of it.

[@PowerTrain611]

All that nonsense for ONE CAR. Jeez...

[@cdavid8139]

Welcome to railroading.

[@MM-M134M4]

I’m taking it that you don’t work for the railroad and have never.

[@ChainsawNW1218]

ChainsawN&W1218, those big GEs got the job done right, nice video!👍😄🛤🚂

[@Trains21]

They got the job done, of course, but I think that you're missing the point. The job got done, but at a lot of time and overall expense to the public and the crew.

[@Brianrockrailfan]

great video that switching is so awkward! 🚅🚅👍

[@Trains21]

Thanks!