SLUGs, Cabooses & Pushers

[@citxsd70m-2]

Crazy coincidence, that 8863 duo :0

[@RHTeebs]

No such thing as coincidences. Must be a conspiracy. 🤪😂

[@SD40Fan_Jason]

It's a good day when they are lashed up on the same set of power. It can be a real bad day when they are on the point of separate trains though.

[@leethetraindude]

Gotta love when V12 drops a vid!

[@Dball10-4]

I think we all greatly appreciate your dedication and hard work to put these amazing videos together. The amount of time and editing is incredible and shown. Thanks V12.

[@epicness69992]

Nothing but the best!

[@v12productions]

Thanks!

[@gloria6229]

@@v12productions Yeparoozie.

[@RODALCO2007]

A double 8863 duo, that is like winning the lotto. Great video.

[@kens.3729]

Great video. Thanks Charlie. 👍🙏

[@v12productions]

Thanks!

[@WillamsonCountyRailfan]

Finally ive been waiting to long!

[@crazybobc1]

Beautiful video! You sure know the spots.

[@v12productions]

Thanks!

[@mid-southrails1039]

The rail train is tied down in Arlington TN, not to far from Memphis. Plan on seeing it today.

[@bennetts-revenge_2]

I love all the drone shots, I'm always amazed how the cars with the rail on them can go around curves too. Thanks for the video!

[@v12productions]

Thanks for watching!

[@natehill8069]

Not really much different from them bending and stretching due to heat.

[@JasonTrew2018]

Another place that uses manned helpers is Cowan, TN, along the CSX Chattanooga Sub

[@sweynforkbeardtraindude]

Good stuff!

[@Tuglife912]

It the CSX REDI Center in Atlanta, Georgia back open? I went there in October and November of 2014 went to work as a Freight Conductor out of Hialeah Yard in Miami, Florida. They cut the course from the 6!weeks it was when I went to 4 weeks, then they closed it down and was supposed to have sold the buildings to a Doctor’s office. It’s wired to me what they done to Tilford Yard too! Makes no sense at all. I got to work a few jobs with an old Slug Set that had a EMD GP40-2 mother unit and a Road Mate that was a former EMD GP38-2 that had its EMD 645 Prime Mover removed and replace by a huge Concrete Ballast Block. They are quiet on the inside because all of the engine noise is on the mother unit that it’s paired to. They always have extra fuel lines running from the Road Mate/Road Slug that helps transfer extra Diesel Fuel from the Tank on the Road Mate/Slug to the mother unit. Interesting that come of the ones at CSX where EMD GP30s! They got rid of a lot of them too. Another railroad that regularly uses slugs is the Shortline Sandersville Railroad Company in Central Georgia that has two GE Slugs that they call Boosters. SAN 91 is a former Southern Railway Slug sold to them by Norfolk Southern in 1995 and SAN 90 was a former GE U25B cut down into a Slug that they bought from Rock Island back in the 80s. It’s the only one like it that I’ve ever seen too. Awesome video! 🚂

[@v12productions]

Thanks! I believe the REDI Center is currently open.

[@trainfan4014]

Amazing video today v12 love the slugs and the manned dpu cool thanks again!

[@v12productions]

Thanks!

[@pruittiii]

Great footage, Charlie.

[@v12productions]

Thanks Bill!

[@sharkey086]

NS still uses helpers through Horse Shoe Curve.

[@BSPIVEY100]

The drone really makes the videos more interesting. Nice use of the technology.

[@wideslammer]

Another interesting video with a variety of topics included.

[@v12productions]

Thanks!

[@awr1050]

Awesome video as always! Great shots and great explanations! Keep up the great work!

[@v12productions]

Thanks!

[@andreabennett]

Another terrific video! Thank you.

[@Thekaiser2023]

Id love to see a video discussing the rule and regs of Drones on or around trains.

[@milesoftrains]

Yeah, I've been considering getting a drone and I'm wondering what the rules are for that.

[@aaronl_trains_and_planes]

I've used my drone to get some shots of the A&M. They've never had an issue with me using it. I think it might be more of the location that could restrict you, like airports or gov't buildings and bases.

[@SD40Fan_Jason]

Rule 1. Don't operate your drone from railroad property. (Flying on or over RR Property is okay, but don't park, stand or sit there) Rule 2. Don't fly your drone directly into the path of an oncoming train Rule 3. Obey FAA regulations regarding UAVs and be mindful of overhead power lines. Rule 4. Be courteous. By the way, these are pretty much common sense rules, but do these and you'll never have a problem.

[@aaronl_trains_and_planes]

@@SD40Fan_Jason Common sense. But, a lot of humans have none.

[@SD40Fan_Jason]

@@aaronl_trains_and_planes while you're not wrong, I still assume there's an abundance left among the railfanning community.

[@rustyshackelford7042]

I like your pickup. Looks like a clean old classic style gm pickup.

[@v12productions]

Thanks! I do my best to keep it in good condition.

[@MrPeteUK]

Another great video. Thank you from the 🇬🇧!

[@brandonreeves5979]

Great video. Love the commentary!

[@v12productions]

Thanks!

[@brandonreeves5979]

@@v12productions you’re welcome

[@crsrdash-840b5]

It be a treat if you did a story about those specialized switches: like wyes, curve, sharp #4, 3-way, double slip and 4-way. These unique style of switches are getting harder to find and harder to be used on any main, sub, or branch lines.

[@paulkoza8652]

Another class A video.

[@v12productions]

Thanks!

[@DairyNS]

Awesome

[@RFMCabooseNP1713]

Great video.

[@v12productions]

Thanks!

[@stretchlimo7275]

Great video my man, I always learn something new watching your stuff. I gotta say your vids are always well put together and professional. Great work👍🏼😎🇺🇸

[@v12productions]

I appreciate that!

[@TheQuebecRailfan]

7:15, i have some of these with patched QGRY for quebec gatineau railway, ex-bnsf SD70MAC, it was pretty cool to see and i got a lot of that shot in the sunset

[@davidpoor8638]

Awesome video!!!

[@v12productions]

Thanks!

[@RandomRailfan828]

Great video man, got some nice catches! And what a coincidence with 8863!

[@rickdee67]

Excellent video

[@v12productions]

Thank you very much!

[@frankgrabasse4642]

That caboose behind the sd40 is an old nyc n7 or n7a

[@ShawnCalay]

Im pretty sure that is a SD40-2

[@SD45-ET44AC]

Great video as always! Not leading but next 2 back were CN, so all in all a good catch. 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

[@nancy8521]

Like the caboose miss them on the trains wish they would Bring them back

[@davidstewart5694]

That caboose is a x cr, former NYC design there were roughly 6 classes of those mostly looking about the same

[@RailPreserver2K]

Think you'll be around the abbeville sub, bogart and hull are of particular signifigance to me because they were where i watched trains when i was little :)

[@jwrailve3615]

Saw a cow calf slug UP Consist switching one of the main yards in Houston a couple months black, not something I’ve seen too often. Nice video as always tho!

[@jacobdubielak]

I have seen a cabless slug too but on Norfolk southern railroad in Irondale AL

[@Manwholikestrains]

Because of the merger between the cp and kcs the cp is the only North American railway to my knowledge that has trackage in 3 separate countries

[@punchfisttop]

I LOVE SLUGS!!!

[@jjrailfan2024]

I railfan along the helper line you mentioned and yes helpers are not that rare you cannot go a day without seeing helpers up here

[@FrogandFlangeVideo]

Really informative and entertaining. James.

[@roberttaylor6600]

Love your videos rail on my friend keep them coming.

[@truckinpoppop6777]

Great work! I always learn something.

[@v12productions]

Thanks!

[@stockbridgerf]

v12 i saw you . and u gave me the little wave 😞 when u was setting up in front of the rail side apartments.

[@v12productions]

Cool!

[@matthewmatheny2412]

Awesome video! Any time you plan on traveling again, could you make a video on the railroads of Birmingham, AL or Meridian, MS?

[@v12productions]

Thanks! I'd like to go back to Birmingham at some point.

[@ConvoyCowboy]

Nice

[@JohnSmith-zi9or]

On a business trip in Atlanta, watching a rail fan video about trains in Atlanta. Lol

[@RailFanRob]

Great footage man 👍👍🚦

[@kittty2005]

I'm 70,and back in my day they were called cow and calf, kind of fits the calf was always feeding.

[@jasonervoes1326]

Great video. Did they move that stuck train?

[@RailfanBrenden.]

7:15 Nice EX BNSF WFRX

[@amylocke1364]

Do another video in griffin GA cause that’s were I live. By the way nice catches in tillerd yard and Inman yard

[@bnsfgevoproductions]

Sheesh! 🚂🚃🚃

[@brandongaines1731]

I'm fairly certain that that CSX Bay-Window caboose that you caught on the welded rail train must be an old Penn Central caboose. If you look again at the photo that you showed at the end with the Penn Central units, then you'll see that the bay windows on the PC caboose just behind the locos are the same style as the ones on that CSX caboose.

[@JohnReall]

I do believe it was New York Central before it was Penn Central.

[@SD40Fan_Jason]

I wish I had the opportunity to meet you while I was still in Atlanta. I worked at the yard off Cascade Rd. for about 7 years. Was also in Columbus / Ft Benning for a little over a year. Would love to have given you the nickel tour of those places.

[@CowpoteAdventures]

Very nice

[@KnoxvilleRailfanProductions]

Thats probably the only video of one of those macs leading

[@sixone7478]

2'53" that gondola loaded up with scrap metal looks like it will break apart pretty soon...

[@AtlantaNorthDistrict_Railfan]

Nice video!

[@natehill8069]

Oh heck, I never thought about the fact that you can have 1 little remote control engine control a whole stack of standard MUs.

[@markhagerty259]

When you say Atlanta. Do you mean Atlanta Georiga?

[@v12productions]

Yep!

[@caedenpierce275]

Interested in purchasing a handheld radio for trainspotting. What do you recommend for a newbie? Great video!

[@SD40Fan_Jason]

For a newbie, get the Baofeng UV-5R for $30. Remember that it's a transmitter and receiver though and transmitting is prohibited without a license. Want to step up your game a little bit? get the Wouxun KG-UV9D which has a much better filter on VHF and will knock out a lot of the intermod coming from urban areas. But the real key to any Radio listening (SWL) is to have a decent antenna. Get a Diamond RH77CA and the adapter to connect it to your handheld. Get away from the cheap rubber ducky antennas that come with the handies. Or if you can get a mag-mount antenna for your car, even better. But you'll be tethered to the wire on that antenna.

[@revharrycwigmoreiii5787]

V12, I appreciate your videos, they are very informative, especially around Atlanta. Do you ever get up here in North Carolina on the CSX main line? I live in Smithfield, the CSX main line is about 1/2 miles from my house. There are about 30 trains per day, but on weekends about 35 to 40. Mixed manifest, and a bundle of Amtrak. Might be of interest for some of your filming. Thanks again V12 Productions.

[@v12productions]

Thanks! That's a great suggestion! I'll have to get up there sometime.

[@revharrycwigmoreiii5787]

@@v12productions Great, Be blessed.

[@gloria6229]

​@@v12productionsI saw WFRX #8909 in Gallitzin on the night of June 21st, 2023 and WFRX #8966 in Bluefield, West Virginia on September 2nd, 2023!

[@planebois]

What yard does B637 come out of? Schiller Park? Glenn Yard?

[@Seaboardsystem-t7e]

Do you know what year the hump was closed at Inman?

[@jasonervoes1326]

Did they move that other freight train blockibg the railroad crossing?

[@southerncsxvlog]

What if V12 Productions and Delay In Block Meet Each Other Again? Or The First Time? The video will blow up if that happened! Also Nice Video V12!

[@brandonharris7516]

Oh

[@waldemarogandotrens.8063]

Vídeos espetaculares demais imagens aéreas um visual fantástico, parabéns pelo excelente registro 👏💯

[@mijicalmagiemance8014]

Great vid can we get more vids

[@v12productions]

Thanks! More are on the way!

[@gloria6229]

@@v12productions Guess what, I'm going to Gallitzin!

[@Uintedairlines]

Atl is a major railfaning

[@titanyawilliams2887]

I like trains

[@amylocke1364]

Could you please recommend a good scanner I could purchase for my son to be able to listen to trains? We live right outside of Atl also & he is as obsessed with trains as I imagine you probably were at his age, 7 years old. He watches ALL of your videos & knows more about trains than any one I have ever met in my entire life. You are famous in his eyes & he not only looks up to you but he learns & retains every single thing you say. It would mean the absolute world to him to be able to meet you or come watch you shoot a video or train track sometime. If there’s a way we could get in touch with you privately please me know. Thank you, from a mom of a train obsessed little boy that literally eats, sleeps & breathes trains, along with your videos.

[@SD40Fan_Jason]

For a newbie, get the Baofeng UV-5R for $30. Remember that it's a transmitter and receiver though and transmitting is prohibited without a license. Want to step up your game a little bit? get the Wouxun KG-UV9D which has a much better filter on VHF and will knock out a lot of the intermod coming from urban areas. But the real key to any Radio listening (SWL) is to have a decent antenna. Get a Diamond RH77CA and the adapter to connect it to your handheld. Get away from the cheap rubber ducky antennas that come with the handies. Or if you can get a mag-mount antenna for your car, even better. But you'll be tethered to the wire on that antenna.

[@SantaFe19484]

Nice video! Is it legal to fly drone over a rail yard?

[@FFred-us9tw]

Over a yard? Yes. Over a train? No. It’s in the FAA drone regs.

[@rachelandwade3607]

I saw an SD70ACC

[@RailsofForney]

Doesn’t it seem more convenient to have the helpers at the rear? You can just pull them out and have access to the rest of the train in a yard if needed instead of cutting it all up.

[@NorthBay43]

Why Does NS has forgein power

[@teacher555555]

i want to know how trains can be any more efficient. they already have a contact point from wheel to rail the size of a US dime so they only need to refuel once a month or every couple of months.

[@SD40Fan_Jason]

That's a bit of an exaggeration on the refueling, though I wish you were right... A new GE has a 4,000 gallon fuel cell and is usually filled to 3,200 gallons (80% capacity) When I would make a run of about 180-240 miles, we found it consumed 180-250 gallons on those trips. Now it was unusual to have just one locomotive, but typically the train was built with enough engines in the consist to get from point A to point B without any struggle. But even in the most conservative statistics, we are refueling our engines about once a week, or more. Now, in the switch yard, that was different. But the pair of GP38s I had were 3400 gallon cells and also fueled up to 80% cap. If we switched for 8 hours straight, just going back and forth, not going more than 10 mph and doing a lot of sitting and pumping air, we usually burned about 100 gallons per engine per 8 hour shift. This meant every 7-8 days we were also refueling. The only other factor to consider is just with hills, it's much harder to pull than on flat straight track.

[@teacher555555]

​@@SD40Fan_Jasonthis is just my biased opinion as I have never been inside of a locomotive cab but I don't think any rail company is going to use a GE ES44C4 as a sort of short-haul locomotive with what you were saying in when you did ther 180-240 mile trips. i can see a SD40, a couple of them or something of similar size but I am guessing this because I am guessing your trips required a lot of stopping, starting and shuffling cars around for local deliveries and pickups so of course you would burn a lot more fuel but a locomotive going from the port of LA to Chicago is not going to make as many stops so it will not as burn as much fuel as you were. you were also running those locomotives 24 hours a day so of course you would have to refuel more often. your 100 gallons a shift times 3 shifts is 300 gallons per day, 7 days a week is 2100 gallons a week so you could go 11 days without refueling if actually filled but since you said 80% so they put in 2700 gallons so you had to fuel on Sunday and then refuel again 1 week later to keep their maintenance schedule on track or they would have to have towed a couple of engines that ran out of fuel which would have caused twice as many issues because now 3-4 engines would be out of service for a short time. with you saying gp38s, and looking at images, most are Canadian national/pacific so am guessing you are there which means it gets cold in the winter so your bosses probably keep the engines running by working or by just having them idle

[@SD40Fan_Jason]

@@teacher555555Most of the runs I did ran the entire length of the Atlantic Coast. However I was only on the first or last stretch for that train. Crews are only good for 12 hours at a time and then we crew change. GP38s and GP40s are all over the rail network from Canada to Mexico and all in between. For CSX they are ideal yard switchers and short run engines. In fact they usually mother them to slugs in many cases.

[@teacher555555]

@@SD40Fan_Jason so basically you dont know how long these locomotives run before needing to be refueled, just the ones you have used on the switching at years which causes more fuel to burn? as someone who worked on the rail, you should know how efficient trains are because of the steel wheels and steel rails contact point being that of a dime. its just that you would need to stop and start for deliveries and pickup outside of the yard. but an 8 hour day for going 180-240 miles? you were crawling, basically 30-40mph

[@SD40Fan_Jason]

@teacher555555 I can't tell if you're looking for an argument or if you are just not listening to what I am saying. On road trains, I'd cover a stretch of track that would range from one end of a subdivision to the other and I would swap with a crew at both ends. Sometimes if the train reached its terminus, it wouldn't be crewed, just disassembled. But yes 35z40mph sounds about right for the average speed in an 8 hour shift. Max track speed was 60 mph and we would do our best to keep it there. Invariably there were slow orders, sidings taken for a higher priority train, and other issues that caused us delays. Some days we'd finish early and take an early quit too. But in every case we had to record our fuel readings at the beginning and end of each shift. And if we took on or cut out any locomotives in the process we recorded their fuel readings as well. A formidable engineer will be able to tell if a locomotive is malfunctioning based on fuel consumption metrics.

[@ourv9603]

My Grandad was a steam mechanic for the Pennsylvania RR at their Indianapolis yard. When he was 45 or 50 they switched out all the steam locos & brought in diesels. I dont know if Grandad quit or was let go but at any rate he left the trade & started his own business doing steam repair. Many homes & businesses back in those days used steam heat. My Dad too worked for the Pennsylvania as a machinist. Me? No, I never worked for any RR but I did steam boilers aboard an aircraft carrier during Viet Nam. !

[@michaelhband]

👍👍👍❤❤❤🚂🚂🚂

[@MiguelNavarreteCruz]

Trains de vagones

[@なかむり-f3h]

🌁

[@beeble2003]

There's no need to capitalize "slug" -- it's just an ordinary word, not an acronym.

[@NSCSXRailfan457]

First! And nice

[@HarrisburgRailfanProductions]

Nice

[@なかむり-f3h]

🌁