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Determining Power for a consist.

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EMDSwitcher

Post subject: Determining Power for a consist.

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 1:23 pm

Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2006 1:08 am
Posts: 74
Location: Apple Valley

How do the railroads figure the amount of power for a trip. Is it based on tonnage? This is the only transport industry I can think of that has multiple choices for power.

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MilwaukeeroadMatt

Post subject:

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 2:15 pm

Joined: Tue Nov 15, 2005 7:57 pm
Posts: 1904
Location: Minneapolis MN

Tonnage plays a big part but, but not in the way you would think. The heavier a train is the more braking power it will need to stop. Two C44-9W' could move say a 7500 ft, 8900 pound train with no problem but there stoping braking effort depending on grade, speed and other factors my mean the need for additional units in the consist to cover the braking needs.

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Milwaukee Road Matt

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EMDSwitcher

Post subject:

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 5:43 pm

Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2006 1:08 am
Posts: 74
Location: Apple Valley

Do they add extra engines to generate more air pressure for the brake cylinders? Its seems adding engines would greatly increase the weight of the consist.

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ottergoose

Post subject:

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 6:09 pm

Joined: Wed Oct 25, 2006 2:38 pm
Posts: 173
Location: Hudson, WI

Remember (or find out now), that the air brakes on a train turn on (e.g. start slowing down) when the air pressure goes out - that way they're fail safe. If, for example, a coupler broke in the middle of a train, the section that broke away would stop by itself, as the air pressure would go away. In other words, air goes out, brakes go on.

Any extra locomotives added to assist with braking would be for the dynamic braking, not air pressure.

I'm pretty sure that's correct... feel free to correct me

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MilwaukeeroadMatt

Post subject:

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 7:56 pm

Joined: Tue Nov 15, 2005 7:57 pm
Posts: 1904
Location: Minneapolis MN

Could not have said it better.

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Milwaukee Road Matt

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brahamfireman

Post subject:

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 8:31 pm

Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2005 10:18 pm
Posts: 1243
Location: Formerly M.P. 97 on The BNSF Hinckley sub.

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EMDSwitcher

Post subject:

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 9:25 pm

Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2006 1:08 am
Posts: 74
Location: Apple Valley

_________________
I was gratified to be able to answer promptly. I said I don't know.

-Mark Twain-

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brahamfireman

Post subject:

Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 9:43 pm

Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2005 10:18 pm
Posts: 1243
Location: Formerly M.P. 97 on The BNSF Hinckley sub.

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A BNSF fan by default.

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EMDSwitcher

Post subject:

Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 1:32 am

Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2006 1:08 am
Posts: 74
Location: Apple Valley

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I was gratified to be able to answer promptly. I said I don't know.

-Mark Twain-

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