Any train fans around?
- Thread starter Ar-Pharazon
- Start date
UP 3985 arriving in it's new home.
Is that what they call a "switchback"?
not sure. definitely doesn't look like they have a way to turn around, though.
I wondered too...
It is a means of climbing grades too steep to run straight up. It zig-zags its way up a hill.
just wanted to add, i love those those small trains in really tiny scales like N and Z. I don't have the room, time patience or money to try it myself but I do like seeing what other people manage to do with them.
That really is interesting.
Another process used in cold weather is to light fires to keep switches from freezing. There are actually gas jets under the tracks.
Looks crazy but if there is nothing to burn it would be safe.
One tradition we have, whenever a new child in the family is old enough, they get a cheap kit set up around the Christmas tree to thrash.
One tradition we have, whenever a new child in the family is old enough, they get a cheap kit set up around the Christmas tree to thrash.
Or in the case of what was done in BC in Canada, it corkscrews gradually upwards through tunnels and into the mountains. Although not sure if that's the definition they would use, but AFAIK, the only railway in the world like it. Pretty wild that you can see the train in three different places so clearly.
Don't know if any of you are familiar with the Downielive Youtube channel, but he does a lot of train travel everywhere, and he recently did a series of train travel across Canada. That was one season. The next season he did it across the U.S in different types of trains. Really interesting stuff. I'll post the first episode of each season.
One issue with train travel is accessiblity.
While commuter trains do eventually get upgraded, some long distance services keep the same rollingstock for decades - just refurbish it.
I've used GoTransit in Ontario several times, the train pulls into the station and stops the accessible carriage is next to ramp so users of mobility devices can get an off more easily.
Via Rail is completely different kettle of fish (and has had many complaints about it's accessibility). Starting with the boarding. Person in a wheelchair goes on platform which is then hand cranked to lift them to entry height for the carriage.
Once inside can get worse. Via have over 150 stainless steel carriages that have been in service since the 1970s but were second hand after being built in the late 40s/early 50s and a wheelchair can not get beyond the vestibule and it's the user may have to be physical carried to their seat or the staff can't find the special transfer chair or it's in use elsewhere.
The LRC's are better because a wheelchair that's not overly wide can through to the first row of seats so there's a bit more space for transferring.
Via does have some new rolling stock coming through which will hopefully be an improvement. We'll be traveling in June next year and making use of the Montreal-Windsor corridor which will have the new Siemens Venture trainsets.
While commuter trains do eventually get upgraded, some long distance services keep the same rollingstock for decades - just refurbish it.
I've used GoTransit in Ontario several times, the train pulls into the station and stops the accessible carriage is next to ramp so users of mobility devices can get an off more easily.
Via Rail is completely different kettle of fish (and has had many complaints about it's accessibility). Starting with the boarding. Person in a wheelchair goes on platform which is then hand cranked to lift them to entry height for the carriage.
Once inside can get worse. Via have over 150 stainless steel carriages that have been in service since the 1970s but were second hand after being built in the late 40s/early 50s and a wheelchair can not get beyond the vestibule and it's the user may have to be physical carried to their seat or the staff can't find the special transfer chair or it's in use elsewhere.
The LRC's are better because a wheelchair that's not overly wide can through to the first row of seats so there's a bit more space for transferring.
Via does have some new rolling stock coming through which will hopefully be an improvement. We'll be traveling in June next year and making use of the Montreal-Windsor corridor which will have the new Siemens Venture trainsets.
I live near the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. Great place to visit, or go on a day trip. You've probably seen one of their steam engines used in various movies and shows.
One of the gems though is this old diesel, TAG 80. It's well kept, and they keep the paint scheme of the defunct Tennessee Alabama and Georgia railroad. Once in awhile, like this video, it still does paid freight work, shunting cars around on a spur line. Helps keep the bills paid
One of the gems though is this old diesel, TAG 80. It's well kept, and they keep the paint scheme of the defunct Tennessee Alabama and Georgia railroad. Once in awhile, like this video, it still does paid freight work, shunting cars around on a spur line. Helps keep the bills paid
Fall construction update for the California High Speed Rail line. it will still be another 7 years at best till it can be ridden but at least that's something.
a status on the Florida Brightline construction on Orlando route extension. Brightline should be able to get up to 125mph on this run. Brightline might start construction on the California-Nevada line in a few months, also.
a status on the Florida Brightline construction on Orlando route extension. Brightline should be able to get up to 125mph on this run. Brightline might start construction on the California-Nevada line in a few months, also.
Permanent Way
Here in Scotland in the 80s and 90s in the peeway(Permanent Way),we called that snow duty, and we would be on shift through the night going round all the points to oil them so they would not freeze over, that was a good ovetime shift when you could get it. ha
Here in Scotland in the 80s and 90s in the peeway(Permanent Way),we called that snow duty, and we would be on shift through the night going round all the points to oil them so they would not freeze over, that was a good ovetime shift when you could get it. ha
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