Canadian National Chicago Subdivision coaling tower in Gilman, Illinois on January 16, 2021.
Tag: Illinois
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UP 6502 GE AC44CW
Union Pacific UP 6502 GE AC44CW leads a northbound Manifest Train on the Chester subdivision through Gorham, Illinois on January 2, 2021.
The Chester Sub is Union Pacific’s water level route through southern Illinois. This is the former Missouri Pacific line between Chester and Thebes, Illinois.
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UP 7873 GE AC45CCTE
Union Pacific UP 7873 GE AC45CCTE leads a northbound Manifest Train through Gorham, Illinois on January 2, 2021.
AC45CCTE is the name often used by Union Pacific GEVO units, mainly because of the fact that they have slightly more tractive effort due to management software.
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CN 2865 GE ES44AC
Canadian National CN 2865 GE ES44AC DPU power to an empty CN coal train is northbound as it passes a loaded BNSF grain train under the old Illinois Central coaling tower in Reevesville, Illinois on January 2, 2021.
Distributed power (DP) (unit U) is a generic term referring to the physical distribution—at intermediate points throughout the length of a train—of separate motive power groups. Such ‘groups’ may be single units or multiple consists and are remotely controlled from the leading locomotive. The practice allows locomotives to be placed anywhere within the length of a train when standard multiple-unit (MU) operation is impossible or impractical. DP can be achieved by wireless (RF connectivity) or wired (trainlined) means. Wired systems now provided by various suppliers use the cabling already extant throughout an ECP train.
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BNSF 7859 GE ES44DC
Burlington Northern Santa Fe BNSF 7859 GE ES44DC leading a grain train on the CN Centralia subdivision passing under the old Illinois Central coaling tower in Reevesville, Illinois on January 2, 2021.
Coaling towers were constructed of wood, steel-reinforced concrete, or steel. In almost all cases coaling stations used a gravity-fed method, with one or more large storage bunkers for the coal elevated on columns above the railroad tracks, from which the coal could be released to slide down a chute into the waiting steam locomotive’s coal storage area. The method of lifting the bulk coal into the storage bin varied. The coal usually was dropped from a hopper car into a pit below tracks adjacent to the tower. From the pit a conveyor-type system used a chain of motor-driven buckets to raise the coal to the top of the tower where it would be dumped into the storage bin; a skip-hoist system lifted a single large bin for the same purpose. Some facilities lifted entire railway coal trucks or wagons. Sanding pipes were often mounted on coaling towers to allow simultaneous replenishment of a locomotive’s sandbox.
As railroads transitioned from the use of steam locomotives to the use of diesel locomotives in the 1950s the need for coaling towers ended. Many reinforced concrete towers remain in place if they do not interfere with operations due to the high cost of demolition incurred with these massive structures. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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NREX 2010 NRE 2GS14B
National Railway Equipment NREX 2010 NRE 2GS14B demonstrator crossing over 950 Avenue as it is used by the Marathon Robinson Refinery switching cars in the plant in Robinson, Illinois on December 5, 2020.
The NRE 2GS14B is a low-emissions diesel switcher locomotive built by National Railway Equipment. It is powered by two Cummins QSK19C I6 engines with each one developing 700 horsepower (522 kW) and creating a total power output of 1,400 horsepower (1,040 kW). At least 7 2GS14B Genset locomotives have been produced to date, with the majority of these units being manufactured at NREC’s Mount Vernon shops in Southern Illinois. From Wikipedia
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NS 4004 GE AC44C6M
Norfolk Southern NS 4004 GE AC44C6M The Black Sonic Bonnet was rebuilt at Roanoke, VA here it is leading NS 224 westbound through an S curve in Albion, Illinois on December 12, 2020
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NS 9650 GE C44-9W
Norfolk Southern NS 9650 GE C44-9W Leading a mixed freight passing TRRA SH tower the tower is long gone but the name lives on as a yard crew puts together a BNSF train at the TRRA Madison yard in Venice, Illinois on November 7, 2020.
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Canadian National, IC 1007 EMD SD70
Canadian National, IC 1007 EMD SD70 leading A408 mix freight in the siding as the track looks like a roller coaster in Edgewood, Illinois on December 5, 2020.
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NS 9546 GE C40-9W
Norfolk Southern, NS 9546 GE C40-9W leading a mixed freight train with DOD flat cars loaded with tanks passing Lenox tower in Granite City, Illinois on November 7, 2020.