General Discussion

flashman13

(2,379 posts)

34. Dynamic braking has been used since the coming of the diesel electric locomotives.

Thu Feb 23, 2023, 10:26 PM

Feb 2023

And like everything else, dynamic braking has evolved and gotten better (You should see those resistor grids burn when one of them shorts out). But in an emergency, dynamic brakes are only going to have the most marginal effect on 120 cars of U.S. grain hurtling down the tracks at 60 MPH. Even with the best brakes in the world that train will take 1-1/2 to 2 miles to stop. Any improvement is good, but the problem is far too large for chipping around the edges with a few technical innovations to make any meaningful difference.

Emergency braking is the last defense against disaster. The key is not in applying the brakes, but in minimizing the number of emergencies.

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When it comes to railroad safety, everyone here is missing the forest for the trees. [View all] flashman13 Feb 2023 OP

great post, and thanx onethatcares Feb 2023 #1

Indeed a great post. 3auld6phart Feb 2023 #59

Won't get better until we nationalize the railways. OAITW r.2.0 Feb 2023 #2

I totally agree. Every time I say anything about our need for new, light rail japple Feb 2023 #8

Why not have the U.S. own the rails like it owns the interstate highway system and then tax those LiberalArkie Feb 2023 #13

Privitizing the rails means doing the bare minimum to keep them operable. OAITW r.2.0 Feb 2023 #14

I guess what I meant was the US owning the rails, repair them, bring them up to euro standards LiberalArkie Feb 2023 #18

We are on the same page. OAITW r.2.0 Feb 2023 #19

Nationalization implies that the government also owns the trains, cars and pays the employees MichMan Feb 2023 #38

How do we do air traffic control? OAITW r.2.0 Feb 2023 #39

Ever driven on the roads in Michigan? MichMan Feb 2023 #40

At least nationalize traffic control naitionwide - as air traffic control is. Mopar151 Feb 2023 #60

on ties - Kali Feb 2023 #3

great post and you are right. Southern yellow pine is not the same as oak. Anything to save $. Evolve Dammit Feb 2023 #10

There isn't the lumber to replace those. plimsoll Feb 2023 #23

Yes Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Feb 2023 #32

There are some concrete ties in service. They are generally on freight lines that also carry flashman13 Feb 2023 #35

K&R pandr32 Feb 2023 #4

Hear Hear, Sir The Magistrate Feb 2023 #5

thanks. informative. stopdiggin Feb 2023 #6

why should they change? onethatcares Feb 2023 #7

Thanks for this post - very informative. 2 questions for you: diva77 Feb 2023 #9

I don't want to be a Debbie Downer here but, we no longer have the will to make big projects happen flashman13 Feb 2023 #29

Thanks for your response, flashman. Can't hurt to contact one's congresspeople -- diva77 Feb 2023 #42

This is a really excellent post, flashman13. calimary Feb 2023 #11

Nothing like a good fire to get peoples attention flashman13 Feb 2023 #30

Thank you Wild blueberry Feb 2023 #12

Great info! And I'd like to add how it was a corporation/government...... jaxexpat Feb 2023 #15

You have done well, Grasshopper...... MyOwnPeace Feb 2023 #28

The foxes have always slept with the hens....... jaxexpat Feb 2023 #31

Thank you, flashman. brer cat Feb 2023 #16

Sad, but very informative Pepsidog Feb 2023 #17

Thank you flashman13 .. bsiebs Feb 2023 #20

THANK YOU!!! AverageOldGuy Feb 2023 #21

Excellent post, thanks. 10 years ago a friend who was returning appalachiablue Feb 2023 #22

Freight vs Freight, I'll take U.S. rail over European. nt Gore1FL Feb 2023 #25

When I worked for Union Pacific, we were better than most industries in our utilized technology Gore1FL Feb 2023 #24

can't speak to 'systems' stopdiggin Feb 2023 #54

That wasn't my experience in my 15 years of professional service in the industry. nt Gore1FL Feb 2023 #56

Here are your links Farmer-Rick Feb 2023 #62

I thank you for finding them to support your arguments. nt Gore1FL Feb 2023 #63

I am not sure those are supportive articles though Gore1FL Feb 2023 #64

It kind of depends on exactly what infrastructure and safety you are talking about Farmer-Rick Feb 2023 #67

I am former railroader, you are spot on! Puppyjive Feb 2023 #26

Rentier capitalism? Nasruddin Feb 2023 #27

This message was self-deleted by its author Hiawatha Pete Feb 2023 #33

Dynamic braking has been used since the coming of the diesel electric locomotives. flashman13 Feb 2023 #34

"dynamic braking has evolved and gotten better" Hiawatha Pete Feb 2023 #36

This is how they work Puppyjive Feb 2023 #43

I know, see 2nd last line in my op. Good explanation for others though. n/t Hiawatha Pete Feb 2023 #44

AC Locomotives like the AC4400 which use inverter control have better dynamic braking range Hiawatha Pete Feb 2023 #58

That was very interesting. Liberal In Texas Feb 2023 #37

Your second point is what I was thinking, as well as raising their shipping rate, as well. JudyM Feb 2023 #66

Rail tax of $100,000 per mile traveled would be a start MichMan Feb 2023 #69

Think of all the jobs a federally owned rail system outlet provide. Not to mention flying_wahini Feb 2023 #41

This won't help much in the derailment dept. but, Mr. Evil Feb 2023 #45

Lil ole me thoroughly enjoyed the conversation on this thread. sprinkleeninow Feb 2023 #46

As Bill-O liked to say... czarjak Feb 2023 #47

Pigs won't ride on trains anymore liberal N proud Feb 2023 #48

Great post. Very informative. Thanks. n/t Captain Stern Feb 2023 #49

Excellent post. Thanks for the information. momto3 Feb 2023 #50

Electrification of our railways would take 100 yrs to accomplish oldsoftie Feb 2023 #51

Thank You For This !!! GGoss Feb 2023 #52

So grateful Delphinus Feb 2023 #53

Tort reform also contributes to the RR cutting corners. Dustlawyer Feb 2023 #55

With a better rail system we could reduce oil dependency. twodogsbarking Feb 2023 #57

At least until moving freight by trucks becomes cheaper.... MichMan Feb 2023 #70

Saw this earlier on FB. LiberalFighter Feb 2023 #61

"...big profits from their obsolete systems" Yes. Grins Feb 2023 #65

I think there is a big difference in how we deal with railroads compared to other countries tornado34jh Feb 2023 #68