Long trains rollin'

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

August 4, 2006

So, Harry, who set the tonnage ratings to begin with? 
Was the methodology used strictly engineering-derived,
or did it follow the operating department's approach:
add-cars-until-the-traction-motors-smoke-or-a-knuckle-busts?
 I recall a 1960s Railway Age that proclaimed how the
N&W had operated an unbelievably long train --perhaps
3-1/2 miles?  Does anyone else recall that event?

Good afternoon,

Frank Scheer
f_scheer at yahoo.com


About 15 years ago, the Vice President-Mechanical had
to complete a study on how the department's assets
were used.  He elected to show the horsepower per ton
assigned to 1- TOFC trains 2- Merchandise
trains 3- Hopper trains,  4- locals, and 5- coal
trains.  In developing this statistic, it became
apparent that Bluefield and Roanoke were regularly
dispatching coal trains as much as 1800 tons over the
tonnage rating.  Bear in mind that both Bluefield and
Roanoke knew the tonnage being dispatched, but
apparently ignored the instructions in the timetable. 
It was brought to the attention of the Operating 
Dept.  Within a year, the Operating Department
arbitrarily raised the tonnage ratings by 10%.  
                                                     
Harry Bundy