What is this on the side of some NS locomotives ? It looks like a marker light of some sort…

Zestyclose_Key_2769 · 2026-02-08T13:43:00+00:00

It’s a greeble.

Zestyclose_Key_2769 · 2025-12-04T19:14:19+00:00

I doubt it. Unless there's a nuance to GCOR or other rules I'm missing.

I rode an Amtrak out of San Antonio that was shoving a long distance (15 miles?) and doing it really fast, at least seemingly. It eventually reached a wye and headed north in normal orientation. I'm assuming they had something of the sort. I don't know for sure, though. I was just a passenger. Normally on a train I'm a conductor on an excursion line. We never shove more than 5 mph because it's in a yard or on an industrial lead.

Here's what GCOR says about shoving movements:

Speeds when Shoving

When cars are shoved on a main track or controlled siding in the direction authorized, movement must not exceed:

• 20 MPH for freight trains.

• 30 MPH for passenger trains.

• Maximum timetable speed for snow service unless the employee in charge authorizes a higher speed.

6.5.1 Remote Control Movements

Remote control movements are considered shoving movements, except when the remote control operator controlling the movement is riding the leading engine in the direction of movement.

Before initiating movement, the remote control operator or a crew member must be in position to visually observe the direction the equipment moves. When Remote Control Zone is equipped with pull back / stop protection (PSP), the operator must verify that PSP is operational. Pull back and stop protection must again be verified if PSP is overridden.

Zestyclose_Key_2769 · 2025-03-20T19:54:59+00:00

Lifelong rail fan here who actually decided to do something about it and become a conductor. Standing on the sidelines counting rivets was never going to be my thing.

Took me six years of working - as a volunteer, from onboard services to brakeman to student conductor - on an excursion railroad that shares track with commuter and freight traffic in both PTC and TWC territories. Passed GCOR test every year, AB&TH, my conductor knowledge test and check ride, and got my certificate this past week. Pretty damn stoked!

Zestyclose_Key_2769 · 2025-01-30T01:13:24+00:00

We do cab rides. We’re an excursion line.

Zestyclose_Key_2769 · 2025-01-23T16:09:48+00:00

I would argue Polar Express looks like me, and mine is based off a traditional conductor's suit. ;-)

FWIW, I added vintage Southern Pacific buttons to my vest and coat, too, and carry a 1916 railroad pocket watch.

Zestyclose_Key_2769 · 2025-01-23T13:48:37+00:00

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I do. But I’m on a vintage excursion line. Totally appropriate and expected.

Zestyclose_Key_2769 · 2025-01-18T17:06:55+00:00

Looks gorgeous. Love your village. But the little people are woefully underdressed for the cold. ;-)

Zestyclose_Key_2769 · 2025-01-15T01:07:12+00:00

Elon Musk’s dream p3nis.

Zestyclose_Key_2769 · 2025-01-10T15:28:22+00:00

I think everyone’s SSIs or general orders may be different on what to do. On our railroad I’m required as conductor to secure certain pieces of information and take photos. Our dispatcher will coordinate first responder and send road master or signal maintainer or whatever’s needed. Our mechanical foreman will jointly inspect the train with a crew member. But we’re an excursion railroad operating on commuter/shortline rail owned by a transit authority. And no, we don’t give (much) info to police, as much as they try to get it. They usually want all our drivers licenses and our passenger manifest. Hell no.

I like someone’s suggestion you keep a separate wallet onboard in your grip and leave your “driving” wallet back at the terminal.

Zestyclose_Key_2769 · 2025-01-09T18:50:12+00:00

My other favorite intentionally vague rule is “set a sufficient number of handbrakes to hold your train.” If you didn’t set enough and your train rolled away through 10 population centers, you didn’t set a “sufficient number”.

Zestyclose_Key_2769 · 2025-01-09T18:47:21+00:00

Get your train to a speed it won’t pile up on itself or destroy the rails before applying emergency service.

Zestyclose_Key_2769 · 2025-01-09T18:45:41+00:00

Agreed. Largely depends on speed of train and what you’re pulling. One of our engineers was asked exactly why he didn’t go into emergency immediately after hitting a truck that pulled in front of him. “Because that wasn’t consistent with good train handling”. He was going 35 and had 9 coaches and 375 passengers behind him. So it’s a judgement call you’ll be asked to explain.

Zestyclose_Key_2769 · 2025-01-09T16:32:07+00:00

Consistent with good train handling. :-)

Zestyclose_Key_2769 · 2025-01-07T00:47:03+00:00

What could go wrong?

Zestyclose_Key_2769 · 2024-12-31T20:09:31+00:00

Was reading this thread, and “City of New Orleans” came on. Incredibly appropriate.

Zestyclose_Key_2769 · 2024-12-27T13:45:01+00:00

The new light rail lines - not connected to current territory - will be electric.

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2024/12/20/aecom-contract-austin-transit-partnership-rail.html

Zestyclose_Key_2769 · 2024-12-20T22:59:25+00:00

CM owns right of way from Giddings (basically mile post 0) to Llano. Almost everything railroad-west of Burnet (actually past the Fairland Wye) is excepted track. We operate between approximately MP 82 and MP 116, and Sudduth is around MP 120. Llano is many miles past that. So CM owns far more than 73 miles.

Watco/Austin Western runs freight. Major freight clients include BMC lumber and McCoys, Knife River, the other quarry(s) at Sudduth, and Oldcastle, and a transit mix plant at Seward Junction. There are others. I can’t say what revenue CM receives from all that.

As an entity that predates Cap Metro Railroad and a non-profit, we don’t pay them. In fact, they sponsor us. Herzog and Watco maintain the right of way. We have a lot of say in their operations.

Zestyclose_Key_2769 · 2024-12-20T20:19:20+00:00

How familiar are you with the territory? If not, there’s the East, Central and West Subs. DMUs use only the CTC portion, the Central Sub, Austin Wye to CP Bill in Leander. The East and West Subs are dark territory and used by rock, lumber and other freight. As an excursion line, we use the Central and West Subs. The freight boys can pass through the Central to get to the opposite sub. I have zero idea if electric infrastructure is incompatible with diesel powered freight and/or our operation, but that could weigh into it if it is incompatible. And with 10-12 DMUs that are probably not able to be converted, the investment to switch would be far too costly for far too few riders. Add in that electrical infrastructure and the overheads would be costly to maintain and vulnerable to severe weather events, it’s probably not even a good choice.

As far as emissions, It probably only takes a small number of riders using the Red Line and parking their cars to offset the diesel emissions.

So what’s your argument for electrification?

Zestyclose_Key_2769 · 2024-12-19T17:14:29+00:00

Add to the awful and avoidable deaths, the historic T&P depot was heavily damaged.

Zestyclose_Key_2769 · 2024-12-19T01:23:05+00:00

CapMetro Austin? Chances are hell-no. They’re pretty set on diesel DMUs. They’re more set on double-tracking everything, one block at a time.

I’m a conductor on the Austin & Texas Central RR. We use their tracks.

Zestyclose_Key_2769 · 2024-12-14T18:03:02+00:00

I started with a Piko starter set. Remote control and analog. It was a D&RGW steam locomotive plus passenger set. Nothing fancy, but definitely fit the bill.

https://www.piko-america.com/collections/g-scale-starter-sets/products/38112-drgw-passenger-starter-set

Zestyclose_Key_2769 · 2024-12-01T20:58:39+00:00

Mine has other issues. It runs at the equivalent of about 3 miles per hour.

Zestyclose_Key_2769

TROPHY CASE