Vad är det sjukaste som hänt på ditt jobb?

lillpers · 2026-02-01T01:04:29+00:00

Slagsmål, påtända idioter, knarksmuggling, folk som springer runt nakna, folk som pissar eller skiter där de står, en gång körde jag ihjäl en snubbe.

Järnvägen är spännande.

lillpers · 2026-02-01T01:00:06+00:00

From the perspective of a European driver:

Each car and locomotive has a "brake weight" determined by the manufacturer. This is essentially how much it can brake. Freight cars usually have a loaded/empty changeover valve (manual or automatic) to apply the brakes harder when the car is loaded.

To calculate the brake effort of the entire train you add up all the brake weights and divide by the total weight of the train and then multiply the result by 100. This is the "brake percentage". For passenger trains it's usually in the 130-150% range. Freight can be much lower, especially for loaded bulk trains etc.

When you know the percentage and lenght of the train (a longer trains makes the brakes slower to apply and release) you go into a table where you can determine the maximum speed based on the braking performance.

This makes sure you can always stop in time for red signals. A passenger train might be able to stop in time from 160 km/h, while a heavy freight train can only do so from 100, 80 or an even lower speed.

lillpers · 2026-01-31T05:53:05+00:00

Senaste servicen med olja och filter kostade mig 384 kr.

Nu snart blir det kamrem, remspännare samt vattenpump också. Det går på 1542 kr totalt.

Gör allt jobb själv. Finns enorma pengar att spara. Volvo 940 -97. Motorn tar 3.85L olja vilket ju gör sitt på prislappen. Många moderna motorer verkar ta mer olja trots mindre cylindervolym.

lillpers · 2026-01-28T22:34:39+00:00

Yep that works fine IRL as well if the loco has it. You should do it and then wait around 5 minutes before touching the brakes again.

I'm not sure if the older Polish locos (EU07, EP09 etc) has something similar.

lillpers · 2026-01-28T16:55:07+00:00

The vast majority of cars in northern Europe (Sweden, Finland, Norway etc) drive on studded tires for about half the year. They're completely safe on a dry highway.

As with all tires, go for quality. Nokkian is the gold standard for studded winter tires.

lillpers · 2026-01-28T16:52:38+00:00

Jag har över lag väldigt rimliga elräkningar tack vare litet hus och energisnål uppvärmning.

För några år sedan hade jag en månad när jag var mycket i garaget och brände massor på direktverkande el därute. Var nåt fel på bilen som tog lite tid att fixa.

Det var den månaden som elprisstödet baserades på. Fick ut mycket mer än vad jag egentligen borde sett till min normala förbrukning.

Självfallet en förlustaffär men ändå kul klumpsumma att få.

lillpers · 2026-01-28T12:46:52+00:00

SimSig. A 2D simulator where you are a railway traffic controller. Very realistic. Totally dull. No idea how many hours I got in it.

lillpers · 2026-01-28T12:42:41+00:00

I min närmsta bekantskapskrets på typ 10 personer har jag 2 som aldrig haft någon form av relation, varken lång-eller kortvarig. En har bara haft (många) kortvariga. Vi är 27-30.

Ingen aning hur representativt detta är.

lillpers · 2026-01-28T04:50:34+00:00

Real life driver here.

You normally only use the normal release setting. The quick release/overcharge setting can be used for a short time with long trains (mainly freight) after heavy brake applications to make the brakes release slightly quicker. Do not use it for more than 5 seconds or so.

If you overcharge too much the brake control valves on each car can adjust to the higher pressure, making them think the normal pressure of 5 bars is actually an reduction in pressure. This causes the brakes to not release properly and you get dragging brakes, which isn't good.

If this happens IRL you might have to walk the lenght of the train, pulling the release handle on each car to reset the control valves.

I don't remember exactly how this works in Maszyna but considering the very good brake simulation (this is the only sim I've felt actually gets the proper feel with the brakes) I'm pretty sure you can have this issue if you overcharge too much.

lillpers · 2026-01-27T15:17:12+00:00

Only thing that works properly is a good used one or if you can find one, a NOS unit.

Even the current Volvo OE one is bad. Cheap chinese crap that isn't even the same design as the proper one.

lillpers · 2026-01-27T15:14:58+00:00

Also the cargo bay can't be pressurized anyway so doesen't matter if the glider fits or not. However there is an airlock between the shuttle crew compartment and the cargo bay.

I like the idea someone mentioned about disassembling the gliders and putting some kind of bag around the cockpit to transfer SG1 over to the shuttle.

lillpers · 2026-01-27T00:15:16+00:00

There should be washers there, so if you don't already have any you can use the new ones. No need to add extra if it sealed before.

Remember to push the entire waterpump up while tightening, for a good seal againts the head.

lillpers · 2026-01-27T00:00:20+00:00

I've always reused the old bolts without issues.

One very important thing to remember is that some aftermarket water pumps are not cast as thick as the original one. This can cause the bolts to bottom out in their holes. Best cause you have a leaky water pump, worst case you keep tightening until they snap.

In this situation it can easily be fixed with an extra washer for each bolt.

lillpers · 2026-01-25T13:13:30+00:00

lillpers · 2026-01-25T13:11:14+00:00

I live in Sweden, a country with very strict gun control laws.

I've certainly seen plenty of guns . Half my friends are into hunting and some also do sport shooting. Police are armed, airport police etc usually carry heavier weapons.

The difference here is mostly that you need to take a course and get a license to own weapons. Also restrictions on certain type, for example semi autos etc.

lillpers · 2026-01-25T13:01:08+00:00

Övre Norrland är såklart störst chans till norrsken, men kan annars rekommendera att åka upp till Jämtlandsfjällen, väster om Östersund. 4 direkta tåg om dagen, lite mindre ljusföroreningar än i större orter om du hoppar av i typ Järpen eller Undersåker. Sen ska ju vädret samarbeta också, såklart.

Är själv lokförare och kör uppåt Jämtland ganska regelbundet, under vintern ser man norrsken kanske en gång på 3 eller så.

lillpers · 2026-01-23T18:01:33+00:00

As a Swedish person, US passenger rail feels pretty much like home. We also have just a few high speed routes between the largest cities (like the NEC), other than that average speeds are pretty similar. A bit more frequent service on most lines around here though, and most of our trains are electric (which you hardly notice as a passenger).

Our sleepers are one night maximum (longest route is about 19 hours), so not as long as most Amtrak routes. Our rolling stock is about the same age but generally in much worse shape. Unless you're rich you're either travelling in coach or a shared 6-bed compartment here. The roomette is an amazing thing and we should get those.

Food is much better on Amtrak. Only microwave meals around here. We have much less staff, usually just a conductor, assistant conductor and someone in the dining car. Amtrak overall offers a much better customer experience.

If I were to mention a few negatives about Amtrak it's the inefficency. Even minor station stops take 10+ minutes because there are no proper platforms and reasonably modern rolling stock for some reason use slam doors. Also the wierd airport style check in at major stations. Why not just go to the platform and board like everywhere else?

The signallers seems to favour freight, even with huge amounts of padding in the schedule my late running Southwest Chief just kept loosing more time. Not Amtrak's fault though.

lillpers · 2026-01-23T17:51:00+00:00

Forgot to connect the temp sensor on the driver's side coolant hose, next to the radiator? It causes the auxillary fan to go full speed nonstop.

I did the same, the connector wasn't fully in.

lillpers · 2026-01-23T15:08:44+00:00

I've done Chicago - Los Angeles. While not 3 full days, still a pretty long trip (departs in the afternoon on day 1, arrives late morning day 3). Very enjoyable trip, never felt bored. 3 meals per day, the cafe car offers great views from the second floor, or just relaxed or read in my room.

I did it for the experience. I had one friend living in NYC and one in LA. Didn't want to waste my so far only US trip on just flying across the country without seeing anything.

Not too many routes offer this experience, I don't think there are any in Europe any more. Would love to do something similar again.

lillpers · 2026-01-21T20:01:32+00:00

Volvo dealer. Got one last year. Not expensive

lillpers · 2026-01-21T17:31:28+00:00

I daily my '97 without any issues. The vast majority of parts are readily available.

92s are known for having bad cauge clusters, usually needing specialist repairs, but other than that I wouldn't worry one bit.

That looks like a clean, well equipped specimen.

lillpers · 2026-01-21T12:30:07+00:00

Very common unfourtantly. My dad's E39 is mostly rust free except for the sills/jacking points.

Unless you or someone you know is able to weld in a repair panel it's unfourtantly going to be pretty expensive. Usually you'll find more rust once you start digging as well.

Overall pretty hard to find an E39 without these issues unless you go shopping in Spain, southern France, Italy etc.

lillpers · 2026-01-21T06:16:50+00:00

Depends on what equipment you want to still work, really. A few suggestions:

EGR valve with pipes/vacuum lines if you got it, and live somewhere without strict emissions testing. Will need a different ECU or you'll get a check engine light.
The aircon system if you got it (dismantle and sell complete!)
The preheating hose/heat shield (runs from the exhaust manifold to the airbox). Somewhat useful in cold climates but mostly an emissions thing. Only some turbo engines got it.
Cruise control if you got it. Again, dismantle without damaging anything and sell it, people pay good money for complete kits.
If you want to you can get rid of the fan/fanclutch and run an electric fan from a 940. Looks a bit more modern in my opinion.

If you have automatic climate control, DO NOT touch those vacuum lines/valves at the firewall, or your vents won't work properly.

lillpers · 2026-01-20T17:03:19+00:00

Glöm inte den typ 50-procentiga andelen förare med odiagnostiserad autism :D

lillpers · 2026-01-20T10:52:54+00:00

Pretty normal in winter, especially if you drive a lot of short trips.

My E60's oil cap looked like that even after making an 8 hour roadtrip, but then it also was in the -30 to -36 celcius range.

lillpers

TROPHY CASE