CSX Train Location Updates - November 2021

[Tom49801]

D700-03 @ 18:59 eastward reported by DD mp CG44.2 with 86 axles & 1,258 ft. CSX engines #4016 + #2800 & 19 cars.

[donnieland]

hi tom
check your post on the n800-02 at 91.1 detector.
i don't think the mine rejected the 130 coal cars for loading and are
sending them back mty to the plant
take care
donnie

[Tom49801]

N800-02 @ 19:16:43 eastward Bangor’s Division St crossing mp CG60.93 with BNSF engine #9027 & 130 loaded coal cars & rear BNSF engine #8445. He'll be adding CSX engines #3167 + #3440 behind his leader at Grand Junction mp CG54 & then continue on to the power plant in West Olive, Mi.

[Tom49801]

hi tom
check your post on the n800-02 at 91.1 detector.
i don't think the mine rejected the 130 coal cars for loading and are
sending them back mty to the plant
take care
donnie

Ooops!! Thank you Donnie I didn't fully edit that post LOL.

[Tom49801]

D700-03 @ 19:41 eastward reported by DD mp CG19.1 with 84 axles (-2 error) & 2,473 feet long (+1,200 ft error). CSX engines #4016 + #2800 & 19 cars. There's something intermittingly wrong with this HBD, DD91.9 had reported 1,277 feet & DD44.2 had reported 1,258 feet. It is very rare we hear the DD66.2 reporting (bad terrain for its radio reception). This extreme error for the length had recently happened before with an eastbound D700 & the DD19.1

[Tom49801]

Anything out there on a D705 today ?

At 8:13pm, sounds like I'm hearing D705-03 in Lansing/Ensel. I can't tell if they're close to wrapping things up there to depart, or, are still doing their work there. CSX engine #5419 is being heard & probably also has the CSX #216.

[David Collins]

D700-03 @ 19:41 eastward reported by DD mp CG19.1 with 84 axles (-2 error) & 2,473 feet long (+1,200 ft error). CSX engines #4016 + #2800 & 19 cars. There's something intermittingly wrong with this HBD, DD91.9 had reported 1,277 feet & DD44.2 had reported 1,258 feet. It is very rare we hear the DD66.2 reporting (bad terrain for its radio reception). This extreme error for the length had recently happened before with an eastbound D700 & the DD19.1

Could there be any reason behind that?

[Tom49801]

N800-02 @ 20:36 eastward reported by the DD mp CG44.2 with 544 axles & 7,311 feet long. BNSF engine #9027 + CSX engines #3167 + #3440 & 130 loaded coal cars & rear BNSF engine #8445.

[Tom49801]

D700-03 @ 19:41 eastward reported by DD mp CG19.1 with 84 axles (-2 error) & 2,473 feet long (+1,200 ft error). CSX engines #4016 + #2800 & 19 cars. There's something intermittingly wrong with this HBD, DD91.9 had reported 1,277 feet & DD44.2 had reported 1,258 feet. It is very rare we hear the DD66.2 reporting (bad terrain for its radio reception). This extreme error for the length had recently happened before with an eastbound D700 & the DD19.1

Could there be any reason behind that?

For trouble shooting, I would start with the micro-processor circuit board being changed out (which would also require a calibration test for the infra-red scanners, but, that's standard procedure when p.c. boards are changed out). Transducer interface circuit board would need to be checked, too.

There's also an issue for the DD44.2 the way it logs Amtrak P371 & P370. The morning P371 will be reported with a length of 298 or 299 feet, but when it returns in the evening as P370, it reads the length as being 317 to 319 feet. I would go with a micro-processor board change out for this error, too. The 2 rail mounted magnetic "gating" transducer functions swap based on the direction a train is traveling & there's just something not being interpreted correctly.

[Tom49801]

Amtrak P370-03 @ 21:05 eastward reported by the DD mp CG91.9 with 16 axles & 306 feet long. IDTX engine #4619 & 3 SuperLiners.

N800-02 @ 21:15 eastward Holland Depot mp CG25.3 with BNSF engine #9027 + CSX engines #3167 + #3440 & 130 loaded coal cars & rear BNSF engine #8445.

[Plannerdad]

Y297? was switching Ann Street vicinity around 6:30p. GRE had a long line of empty hoppers probably heading south. Plus more loads on the CSX main. He was north of Ann Street switching Padnos at that time. GRE has been really busy with King hoppers the last couple weeks.

[Tom49801]

D705-03 @ 21:45 westward reported by the DD mp CH104.3 with 296 axles & 4,306 feet long. CSX engines #5419 + #216 & 71 cars.

Amtrak P370-03 @ 21:48:27 eastward Bangor's Division St crossing mp CG60.93 with IDTX engine #4619 & 3 SuperLiners (0 passengers Off/On at the station mp CG60.5)

[Tom49801]

Amtrak P370-03 @ 22:07 eastward reported by the DD mp CG44.2 with 16 axles & 319 feet long. IDTX engine #4619 & 3 SuperLiners.

D705-03 @ 22:26 westward reported by the DD mp CH126.3 with 296 axles. CSX engines #5419 + #216 & 71 cars.

Amtrak P370-03 @ 22:43 eastward reported by the DD mp CG19.1 with 16 axles & 309 feet long.

[Tom49801]

Amtrak P371-04 @ 06:36 westward reported by the DD mp CG19.1 with 16 axles & 310 feet long. IDTX engine #4619 & 3 SuperLiners.

[Tom49801]

Amtrak P371-04 @ 07:14 westward reported by the DD mp CG44.2 with 16 axles & 298 feet long. IDTX engine #4619 & 3 SuperLiners.

Amtrak P371-04 @ 07:33:17 westward Bangor's Center St crossing mp CG60.35 (2 passengers On at the station mp CG60.5)

[Tom49801]

Amtrak P371-04 @ 08:21 westward reported by the DD mp CG91.9 with 16 axles & 309 feet long. IDTX engine #4619 & 3 SuperLiners.

[David Collins]

Amtrak P371-04 @ 07:14 westward reported by the DD mp CG44.2 with 16 axles & 298 feet

Amtrak P371-04 @ 08:21 westward reported by the DD mp CG91.9 with 16 axles & 309 feet long. IDTX engine #4619 & 3 SuperLiners.

Hey Tom, why is it showing at CG44.2 that the train is 298 feet long when at CG91.9 it’s showing it’s 309 feet long? It may sound like a stupid question but I thought I’d ask

[SD80MAC]

DDs are not what I would call a precision instrument when it comes to measuring train length. They can get close but are rarely exact. Length variations also have to do with slack in a train (bunched vs. stretched), though that wouldn't really apply to Amtrak.

[Tom49801]

Amtrak P371-04 @ 07:14 westward reported by the DD mp CG44.2 with 16 axles & 298 feet

Amtrak P371-04 @ 08:21 westward reported by the DD mp CG91.9 with 16 axles & 309 feet long. IDTX engine #4619 & 3 SuperLiners.

Hey Tom, why is it showing at CG44.2 that the train is 298 feet long when at CG91.9 it’s showing it’s 309 feet long? It may sound like a stupid question but I thought I’d ask

Check out the DD44.2's higher evening measurement compared to the morning's lower measurement for Amtrak & it usually varies by 19 to 21 feet for the exact same train consist. One of our viewers, K1NGxBONDx007 had taken pictures of the DD91.9 & had sent them to me & I found it's the same brand of HBD equipment I had worked with on Amtrak, but, there was a difference.

It appears an audio frequency overlay (AFO) is being used on the rails to detect the presence of a train instead of using rail mounted magnetic transducers placed north & south of the scanners. At the DD site, there were only the 2 needed "Gating Transducers" that are located near one of the scanners that sense the wheel flanges passing over it. The "A & B gating transducers" tells the scanners to "look" at a passing bearing & then stop taking samples until the next wheel flange is detected. The center lines of these transducers are spaced 24 inches apart & 8 inches from the scanner's center line to the 1st gating transducer.

Having only 2 feet spacing for these transducers can cause inaccurate readings for speed & distance calculations by the HBD system if a train slows or speeds up while traveling over the gating Transducers. It also requires the gating transducers be accurately spaced since you're relying on such a small "window" of 24 inches. An AFO circuit cannot help with these calculations, it's only function is to detect a train is nearing.

On Amtrak's NEC, we have the required gating transducers & 2 additional transducers with each one placed 75 feet away from middle of the gating transducers that serve as the "Advance Start" for the HBD system, instead of using an AFO circuit. The calculations for speed & train length are based on a 75 foot distance (instead of just 24 inches) and this gives you a little more room for any errors for the placement of the "Advance Start" magnetic transducers. However, if due to railroad tie placement we couldn't obtain 75 feet, we would measure what the actual distance was & then change that parameter in the HBD equipment to base it's calculations on the actual Advance Start transducer's location. The distance for the Advance Start transducers can be less depending on what the maximum authorized speed is (45 feet would be fine for 70 mph). Their placement is so as to not miss scan for the very 1st axle.

The HBD's infra-red scanners have a shutter that remains closed until a train is detected on the approach. Also, each scanner has it's own internal thermostatically controlled heater to keep ice/snow from building up & prevents condensation from forming on the internal scanner's lens & mirror. The power to those heaters is turned off when a train is detected so as to prevent any electrical noise that could disturb the infra-red sensor as they are "reading" the wheel bearing's infra-red signatures. If I remember correctly, the HBD system collects 32 infra-red samples per wheel bearing - an impressive feat for its 150 mph maximum speed rating.

[amessmann]

"Approach Medium West End Trowbridge, 705" at 11:48. Must be D705-04 as the 03 train had been reported yesterday night.