Freight Train Questions

[BlakeTyner]

@SanDiegoTim

Anyone know what RPM ranges the diesel engines and electric motors in locomotives operate within?

Can’t speak for the motors, but in the midrange setting, the modern Amtrak P42 locomotive’s diesel is running at 900 RPM.

[Chickenwrangler]

Thank you all for your comments, most interesting thread.

[Machine_Elf]

@Hbns

Gotta love the SDMB. I was just at a railway museum and wondering what the tubes that come down in front of the drive wheels on many of the engines where for. I assumed it had to do with traction but but thought it was perhaps something related specifically to steam engines.

Turns out it is for delivery of the sand ironbender mentions. Love when my ignorance is fought.

On some trains the sand is delivered manually (see at 0:25).

[BlakeTyner]

Found a little clip of a tire being heated by a burning ring of fire:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5I8hZvM1CQ

[UncleRojelio]

@BlakeTyner

burning ring of fire

I see what you did there.