So you think you know about Trains? - Pt 2

[ZecMurphy]

What was the last ‘bulldog’ (round nose) style EMD locomotive built, and when did it enter service?

The last ‘bulldog’ (round nose) style EMD locomotive type built was the Clyde/EMD CL class built for the Commonwealth Railways in 1970-1972, with the last being CL17, bringing an end to the construction of the EMD streamlined ‘bulldog’ style locomotives, which dated back to 1939.












This weeks question:
In what year did the first S-2 class Berkshire locomotive enter service for the New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad (aka, the NKP)?

 

[JIb228]

1934 is when NKP got its S1 berks, S2's came around mid 1941 with locomotives #715-729.

 

[ZecMurphy]

In what year did the first S-2 class Berkshire locomotive enter service for the New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad (aka, the NKP)?

The first NKP S-2 class Berkshire locomotive entered service in 1944.
























This weeks question:
What is the purpose of a checkrail?

 

[JIb228]

This weeks question:
What is the purpose of a checkrail?

They are used to help guild possible derailed cars to a safer spot. Often found on bridges o other areas where a derailed car might hit some thing and cause more damage.

 

[pga1965]

What is the purpose of a checkrail?

check rails are mainly used on and around bridges, and on tight curves. the purpose is to prevent locos' and/or vehicles that have derailed from overturning from falling off a bridge, or causing a more major derailment while the train is moving through a tight turn. hence in both cases reducing the damage of a derailment.

 

[big_b]

Rails laid parallel to the main rail to guide the wheels through points. Also around bends so the flanges don't climb the rails as the taper on the wheels tend to want to climb the outer rail in the turn at these locations.
Leading & trailing edges are usually tapered or turned out to pick up ( guide )the flange as it enters & leaves the check rail.
On curves check rails only need to be on the inner rail but sometimes are seen on both.

 

[wks]

The purpose of the checkrail, a rail inside the main rail to maintain stability of train passing this section of the main road.. It came into being about 1825 or there about.

 

[davidbird]

October 1976, between London Paddington and Bristol/South Wales

 

[ZecMurphy]

What is the purpose of a checkrail?

Checkrails are placed on the inside of the running rail (the rail the wheel travels on) to help ensure that the train does not derail in high risk situations, such as on sharp curves or across bridges. They are also part of the design of most turnouts (points) where the rails cross, so as to help ensure the train follows the track.
















This weeks question:
In what year did the first Intercity 125/’HST’ train enter service, not including the prototype?

 

[ZecMurphy]

In what year did the first Intercity 125/’HST’ train enter service, not including the prototype?

The first Intercity 125/'HST' train entered service in October 1976, with the first units being delivered in late 1975.
















This weeks question:
What is the difference between a 'top lift' and a 'bottom lift' automatic/knuckle coupler?

 

[Zeldaboy14]

Is a top lift a Lift on the track above, and the bottom lift is the chain for the link of an engine?

 

[Timothetoolman]

A top lift knuckle has the pin holding the connection solid and is 'lifted above" removing the pin and enabling the connection to be split. I would only assume a "bottom lift" applies to a reverse of the top lift.

Tim

 

[jjanmarine3]

I think it is the method that the knuckle is unlocked and where the release lever is mounted.
In the top lift method the release lever or mechanism releases or unlocks the knuckle by lifting it up through the top of the coupler, and in the bottom lift method the knuckle is released or unlocked by pushing the knuckle lock pin up from the bottom through the coupler.

 

[nicky9499]

top lift:

bottom lift:

 

[pga1965]

What is the difference between a 'top lift' and a 'bottom lift' automatic/knuckle coupler?

'top lift couplers' are those most commonly used, top lift meaning the release is on the top of the coupler. A 'bottom release' coupler are used on passenger carriages, where there is a passenger connection on top of the coupler. some specialised freight wagons where low clearance is required may also have 'bottom release' couplers.(e.g. well wagons, and car carriers)

 

[ZecMurphy]

What is the difference between a 'top lift' and a 'bottom lift' automatic/knuckle coupler?

The difference between a ‘top lift’ and a ‘bottom lift’ automatic/knuckle coupler is the way in which the ‘pin’ (which locks the knuckle closed, and hence ‘couples’ the wagons). A ‘top lift’ coupler has the lifting mechanism to lift the pin (and release the knuckle) at the top of the coupler. A ‘bottom lift’ coupler has the lifting mechanism at the bottom of the coupler, to push the pin up and release the knuckle.
































This weeks question:
What is the purpose of ‘smoke deflectors’ when fitted to a steam locomotive?

 

[nicky9499]

It makes smokestack exhaust billow above and away from the sides of the engine to prevent obstructing the crew's sight.

 

[SBLimey]

This week's question:
What is the purpose of ‘smoke deflectors’ when fitted to a steam locomotive?​

My understanding is that they help push the smoke up, rather than down along the sides of the carriages, so as to keep the carriages free of smoke, especially in tunnels.

 

[cascaderailroad]

It was for the cab crew especially, to lift smoke upward.

Long tunnels were always smoke filled, and some cab crews donned respirator masks, resembling molten steel mill helmets, with air tubing.

 

[teddytoot]

In the early part of the 20th century as boilers got fatter and funnels shorter it was found that smoke would drift down and obscure the cab and hence the driver's view. Various experiments were done to cure this problem. As each loco tended to have it's own unique problem, there was quite a variation in smoke deflector patterns. The British tended to favour flat side plates whereas the Germans went for the small wing type deflectors as seen for a while on the Flying Scotsman. A good example of seeing the difficulty of solving the problem is to look at a series of photos of the first Bulleid Merchant Navy locomotives and see how the front end changed in shape.