MOW equipment on the NS pics

[Rotorranch]

I was out a month or so ago, and saw these sitting on some new track in Jonesboro, GA. I went back a week or so ago and shot some pics, but light was running out, so I went back yesterday to get some daylight pics.

A tie mover Backhoe:

Kershaw Ballast regulator:

They chained the Kershaw to the track for security. Must be a bad neighborhood.

Rotor

 

[Rotorranch]

There is also a Fairmont Ballast Tamper parked there.

The tamper has a hitchiker.

Same security measures as the Kershaw!

Rotor

 

[Rotorranch]

There was also some 1:1 scale "Snap-Track".

And a "Snap-Switch".

I think it has an insulated frog.

Plenty of ballast!

I should have grabbed a bucket full to crush for HO scale ballast. What could be more realistic than real ballast? Lots of different colors in there.

Rotor

 

[Rotorranch]

You can find more pics here:

Rotorranch's Trains at Photobucket


Rotor

 

[Maxitrains]

WHat material is that? is that some kind of granite?

 

[Rotorranch]

Pretty sure it's fairly local granite.

We got a lot of it around here.

Rotor

 

[UP2CSX]

Those little chains are hilarious. Maybe the bear has a closed circuit TV camera. Those steel ties are interesting. Were they being used on a siding or mainline? I'm kind of surprised to see that snap track just sitting on the ground. They will usually haves several sections mounted on flatcars so it can be hauled to a wreck site in a hurry. That is one of the few "snap switches" I've seen though.

 

[Rotorranch]

Jim...the steel ties are on the siding the equipment is sitting on. The main right next to it has brand new wooden ties on it. Here's a pic of the siding and the main.

They have little plastic pads between the ties and the rail. The clamps also have plastic or rubber on them. It looks to me like they are to insulate the rail from the ties. Maybe they are using DCC?

Notice the pads, and the blue stuff on the clamps on the ties that are installed. Those two ties wouldn't clear the ground throw.

Rotor

 

[UP2CSX]

Rotor, I wonder why they picked steel ties for this siding? Maybe it's a test. From what I was reading on the web, the steel ties are laid on a rubber and foam pad to protect the ties from the pounding effect of the steel rail. Looks like someone didn't plan too well by that ground throw. I wonder what their plan is, since they can't cut steel ties.

 

[jbaakko]

They would have to be isolated too, so its a dual purpose. Remember signal systems use a small electrical current to detect trains.

 

[Rotorranch]

Rotor, I wonder why they picked steel ties for this siding? Maybe it's a test. From what I was reading on the web, the steel ties are laid on a rubber and foam pad to protect the ties from the pounding effect of the steel rail. Looks like someone didn't plan too well by that ground throw. I wonder what their plan is, since they can't cut steel ties.

I have no idea, Jim. I never did much railfanning around here, even though I've lived here over 30 years. I'm just now finding places to railfan. I'll try to find out if there are other places nearby using steel ties, and if there is rhyme or reason for it.

They would have to be isolated too, so its a dual purpose. Remember signal systems use a small electrical current to detect trains.

I thought that was the reason, Josh. I also figured that's why the frog on the "Snap-Switch" was insulated from the rails with a white, silicone looking substance.

I will probably go out again next weekend. I need the practice on my photography. I also need to try The Kid's Sony cam, as it's newer than my old Sony, and should take better pics.

I still need to get to the Pullman Yard downtown, hopefully when I take the CFO to Emory next month. She cancelled her appointment for a week or so ago.

Rotor

 

[Rotorranch]

I'd really like to see the equipment at work! I wonder if there is any way of finding out when they will be working?

My scanner won't pick up anything from the house, at least nothing I have heard, yet. I haven't found an online scanner feed for ATL either.

Rotor

 

[UP2CSX]

Josh, the article I mentioned did say that the pads also isolated the steel raild form the steel ties for signaling purposes so you're right on that one. Seems like an area of failure when those pads wear out though.

Rotor, why not just give the NS MOW department a call and ask them? Since it looks like they are just working sidings and not inerfering with mainline traffic, there probably wouldn't be much chatter on the scanner when they are working. What kind of scanner are you using and what kind of antenna? How far are you from the tracks? The type of antenna, the quality of the coax, and height you can get it above the ground, will do more to determine what you can hear than anything else. If you're not using a base station antenna, just the rubber duck that came with the scanner, that's probably your first problem.

 

[Rotorranch]

Josh, the article I mentioned did say that the pads also isolated the steel raild form the steel ties for signaling purposes so you're right on that one. Seems like an area of failure when those pads wear out though.

Those pads are only about 1/4 to 5/16 inch thick, and made from some kind of pastic (composite?) material. They were laying all over the place. I'd think they wouldn't hold up under mainline pressure.

Rotor, why not just give the NS MOW department a call and ask them? Since it looks like they are just working sidings and not inerfering with mainline traffic, there probably wouldn't be much chatter on the scanner when they are working. What kind of scanner are you using and what kind of antenna? How far are you from the tracks? The type of antenna, the quality of the coax, and height you can get it above the ground, will do more to determine what you can hear than anything else. If you're not using a base station antenna, just the rubber duck that came with the scanner, that's probably your first problem.

Gee...that would be too easy!

I never thought about calling them! I didn't know they would divulge such info to the public. They are working the siding now, but have been, (and may still be) working the mains also. The main has been replaced with new wood ties and rail from at least Jonesboro south to Lovejoy. Beyond that, I don't know yet.

Yeah, my scanner is a handheld, and rubber duckie. An old Rat Shack Pro-46. I didn't really expect to pick up much from the house. I think my bro-in-law has a base he's not using that I may be able to con him out of. I think he has an extra antenna, too. I have to go this week and put his new antenna up 10 more feet.

I might be 5-6 miles or less from the tracks, as the crow flies, right between CSX to the west, and NS to the east.

Rotor

 

[UP2CSX]

Rotor, that PRO-46 is a good old scanner for railroad frequencies. At some point, the railroads will be going to digital, which means spending $500 for a new scanner but it's still good for at least a few more years. If your brother in law has a good VHF antenna, grab it. RS also makes a great 1/4 wave ground plane, the 20-176, which works really well on railroad frequencies. It's only about $25. Get some good coax - not the crummy RG-8 that RS sells. The RG-6x that you can get at WalMart for cable TV works well with scanners and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Since you live pretty close to the tracks, a 10 or 15 foot mast is all you'd need. You'll be amazed at how much more you'll be able to hear.

As far as calling the MOW department, just let them know you're a modeler and would like to take pics of their equipment in operation to help you build models. As long as you don't get a suit, I'll bet they'll help you out. If not, just go down to the tracks where they are working and talk to a foreman. Most of them are good guys and they're not as excited about all the post-9/11 hysteria as the higher-ups.

 

[suprduc]

Nice pics of the MOW equipment Rotor. With all of the flooding around here I have seen pieces like those out and about quite a bit although I never have my camera with me when I see them.

 

[Rotorranch]

Jim, the old scanner works well, but I know I need a base antenna. Just curious, I have a 1/4 wave CB base antenna still on the roof. Would that work? It's got 20 feet of heavy wall (.125 in. wall thickness) aluminum tubing (not your normal antenna mast) so I'm good there. If the CB won't work, the bro-in-law's will. He bought a high buck ant. then bought a cheaper one, and he says the cheap one works better.

I have RG-58 on it now, but RG-6 is no problem I think. The cable guys have left me a couple spools of drop over the years. I'll have to look and see if it's RG-6x.

I know everything is going digital; I've already lost the capability to monitor the local gendarmes. I need a trunk tracker/digital. One day I'll have to break down and upgrade.

As for calling the MOW dept, I looked the NS site for MOW's phone number, to no avail. But I did see a couple of numbers for the public to call. I guess next I'll try the old fashioned way, and "Let My Fingers Do The Walking", and try the old paper phone book.

Rotor

 

[Rotorranch]

Nice pics of the MOW equipment Rotor. With all of the flooding around here I have seen pieces like those out and about quite a bit although I never have my camera with me when I see them.

Thanks Carl. I'm still learning to take photos, and have a long way to go to match some of the photogs here on the forum!

I've seen alot of stuff that I wish I'd had my camera with me. I try to carry my camera as much as I can, now. I'd sure like a digital SLR, so I could use my Dad's lenses on it, since he doesn't do any photography any more. But that would put me on a STEEP learning curve.

Rotor

 

[UP2CSX]

Rotor, in theory, a CB antenna shouldn't work, since it's tuned for 27 MHz and you want to listen to frequencies around 161 MHz. OTOH, strange things happen with resonant antennas, where they become good at frequencies 1/4 quarter wave above the tuned frequency. So give the CB a try first and see if it works. Try the NOAA weather frequencies and see if they come in clear and you can can pick up ones from a good distance away. If so, I'd leave everything alone. If not, time to put up the VHF antenna. RG-58 cable has a lot of loss in runs over about 20 feet. If you already have RG-6 on hand, it would be worth it to replace the RG-58. At 27 MHz, the loss difference between the two types of coax is negligible but it becomes significant at 161 MHz. BTW, most of the Atlanta police and fire agencies are on analog trunk systems and it looks like Georgia is going to be one of the slower states to convert to digital. You can pick up a good analog trunk tracker like the PRO-97 for about $150.

 

[Rotorranch]

Thanks Jim. I figured the CB ant. wouldn't be optimal. I'll probably go early next week and raise the B-I-L's ant. since he just got his guy kit. I'll try to talk him out of one of his radios then.

Rotor