Ask Trains from October 2007
Q On many Union Pacific refrigerated boxcars, the reporting mark “ARMN” appears below the UP shield. What railroad is that?–…
Read moreQ On many Union Pacific refrigerated boxcars, the reporting mark “ARMN” appears below the UP shield. What railroad is that?–…
Read moreQ On the front of a typical diesel locomotive are six “hoses.” Please define their purpose. Further, above the coupler…
Read moreQ On page 57 of January TRAINS is a magnificent photo of a BNSF train about to hit the diamonds…
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Q Lately I have noticed that many freight cars, including tank cars, boxcars, and hoppers, have five to seven vertical…
Read moreQ As a boy, I used to watch the magnificent Southern Pacific cab-forward steam locomotives on their way to Donner…
Read moreQ My 5-year-old grandson asked me, “Where do engineers go to the bathroom?” I told him that locomotives probably have…
Read moreQ What does the name “Soo Line” mean? Is it an acronym, an abbreviation, or something else? I’ve asked many…
Read moreIt was December 2005 when I wrote the rough draft of my story on using GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) to…
Read moreSay you’re an engineer running a multi-unit diesel consist on a freight train. During the trip, it becomes necessary to…
Read moreWho controls the movement of the trains after the tower is closed? The train dispatcher is the most common heir…
Read moreAn Amtrak train en route from Milwaukee to Chicago on Canadian Pacific’s double-track main line hurtles by a metal cabin…
Read moreThe Association of American Railroads has 11 basic classification of freight cars. Most of the major classes have subclasses, and…
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