If a lead unit suffers a
failure that
incapacitates it or
renders it
non-compliance per FRA
regs or otherwise unsafe
to occupy or operate from
then it has to be removed
from service. Now lets
say something has caused
both prime movers to shut
down, and it was warm
weather, you could
isolate the unit and
control the trailing
units from it That sure
makes for a quiet ride! I
personally had to operate
from the second unit once
with the conductor in the
head unit to operate the
horn when the throttle
became defective for
about fifteen miles to a
location where we could
clear the main. This was
provided for in the
operating rules.
Gordon
-------- Original Message
--------
>
>
> All-
>
> I’m not sure why a
> failure (short of a
> catastrophic one that
> rendered the controls
> or cab unusable) would
> make the “elephant
> style” desirable.
> Would not the bad prime
> mover (or entire lead
> unit) simply be cut out
> and the remaining units
> be controlled from the
> lead unit?
>
> As to the cost, if the
> pooled units (E8/9)
> would be facing west as
> they came off the dinky
> they would not have to
> be turned in Chicago.
> E7 and E5 units
> probably would be MU’d
> in the order they came
> in unless one had to be
> turned to lead going
> out. At the western
> terminal wrong-facing
> lead units would have
> to be turned. It may
> be that this was used
> as an accounting entry
> to justify killing
> service but in the
> total scheme of things
> I can’t see it being a
> big contributor to the
> bottom line if it was
> honestly tallied.
>
> Charlie Vlk
>
>
>
>