i concur, this bridge did include dragging equipment signals which put the approach signals for congress park up in the air.
I believe that Bob Campbell is right and location is Brookfield. There are several clues, but the best one in my opinion is the extra (small) searchlight targets on Signal Bridge 12.35 in the background. These westward signals are flashing white or lunar
signals associated with the dragging equipment detector that was located on Mains 1 and 2 at MP 10.46, at the east edge of Herbert Road. These targets were approach-lit, and would activate when the head end passed signal bridge 11.25 west of Riverside. My
recollection is that, when flashing, there was nothing dragging, but if solid, the detector had identified something suspect.
Glen Haug
don’t think the photo is brookfield. see signal bridge and cars on crossing?
July 11, 2017
Group - Member Bob Campbell has been having computer problems. I'm relaying his answer and comments to my earlier posts:
"The location of the double unit, one car dinky, lead by E-8A #9943B, is eastbound on main 3 at Brookfield. Also, wanted to point out, when moving units between 14th St. and Aurora (or visa-versa) all units in the consist were properly "M-Ued";
air,electric control and "on-the-line" [supplying tractive effort]."
For newer Group members, Bob is a retired Amtrak engineer who started his long career in the mid-1960s on the Q as a hostler at Aurora servicing the E units assigned to the suburban pool. In later years, Bob was a Q fireman and engineer before
joining Amtrak.
So, I was incorrect when I stated that with multiple units on dinkies only the lead unit was active. Indeed, all were M-Ued! So, Leo, you're right, there must've been some kind of torque if not whip lash when seven units roared away from a stop
with only a gallery car or two following.....
We'll probably never entirely know the final answer as to "if" the Q tried using Geeps on dinkies, but I wonder, just wonder, if an actual experimental run was ever made? I guess that for modelers, it falls into the category of "may be if...."
Same for the mystery FM Trainmaster that filled-up at Western Avenue. I find it hard to believe that it was only tested as a switch engine. Perhaps, some day images of a Geep or Trainmaster with a couple of suburban coaches will appear on EBay
to further this discussion. Best Regards - Louis
Louis Zadnichek II
Fairhope, AL
[Attachment(s) from LZadnichek@aol.com included
below]
July 10, 2017
Jim - Fascinating material. I was aware that the E5 and E7 motors were generally unsuitable for stop-and-go dinky service as they would not "load" fast enough to stay on schedule, but I had never heard that EMD tried to convince the Q to dieselize
their suburban service with GP7s. All very interesting. Perhaps, a basis for an article in the BRHS Bulletin.
Besides the west bound Sunday afternoon or evening dinkies with multiple E8s to balance power at Aurora for the next morning's "parade," occasionally day time dinkies included an extra unit needed at either Aurora or 14th Street to balance the
power assignment sheet. In this inserted/attached faded image, we find a mid-afternoon one car dinky powered by the 9944B with an unidentified sister trailing. The location or date is not given, but I'm sure someone in this Group will recognize what stop it
was:
<CBQD9944BNoOtherInformation.jpg>
Lots of wonderful memories for many of us from riding the dinkies in Suburban Territory. Best Regards - Louis
Louis Zadnichek II
Fairhope, AL
In addition to Dennis' thorough answer, here are some thoughts from BRHS meet history, courtesy of Grant Aerosmith and Bob Landregen at a lunch where I was the privileged fly-on-the-wall listener. According to Grant, EMD tried to sell the Q on the idea that
a GP7 would be able to replace the S1 and S2 Pacifics based on horsepower. As Grant, working for Henry Urhbach in the Mechanical Department at that time, pointed out to EMD boss Kettering and his engineers, Dynamometer car readings showed that when accelerating
away from a station stop, a banked fire with a rapid introduction of forced air created a short-term output of over 2100 horse-power from one of those S-class engines. (Essentially a controlled boiler explosion) . This allowed acceleration that a GP7 could
never achieve. It was also performance that the E5 and E7 units on the roster could not achieve as their control systems could not transiti on quickly enough from a station stop to maintain a Dinky's schedule. This
operating requirement kept the Pacifics employed until the delivery of the E8 units which addressed the short comings of the earlier units with increased horsepower and a much improved electrical system.
Thought you might enjoy that. Jim Sandrin
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Posted by: David Weber <dave@cimmarondesign.com>
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