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Re: (erielack) Rockin'-and-a-rollin' on the EL

In re: the question on wrecks due to 'rockin & rollin' the EL had issued
instructions dealing with the larger cars, especially covered hoppers &
other bulk stuff. You really had to keeep an eye on ur train with these
biggies in the consist. One of my friends was running SB50 in the late 60s &
as the train approached the North end of double track at Homer, NY, it hit
the ground. The engines were OK, but (if memory serves me corrrectly, the
15th or so head car derailed & took a few others wiht it. There was a spring
switch at the North end to ensure u went onto the S/B track & it had a small
green signal to indicate correct operation plus u had to slow to 15 mph (I
think).
        After the derailment, Mr. Sammy Miller - RFE, had the crew up on
charges of excessive speed. NOBODY SPEEDED THERE!!!! Anyway a verdict of
GUILTY was found.............OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!!!!
Hey, Sammy was just ahead of his time...........imagine if he was with the
Nazi-Southern now.
Regards to all,
Walt Smith
- ----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tupaczewski, Paul R (Paul)" <paultup_@_lucent.com>
To: <erielack_@_lists.railfan.net>
Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 2004 2:01 PM
Subject: (erielack) Rockin'-and-a-rollin' on the EL


> Hi folks,
>
> Lately, I've been spending lots of time at night feeding my daughter, and
since TV is relatively boring nowadays, I have started to go back and watch
my EL videos (that I've copied to DVD to increase their longevity,
mercifully).
>
> One thing I'm noticing is that in most of the "West End" tapes, the EL
freights would bounce and sway to a frightening degree. I would assume the
greater number of tangents (and correspondingly, higher speeds) out west
allowed this occurrence to happen with greater frequency than it would in
the east with its curves and grades. Anyhoo, it's rather mind-boggling to
see these hotshot piggyback trains racing over jointed rail with the cars
bouncing rather violently, like rowboats caught in a huge storm.
>
> Does anyone know if EL had any wrecks related to such "harmonic
oscillations" of cars on jointed rail? I assume this is seen due to less
frequent trackwork in later EL years?
>
> - Paul
>
> P.S. If anyone wants to see these trains, I'm specifically referring to
two videos - "The Erie Lackawanna Railroad" by Green Frog Productions, and
"The West End" from Revelation Audio-Visuals. My next video to check is the
two-volume set "Vignettes of the Erie Lackawanna" from Clear Block
Productions, which is also primarily West End coverage.
>
>
>

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