Sanders, Coal or Heavy Tonnage on the Grade in Tales of the Jointed Track

On Facebook the dumb old rails. A picture of old F’s… Surely all ya all remember the old F units. Liars not!! There was discussion was it stuck sanders or brakeshoes. Me, sanders, but anything is a possibility. Smoke, would have been more dense, sand is a pale fading type.

Sand is used for extra traction, during a wheel slip condition. Starting on a heavy grade with tonnage, or icy or wet rail. All locomotives have a sanding relay, it is trainlined through the jumper cable. They are electromagnet valves, and as they get near replacement, or due to problems can stick. So, they come on, and don’t shut off. Yeah, I know how to deactivate, but times you just can’t go back and reset ‘em. Plus, many didn’t know how to do so. EASY, pull a wire,and done. Plug back in and if it doesn’t clear, it is the valve itself. It is either a weak activation spring, or a stuck/worn spool valve.

Coal Load, MP 50.5 Spruce,CO-Palmer Lake:

Typical load, me I should have checked lead axle sand, but didn’t. Found out the trainline sanding relay was bad. That allows all the units to sand… Who knew.
Clouds are scattered, but we’ll get precipitation up the grade. MP 50.5 is clear, and misting. Helpers are called, “High green, going over”. Wheel slip is coming in. Now, on a GE (General Electric), they unload then reapply, power. Not good and don’t want to stall. I have one that locks the CONSIST, into sand..well that is not happening. We’re fucked 101, LOL. I tell the helpers, “Lay into ‘em, have a sand problem. we’ll go till we stall”. I aint stalling, if I can prevent it.

I tell the brakeman, and old hand, grab some empty water bottles. we are down to 7 mph and stalling. We scoop up dirt and old sand piles. We run ahead, and lay down some crap. Refill, and get on. Wow, we pick up 8 mph…and slow, repeat. Repeat. Got over the top. That would get ya fired now. LOL, when ya railroaded, without a Mommy may I edict.