Welded Rail trains on the Joint Line Unloading the train in Tales of the Jointed Track

Unloading was always a unique proposition. I had the front row seat, working with two sides of unloading. Two individuals were designated as the primary contacts, for the movement and unloading. This would most likely be the section foreman in charge and the track supervisor. Others on the cars, had radios, and spoke in general to these two. Any emergency, took precedence, so you had to be aware. I'll try to make this understandable. I have been told, and I take this seriously, I get too detailed and talk too much railroad slang, so I will do my best.

The threaders, are the cars that basically transfer the rail off the train to the ground. There are two or three, one being a motorized control car that grabs of the other two flats, then as it says threads the rail outward and on the ground. The other two flats, have hydraulic rollers, that grab the upper tiers and bring them down, in a non-drastic fluid motion. These will extend upward or downward per the operators needs.

Next are the buffer cars, placed on each end of the actual welded rail cars. That way if something breaks free. These are the "guards", that will restrict rail movement. They will be old coal hoppers, boxcars, or even old phased out reefer cars (refrigerated). The newer cars have reinforced doors, and they are locked in and braced, so buffers aren't needed.

http://www.wsorrailroad.com/projects/projects08_laying.jpg * rail threader car *

http://www.trainweb.org/tomfassett/pics2/box_BNSF935020a.JPG

http://www.trainweb.org/tomfassett/pics2/box_BNSF935017a.JPG * rail buffer cars *

When called to unload a rail train, you will receive instructions, upon call that it is a work train. Most likely, the train is placed in a siding, along with the power, and the supervisor is at the reporting location, to issue preliminary instructions. How you'll operate is contingent with the operating rules, timetable, dispatch traffic etc, that another animal in it self, but another story another time.

On arrival to the train, the track foreman and track supervisor, will meet with the crew. We will be told, where the unloading will start. The remainder of the and will meet us there, and we'll have a work and safety briefing on what the job will entail for the day. The first order of business, after our train orders or track warrants are procured, is to switch out the lead buffer car and position the threader cars to the "rail end" of the rail train.

While, we are doing that, some of the clamps, are released for the first pull out, on either side. The welder will make burn holes, in order to winch to the threader, or have the pull out linking cables applied. Sometimes the threader has rail in the threader, and that is marked, and will be used for a splice, or scrapped. If not, cables are attached, and winched to the threader car. Once it is in the winching control wheels, they will move it as needed. These wheels grab the rail and get it into position, so if cuts are made, they still have a grasp, and just burn holes are needed. The engineer, when they are ready and the rail is on the ground, will literally shove the rail out of the cars. Unloading is at 5 mph, and you ease down, as they hook the stationary rail, to the stick that is pulling out. there is a four foot chain length and that gets hooked in on the fly. Then that string is pulled out. Periodic stops are made to burn holes and loosen clamps. You'll unload for hours at a time, and it takes about 4 to 6 hours to unload a fully loaded rail train.

When the train is unloaded, the threaders may remain, for another rail train. It may be moved with the rail train to a yard, where it is switched out, and sent to another project, and an en route of awaiting rail train . I don't know the exact number of threader cars the BNSF owns, but I think there are at least fifteen, minimum on the system.

We pulled loaded rail trains, out of Minnequa on a one or two per week basis. If I can find a video I'll try and post it. Thanks again for reading.