St Louis Car 09 Posted October 19, 2009 Share #1 Posted October 19, 2009 Those pesky leaves!!! Once again fall is upon us and we all know what happens when the leaves fall on the tracks,which is why the is going postal on the number one cause for flat spots.Slippery rail.The are using new machinery and tactics to curb the situation.Sorry guys I dont have the link,but the story is in todays Stamford advocate.Give some of your opinions.And metro-north operators give me some of your stories dealing with flat spots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LIRR 154 Posted October 19, 2009 Share #2 Posted October 19, 2009 I always wonder why Metro North doesn't have any Sandite "Leaf Crusher " trains like the LIRR.Could it be they don't want to pay for the OT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truckie Posted October 19, 2009 Share #3 Posted October 19, 2009 Here's the link to the improvements that MNR is doing to prevent slip-slide conditions: http://www.mta.info/mnr/html/SlipperyRailforweb.pdf In autumns past, you may have heard our train crews mention "slip-slide” to explain minorservice delays you may have recently experienced. This condition is created by a slimy substance left by crushed leaves on our rails that gets even more slippery and slimy after it rains. When a train attempts to speed up or slow down, this gelatinous “slime” can cause the wheels to slip or slide along the rails. In severe cases the train will automatically make an emergency stop, because the on-board computer system perceives “slip-sliding” as excessive speed. All this slip-sliding and braking can create flat spots on the train’s wheels, forcing us to take much needed equipment out of service to make repairs. But thanks to our proactive approach, you’ve been experiencing slippery rail less frequently. This is due to a number of changes we have enacted. We’ve reprogrammed the software of our M7 fleet to allow the braking system to adjust to slip-slide conditions. And we have instructed our engineers to report slippery conditions immediately to our Operations Control Center. We have also trained them in how to operate through these “slippery” areas. In addition, we have enhanced our computerized train-tracking system to allow for automatic reporting of slip-slide incidents and conditions, enabling us to take corrective action more quickly. One thing you will notice is that under extreme conditions, we now reduce speeds through problem areas. While this may result in a slight delay to your service, it also prevents a greater delay because of wheel damage. And no flat spots on train wheels also means we can operate at regular speeds in non-problem areas. Along with training and technology, we are also cleaning more — we use rail washers and scrubbers more frequently to remove dead leaves from the tracks. And on-board “sanders” on our trains automatically drop sand on our tracks to help improve traction and reduce wheel slippage when it begins to occur. Remember: We can reduce the incidents of slippery rail but we cannot eliminate them. We will continue our efforts to try to minimize any delays and inconvenience slippery rail may create for you this autumn. And, as always, we appreciate your patience… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metsfan Posted October 20, 2009 Share #4 Posted October 20, 2009 Back in the day, most 'roads wouldn't even bother informing passengers this detailed. - A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Louis Car 09 Posted October 20, 2009 Author Share #5 Posted October 20, 2009 Nobody ever think about this when they travel on these trains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrtle Local Posted October 20, 2009 Share #6 Posted October 20, 2009 Amtrak has the same problems with slippery rail all along the NEC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metsfan Posted October 21, 2009 Share #7 Posted October 21, 2009 Spied a water tank at adams MOW yard... - A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Louis Car 09 Posted October 21, 2009 Author Share #8 Posted October 21, 2009 Spied a water tank at adams MOW yard... - A Do you have any pics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metsfan Posted October 21, 2009 Share #9 Posted October 21, 2009 Do you have any pics? Nah, i'm always with headphones on half asleep most of the time when i'm riding in the am these days. No $ this week to go up either. Will try next week w/ camera at the ready. Will also look at the other yard up near the airport. If windows dirty, out of luck. - A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayjay1213 Posted October 24, 2009 Share #10 Posted October 24, 2009 I always wonder why Metro North doesn't have any Sandite "Leaf Crusher " trains like the LIRR.Could it be they don't want to pay for the OT. Actually Metro North runs two different "water world" trains at night to help fight the slip slide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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