Union Pacific had some locomotives that had a pair of 5500 hp. in a single chassis. They had several that had 3 5000 hp engines for a total of 15,000 hp on a single chassis. I have heard but have not been able to confirm UP had a few 10,000 hp single diesel-electric locomotives. It is my understanding none of these "double" unit are used today. Most locomotives today have a single 4,000 hp engine.

What most people don't know about locomotives is none of this horsepower go to the track. It is used to power an electric generator. Which in-turn drives electric motors.

For those that want to use the "jake" brake. I'm afraid you wouldn't like the results. Being they run at a constant rpm, about 400 rpm and idle at a about 200-250 rpm.

kc0iv

 

Actually most powerfull of the Double diesels was the DD40X built in 1969-71 they had 2 16 cylinder engine CLYINDER displaced 645 cubic inches and produced 3300 hp per motor at 1100 RPM going thru a 4 axle truck on each end. UP also had a Turbine powered 2 unit set of 10000 hp in the 60's that had 12 powered axleds and burned Bunker C fuel oil. Most powerful single engine ever made was a tie between the SD90MAC-H and the GE C60AC both of which had 6000 HP. the Sd90 motor each one of the 16 cylinders displaced 1010 cubic inches the GE was slighty smaller at 988 Cubic inches each they both turned at around 1050 RPM max speed. However fuel burn is not measured in MPG it is measured in GPH and at full load it is 400 GPH on the big boy the SD90 and C60 on the DD40 it is 500 GPH on a normal one a C44 or SD70 they burn around 200-250 GPH.

And we thought we burned alot of fuel.

 

WHAT IS THIS TALK NO JAKE BRAKE. well the hell with that job if i cant have a JAKE. :lol: :lol:

 

Mackman what they do is turn the Tracton motors the huge Elctric motors that actually use the power the Diesel engine makes after it turns the Alternator and it is converted to DC and then in some back into AC is turn those into GENARATORS feed that into resistors and use that to slow them down in the hills. What is fun is they use 12900 HP to pull 18500 TONS of coal train all over the US. Yet we complained if we did not have say 10Hp a ton they do it with less than 1 HP a ton.

 

If you think you don't have a life now, go work for the railroad, On-call 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week.

It's not as glamorous as it looks.

 

Yeah and get this we think our HOS are bad at least once our clock is up the truck does not move however on the RR they could relieve you at 11.59 then take 4 hours to get you to the hotel however you are eligalble for call in 4 hours why you were not on duty for 12 hours you were in limbo for the last 4 hours and considered off by the current HOS for them. Also mangement has a nasty habit of throwing a red signal on you when you are running 70 and expecxting you to stop a train before you run thru it hard to do it when they give you 400 feet and it takes over a mile to stop. Forget about roadside service YOU are it if a Knuckle breaks they weigh 83 lbs and you have to carry it as you walk in the rain snow sleet or heat on ballast or mud that is sloped and will break an ankle faster than anything. Also airline breaks you have to fix them Kickers were the train can not build air you have to fix it also Hotbox you get to find out and remove said car regardless of weather.

Also you think some of the Markets are bad for neighboerhoods try the railyards the RR's can not just move them and you are encumbered by a radio and lantern also. Grade Crossing Collisons better pray it is not a School Bus or a Gas tanker in front of you IT DOES HAPPEN as they wash off the remains of the person that is sprayed ont eh front of the locomotive or in the winter the snowmoblier that decieded to use the tracks as a trail and hit you head on at 100.

 

The railroad has a high turnover rate also, that's why they are always hiring.

If you think your DM or dispatcher are idiots, try your luck with RR management.

Also, no laptops, cell phones, radios, I-Pods, or any type of distraction is allowed on board a locomotive or to be used anytime during your shift.

If you are tired, only one crewmember is allowed to nap, but only when the train is stopped. The other crewmember must be awake.

Can't stop and park at the local fast food joint to eat, you must bring your own meal or starve.

If you are off before your 12 hour shift is over and are happily on your way home to rest, you better pray your cell phone doesn't ring and they suddenly need you again. They have a right to call you back to work to finish the rest of your shift.

You are going to have to walk the whole train (pre-trip), sometimes the train could be up to 1 and 1/2 miles long, in all types of weather and terrain.

If a coupler knuckle breaks mid-train you have to grab a spare knuckle(weighs 80lbs) off the rear of the locomotive and carry it to the break and replace it, have you ever tried to walk on track ballast without carrying anything? Kinda difficult?, now imagine carrying a 80lb knuckle and walking on ballast for up to a mile or more. You'll be thinking "Sure wish I stayed driving a truck".

Let's say your kid is having their Birthday party and you are home sipping some brews, your cell phone rings, it's the RR calling you, Sorry, you can't tell them you're busy throwing a party for your 5 year old kid, You have 90 min. from the time they call you to get your butt to the yard, and you better not be late or call off.

Oh, at the Birthday party you better not drink just in case you have to be at work and God forbid they call you, and later you get in a accident and guess what? You get to do a pee test. You got alki in you, Bye Bye job.

Oh yeah, for you smokers out there, the RR has a Zero Tolerance on smoking, You know what that means? No Smoking, anytime, anywhere.

You want weekends, holidays, or birthdays off, No can do, unless you have 15-30 plus years senority (wow, sounds alot like trucking).

Even when you are on the road the have spies (management) hiding in the bushes watching your every move, ready to write you up for any rules violation.

Oh, you have to carry a rulebook the size of a telephone book, and know every rule in there.

Those are just some examples of working for the railroad as a train crew member.

Not so fun now eh?

 

Sounds like a alot of BS to put up with. But how much $$$$ do they make to put up with that BS. I am guessing alot more then Truckers.

 

hell I did't mean working for them looked fun. Just going to visit the place and get to drive one just to be able to say I did it. That looks fun.

 

It starts at up to $45,000 your first year, but with the economic slowdown nationwide if you don't have senority, you will be laid off, which means, no money.

Working for the railroad is not hard, it's just not forgiving, you better pay attention to what you are doing working in the yard, one wrong step and you can be killed instantly by a freight car or locomotive.

When you are in the yard "humping" cars, (sorting cars to make up a train) those cars go over a hill and get sorted onto different tracks, those cars do not stop until they couple into the cars they are being sorted to.
While you are working in the yard you would think while the cars are rolling on the tracks they are noisy? Wrong, they are deathly quiet, like I said if you are not paying attention you will be killed.