@@rogergordon1765 I know that and what I mean is when the entire fleet is retired they should get the alcos painted into the railroad liveries they were in when they were originally delivered and have them sent to museums because I know plenty of railroad museums that would take one or two of those alco's
Hi AC. I have a question. I know you can zoom in with your camera, but this shot looks to be from the catwalk at Steam town. My question is, was it taken from that catwalk?
Still don't understand the control systems those older locomotives have where one engineer can control a lash up of many. Especially prior to the 1950's. Modern tech with software servers sensor I understand. They didn't have that....so how did it work??
Early MU systems were entirely pneumatic. My understanding of the old system is that they would use air from the lead engine to trigger pneumatic solenoid valves and the brakes, the braking system being set as a thru-system, basically cutting out the brake valves so the brakes on the trailing unit would act as they would on a freight or passenger car..The independent brakes on the trailing units were usually cut out by this system as well. It was common that 2 locomotives would be equipped for MU service, but that the systems were incompatible with one another. Now, as you said, it's pneumatic AND electrical, the latter being by 27 pin connectors.
Most diesel engines have M.U. capability.. If they don't each engine would have to be controlled manually by an engineer in loco.. Same with steam engines, they had to be controlled individually.. No M.U. going on with them.
Locomotives have a standard 27-pin MU connector that controls everything from throttle/dynamic braking to sanding to various control circuits. It's a relatively simple set of electrical connections that started off in use on locomotives built by EMD and became more or less standardized in the 1950s (prior to which locomotives from different builders had different multiple-unit connectors). The small air hoses on either side of the coupler are for the locomotive independent air brakes and reservoirs. Few early MU systems were entirely pneumatic (that was a Baldwin feature) but the connectors did use different numbers of pins.
ALCo and MLW units suffer from pretty severe turbo charger lag, during throttle up. This temporarily makes the engine run very VERY rich, causing lots of black smoke. The reason they smoke for a while after starting is pretty much the same thing. Fuel to air mixture. Once she warms up, the fuel to air ratio is settled down, the engine runs clean, and all is right with the world.
Doesn't surprise me at all, the Bone Valley's where a lot of EMDs (especially the SD70MACs) went. What DOES surprise me is that CSX actually bought new EMDs at all.
La mas linda nos la mandaron para nuestro país Cuba, es la mlw mx624.en el año 1975. Fueron las preferidas por los maquinistas cubanos, lastima que quedan tan pocas.
Locomotive Porn. I love it. I've started EMD's only. This sound that you captured was truly awesome. Excellent video AC. Do you know if they open cylinder cocks first and then do a one to two revolution rotation to bleed off any chance of water build up in the cylinders?
The closest manual I could find is for an Alco C630. It's a very similar locmotive made by the same company. The manual says nothing about draining the cylinders while starting the engine. See here, lots of good stuff in this site: www.rr-fallenflags.org/manual/cm3-ops.html
@@ZombieSlayer-dj3wb Along with the louvered air intakes, wider corner steps, bolsterless trucks, lack of rear numberboard notches, exposed right-side underframe... all of which (and more) would distinguish an M-636 from a C-636 (granted, half those parts aren't visible from this angle).
Locomotives don't have ignition keys as such, although the reverser handle in the control stand serves a similar purpose (with the handle removed the locomotive is locked in neutral). There are several steps to cold-starting a locomotive that's been sitting for a while, often including closing the battery switch, turning on various breakers, blow-down (turning the engine over with no fuel and air valves open to purge the cylinders), priming and then starting.
Michael E The purge of the cylinders is on EMD. These units were air start. I believe this unit was a GE prototype of upgraded electrical equipment on Alco/MLW locomotives, so the air start may have been replaced. If it wasn’t, then for extended crank, a source of compressed air would be needed. Some of the new EMDs are air start too. I had one which was out of air. I had to connect the main reservoir hose from another engine. Some have quick connections for hooking up shop air.
It sounds and smokes just like a wood burning washing machine ... with bad bearings. My Alcos don't sound that bad. But then maybe because they are N Scale? LOL
![[GL][T-137] DC-2-AC FAMILY: SD70ACC, AC44C6M, ECOs, Gevos and the Locomotive Rebuilding Craze](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/44ykUGhLe5g/mqdefault.jpg)
![[GL][T-137] DC-2-AC FAMILY: SD70ACC, AC44C6M, ECOs, Gevos and the Locomotive Rebuilding Craze](/img/tr.png)
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Love those Canadian built MLW's they were so distinctive!
Nothing beats the sound of an ALCO/MLW.
Except an EMD 645
Best sound in the world. It touches your soul.
Indeed it does.
Something tells me steam Town's going to get a few of those once they're retired
As long as Don Colangelo has breath in his body, those Alco/MLWs will run
@@rogergordon1765 I know that and what I mean is when the entire fleet is retired they should get the alcos painted into the railroad liveries they were in when they were originally delivered and have them sent to museums because I know plenty of railroad museums that would take one or two of those alco's
Forget white noise to get to sleep! I'll take ALCOS chugga chugging instead! Great video AC!❤
Me too! Thanks Bethany.
Nice!!
WOW WOW WOW!!!!!! A.C, This is amazing, I could watch this for hours! & white smoke must surly mean a new pope??? 🤣🤣🤣
Regards
Kev
Thanks Kev.. Did you guys eve have Alcos in the UK??
I bet that smelled glorious!
indeed it did!
Sweet video.
Thanks Drew.
Niiiiiice! Nice way to "start" the morning!
Thanks Mark!
Hi AC. I have a question. I know you can zoom in with your camera, but this shot looks to be from the catwalk at Steam town. My question is, was it taken from that catwalk?
Yes it was.
Love that sound
Me too!
That is an amazing sound!
Indeed!
Still don't understand the control systems those older locomotives have where one engineer can control a lash up of many. Especially prior to the 1950's. Modern tech with software servers sensor I understand. They didn't have that....so how did it work??
Early MU systems were entirely pneumatic. My understanding of the old system is that they would use air from the lead engine to trigger pneumatic solenoid valves and the brakes, the braking system being set as a thru-system, basically cutting out the brake valves so the brakes on the trailing unit would act as they would on a freight or passenger car..The independent brakes on the trailing units were usually cut out by this system as well. It was common that 2 locomotives would be equipped for MU service, but that the systems were incompatible with one another. Now, as you said, it's pneumatic AND electrical, the latter being by 27 pin connectors.
Most diesel engines have M.U. capability.. If they don't each engine would have to be controlled manually by an engineer in loco.. Same with steam engines, they had to be controlled individually.. No M.U. going on with them.
Locomotives have a standard 27-pin MU connector that controls everything from throttle/dynamic braking to sanding to various control circuits. It's a relatively simple set of electrical connections that started off in use on locomotives built by EMD and became more or less standardized in the 1950s (prior to which locomotives from different builders had different multiple-unit connectors). The small air hoses on either side of the coupler are for the locomotive independent air brakes and reservoirs. Few early MU systems were entirely pneumatic (that was a Baldwin feature) but the connectors did use different numbers of pins.
no one:
literally no one:
not a living soul:
ALCO/MLW/early Bombardier: *chug*
everyone: *WHERES MY CAMERA?!?!?*
Haha.. Glad you like it!
@@Trains21 ALCOs are the best, bar none. It's like Ford. XD
Lol
Cool video, AC!
Thanks Scott.
Good video. ♡ T.E.N.
Hold up, an SD40e off the Pittsburgh Division 🤯
Yep.. It was Railfest 2015
I'm not sure why the Alcos and MLW's smoked so much. Nice video A.C.
ALCo and MLW units suffer from pretty severe turbo charger lag, during throttle up. This temporarily makes the engine run very VERY rich, causing lots of black smoke. The reason they smoke for a while after starting is pretty much the same thing. Fuel to air mixture. Once she warms up, the fuel to air ratio is settled down, the engine runs clean, and all is right with the world.
@@TrainTrackTrav Thanks for the info. We live and learn something everyday!
Will the DL be required to Install PTC equipment on those units to operate on NS?
I don't think so since they only work within a 3-mile area.
I relief you of bagging the NEW CSX toys because I heard they are gonna be in captive in florida. FLORIDA! It's LIKE CSX has already retired them.
Doesn't surprise me at all, the Bone Valley's where a lot of EMDs (especially the SD70MACs) went. What DOES surprise me is that CSX actually bought new EMDs at all.
La mas linda nos la mandaron para nuestro país Cuba, es la mlw mx624.en el año 1975. Fueron las preferidas por los maquinistas cubanos, lastima que quedan tan pocas.
When was this recorded? Was NS there recently?
Haha.. Not recently, this was back in 2015!!
Locomotive Porn. I love it. I've started EMD's only. This sound that you captured was truly awesome. Excellent video AC. Do you know if they open cylinder cocks first and then do a one to two revolution rotation to bleed off any chance of water build up in the cylinders?
😆
Most engines equipped with 645's or later models do that automatically via relief valves in each piston chamber, I think.
I don't, sorry Hans.
The closest manual I could find is for an Alco C630. It's a very similar locmotive made by the same company. The manual says nothing about draining the cylinders while starting the engine. See here, lots of good stuff in this site: www.rr-fallenflags.org/manual/cm3-ops.html
Heyyyyy Cousin!!!👍👍🍻
It’s actually an Alco, since DL’s C636 is an ex-penn central.
Nope - DL 3643 is indeed an MLW M-636, built in 1970 as CP 4743. Their ALCO C-636 is numbered 3642.
Oh. Yeah that’s right. I didn’t realize they had both an m636 and a c636. I guess I was wrong.
Its canadian because of the rear single headlight
@@ZombieSlayer-dj3wb Along with the louvered air intakes, wider corner steps, bolsterless trucks, lack of rear numberboard notches, exposed right-side underframe... all of which (and more) would distinguish an M-636 from a C-636 (granted, half those parts aren't visible from this angle).
@@trainiax MLW had the Dofasco trucks and the Century engines had the HI-AD trucks
Nice video! Do locomotives have keys to start them up?
I don't think so.
Locomotives don't have ignition keys as such, although the reverser handle in the control stand serves a similar purpose (with the handle removed the locomotive is locked in neutral). There are several steps to cold-starting a locomotive that's been sitting for a while, often including closing the battery switch, turning on various breakers, blow-down (turning the engine over with no fuel and air valves open to purge the cylinders), priming and then starting.
Michael E The purge of the cylinders is on EMD. These units were air start. I believe this unit was a GE prototype of upgraded electrical equipment on Alco/MLW locomotives, so the air start may have been replaced. If it wasn’t, then for extended crank, a source of compressed air would be needed. Some of the new EMDs are air start too. I had one which was out of air. I had to connect the main reservoir hose from another engine. Some have quick connections for hooking up shop air.
It sounds and smokes just like a wood burning washing machine ... with bad bearings. My Alcos don't sound that bad. But then maybe because they are N Scale? LOL
That's right!!