Yep

I have both driven tractor-trailers and worked as a conductor for a freight railroad. One of the trucking companies that I have worked for is the very same company in this video. So I'm intimately familiar with the scenario. He did have a short hill ahead of him, then a short level stretch, then another hill. But at the posted speed limit and the shortness of the level stretch there was no reason to try and grab gears. You knew you were in for a bit of a long climb through a speed restricted residential area no matter what.

This driver was rushing due to the pressure of delivering x number of loads a mulch a day. We all felt that pressure, but some took it well beyond the realm of safety than others. I used to have some of these guys pass me at 80+ MPH. Nuff said.

I never drove that Pete but I can tell you it was a pretty truck. Was a glider kit, I don't recall what motor/tranny it had.

I can tell

You know more about this.  Ive been in that place.  Wink Wink

Thank you for the reply.

JD

Hmm, JD? I’ll be running names through my head for a while...

I don’t miss zigzagging through Bangor 8-10 times a day, I can tell you that!

Ah! My territory...

I was not on this train at the time, but I know the crew that was. Lol 

I miss taking cars up to the DL at slateford. We barely go past Martins Creek anymore...

NSmapaul

I miss catching the interchange at Slateford. I guess Taylor makes more sense, but it took away some interesting action from the area. 
 

Back then I used to have some good chats with Carl, I hope he’s doing well in retirement. 
 
I’m in NJ but have spent a lot of time over there in PA. You mention Martins Creek, I used to haul flour out of there. 
 

(suddenly realizes that I’ve had too many jobs lol)

On Topic

And a new addition to the topic

On topic: Yes haste caused this accident, and occurs countless times daily sadly enough. 
 

This particular rail line, known as the Portland Secondary, would make for a great model railroad. I have thought about it many times. As Paul has alluded to NS is shedding these secondary lines, but if you go back in time the line offers a ton of modeling opportunities. 
 

From Phillipsburg NJ to Slateford PA you could have a number of industries, a wye at the bottom of a steep hill that leads to a short line interchange (with an interesting all Alco roster) and a coal fired power plant. 
 

If I had more room I would take a whack at it. I can’t even selectively compress it, I would have to resort to N scale to even attempt to pull it off.  

Carl...

Steve, Carl is well. He stops out at the Chapman yard office once and awhile when he needs to get away from his wife, haha. 

Carl

Paul, very happy to hear that Carl is doing well. I recall watching him having to stop on the wye leaving Slateford/Portland, and having to get the whole mess rolling again starting out on that hill. Deft hand on the throttle for sure.

PSR is a whole 'nother ugly topic. Suffice to say it's destroying railroading across the US for short term gain for the shareholders. Sorry that you're stuck working in the midst of it.

Now where is the elusive JD? 

Thanks

Thanks for adding info to subject field

@Steve

Carl always had his head somewhere else when running the engine. The day he was forced to retire is a statement to that. Lite engine, conductor told him “ok ahead”... Carl went backwards over the derail at a customer that they had just finished shifting. We speculate that he was reading a book or newspaper at the time. 

Yeah, PSR and that Hunter Harrison who “invented” it can F right off... BNSF is the only smart railroad that didn’t fall for the trickery.

PSR

PSR is basically the same things the railroads were doing in the 1970's and 1980's (cutting staff, reducing the size of the physical plant, running bigger trains, etc.)  carried forward to today's environment and technology.

@Dave

Nope, I’m living it every day. Our Managers are scared to make decisions and make needed purchases(like fuel for company vehicles) without authorization from the COO. I wish that was a lie, but sadly it’s not. This is in no way the same as the 70’s. Making hump yards flat shifting yards, saying that it’s more efficient is not my idea of progress. Taking out electric switches for hand throws, then not giving the M&W the proper tools and such to maintain those switches, is not progress. Deferring maintenance on heavily used track while running longer and heavier trains, is not progress. Providing forced 7 day service on customers that are only staffed for or only want 5 day service then charging them demurrage because they stuff them full of cars on the off days is not progress. It’s plain and simple a money grab. When it’s all said and done, the shareholders will walk away with every dime they can squeeze out of the company, and leave whoever comes in after, holding the bag. These same people who report record profits came back to the bargaining table crying poverty and demanding concessions. So, no, it’s not progress, it’s a tragedy.

PSR & Truck drivers

I know PSR is total crap,

But how does it stop stupid truck drivers?

Stay on Topic?

Some would say stay on topic.  Not if Im the OP.

I started this topic and have NO issue with folks talking about that Territory or Company buisness in that area.

If anyone else has anything to say about trucks/Secondary lines..Branch lines..Company Policy...Rules...whatever.  Post it.  If I start a Topic...I want to learn from you guys.  Where ever the conversation goes.

I grew up in a railroad family.  I know some things.  But I dont know it all.

Anytime I post a comment or Topic....if you know History or actually do it...feel free to hijack my posts.

I wanna learn from all of you.

PSR

I think PSR came up because Nsmapaul's signature is hard to tell apart from the rest of his posts - it looks just like another paragraph.  Might help to put some sort of divider in there.

But it is an interesting topic, and I share the general feeling about it.  But I'm no business expert.  I guess 20 years from now it may be clear if the railroads that did it are better or worse off than those that didn't.

One potential interesting side effect I've heard talk of is small shortlines or switching railroads picking up branches that get divested.  But I don't know any specific examples of that.

On the original subject, I'm glad you posted this - that video came up in my youtube feed and I'd watched it and wondered.  Nice to have a bit more context.

not staying on Topic

Frame twist.  Heavy load...trying to beat the crossing.....

Apologies

Yeah, I should put something of a space between. Sorry for hijacking the conversation. I’ll fix the signature thing.

hjacking my Topics

The more you guys talk...the more I learn.

Talk/post....whatever...take over my Topics.

I wanna learn.  I dont care.

Mr Steve..

Im now going through Goolge Maps and other links.  You and Mr Paul brought up some things I would like to model.  I dont know a thing about this area...but your comments of a wye at the base of a hill really had me wonder about modeling possiblities.

Frame Twist

I think that's the way they teach it now days JD, If I would have done that when I was learning I would have been on the side of the road walking. The company I was working for at the time the NWP was still running we had a truck loaded with sawdust leaving the mill in the middle of the morning, He did not look and it cut the trailer in to, There was sawdust everywhere.Kevin

I worked as a mechanic for trucking companies for a couple of

years before I went out to work in the harbor on container refrigeration.  I never saw twisted frames, but did see a few drive shafts tied in knots!

@JD

The grade at the top portion of the wye was quite steep. I remember having to go up there as an extra crew to move cars around a derailment. We had to pull cars up one leg of the wye and shove them down the other leg so that the DL could get them. Took 4 big Dash 9s to barely pull 21 loaded cars up the hill to shove them down the other side. It was always an adventure bringing coal trains down there to the power plant as well.

diggin this...

I have to say this again to make it clear..

If I post anything....feel free to hijack/take over the the subject and let the ideas and comments flow.

I dont care about thread count...I care about learning count.

That's what you get for JIT deliveries!!!!!!

The "just in time" inventory system put added pressure on drivers,can wind up being tired enough to mis-judge

stopping distance,the bent tractor was the result this round,as does the "Just one more round trip" to keep

the customer happy. Was never fond of running thru the center of town to reach a shipper or delivery location.

where there's no room to move or avoid an accident.

Was an OTR Driver for a major fleet,been there,done that, burned the T-shirt!