Don't Blow Up! Serious Locomotive Issues on a Loaded Norfolk Southern Train
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- Опубліковано 6 кві 2023
- Anyone remember Alco??
A recently reactivated EMD SD70M-2 and aging GP38-2 are trying their best to get this heavy steel train up to track speed. I am no diesel mechanic, but the amount of smoke billowing out of the geep's exhaust was extremely alarming. Perhaps someone in the comments will have a better idea of the cause...
Thanks for watching! - Авто та транспорт
Railroad mechanic here. If the wheels turn then Send it!
What you get for cutting maintenance to hype profits. Bad track, locos that fail. A derailment that costs more than the pay and benefits of those maintenance workers. If I was NS insurance, Id tell them bring those workers back, fix the locos and track, or we dont cover incidents. Its called negligence
And to many lax standards within the railroad itself,such as hot wheel detector setpoints.
Railroads are self-insured.
It costs them less to clean up the derailments and face steep fines. They have the best bean counters in the world.
@@4thgradedropout980 No. It doesn't
@@cdavid8139 Prove me wrong then. I'm open to it.
That pure un turbocharged GP38-2 sounds awesome!
Thank You Gentlemen, finally someone commenting with real railroad knowledge of locomotives - My Dad retired from the NS as a Control & Railroad Bridge Operator after 40 years & never missed a scheduled day of work - I used to love visiting him at work and looking at the control board of all the Track he controlled & seeing the little red lights come on when a Train was coming - It was Awesome !!!
Something is wrong when you have a stack train stopped long term, unless they're somehow all empty containers.
Sometimes stack trains 'stack up' when the ramps are congested or cannot take more trains. It happens
Another epic production in the beautiful utopia of Gary
🤣🤣🤣
Okay, if you will permit me, I shall provide a possible explanation that a diesel mechanic friend of mine gave to me when I showed him this video.
Based on his observation, the cause is either one of a couple of things.
Either the turbocharger has blown or, there is some oil leaking into the engine manifold and causing this smoke or, the mixture of air/fuel is too rich, (too much fuel), thus causing the excessive smoke. There's no way to tell for sure until the engine can be torn down and rebuilt.
GP38-2 doesn't have a turbo. it looks like it is running rich.
@@cpeast Thank you for the information about the GP38-2.
Just a minor injector maintenance issue...sure next time it rolls thru Ft. Wayne, they'll run it to the shop and fi...oh wait...next trip through Collinwood they can just put it in the sho...oh wait...next time it cycles down to Pegram in HQ city, they'll surely repai...oh wait...they can just run it in the rip track at Debutts and... oh wait...send it to Roanoke where they'll surely fix it? Yeah! Just buy a new shiney one. We can't...Such low hp locomotives aren't made anymore. They aren't needed in the PSR...Trip Optomizer whirled... peas!!!?!
@@mmurphy2317 That was funny and accurate. Thank you.
Injector problem. Makes sense.
As for PSR, well, such a fine concept...oh wait...
Black smoke: too much fuel. Grey smoke: it’s likely consuming the engine oil. Either way it needs attention in a big way.
If you didn't know that the train had just passed you'd think some of the old Coke ovens were back in operation at the mill
love the redwinged blackbird calls from the reeds on the left. That old rebuilt CG38 really seems to be on it's last legs, but maybe they can do another rebuild, heck, it's only 53yo...
I heard it to and it put a smile on my old face.👍😊.
Needs a new fuel pump or filters most likely, worst case needs new injectors. I’m betting on low fuel pressure from a failing electric fuel pump.
I bet a bad cylinder
The unit smoking appears to be a GP38. They do not have a turbocharger on the diesel engine. Also, GP38's smoke alot. Totally normal for them. And no, it is not from a lack of maintenance. The train it is powering is very heavy, and is struggling to do its job. The GP38 diesel is likely running rich or "phasing", full throttle, then idle, then full throttle, trying to pull the heavy train...nothing more.
That is sure a smokey Geep, that is a very heavy train, the K5LLA sounds awesome
Oh there's a train coming? It's a NS? Don't worry it won't get here.
😂
😂😂😂
boy, he was rolling some coal. Nice catch
Wow !! That was some serious clag going on there. lol. Nice captures !! James.
It looks like a blown turbocharger to me. The engine burning its own lube oil would explain the gray smoke its belching out
That particular model doesn't have a turbocharger
Yeah it happens sometimes. It'll get fixed when it gets back to the Diesel Shops.
a couple of blown injectors, most likely from idling for a few days then gunned it.
Jamie Brown.... What Comic Book did you get that information from??
Damn, that geep is really acting like a steam engine with all that smoke coming out lol
Chugga chugga geep geep!
I always enjoy American steel going to our home manufacturers 😂
Sadly, 1 load steel around Pittsburgh stamped MADE IN RUSSIA. When I asked the loader why that was he quickly replied BECAUSE IT'S CHEAPER TO PUT RUSSIAN STEEL ON A SHIP, FLOAT IT TO THE GULF OF MEXICO AND BARGE IT ALL THE WAY TO PITTSBURGH.... then it is to make it here. That's why places like Pittsburgh, Pa, Gary, IN, Bethlehem,PA are dead or dying.
Wow 2 on the head and no dpu with all that weight. No wonder that second engine turned in it two weeks
Pretty sure the smoke will go away when it gets up the speed and less throttle is needed. Like my truck! It identifies as a Prius, my truck has a mental illness.
🤣🤣
It's no big deal - the second locomotive just identified as a steam locomotive, that's all.
Even with steam the cause is the same - unburnt carbon.
For a minute, I thought it was an ALCO Locomotive!!!!🤣
The NS Thoroughbred has looked more like a spavined horse lately. A fireman, maybe the engineer too on a N&W class J would get "called on the carpet" if they were seen making that much smoke.
Especially if they were in California? Even now?
As a NS shareholder , I approve this video.
Who else noticed there was a SD70M-2 Leading? Hell yeah!
Sweet catch & smoke show 😁
Incomplete combustion so probably over fuelling. Quick,tune up she'll be fine!
It’s called maintenance……
@@rgj8044 or lack there of
Blown injector?
@@reginald2004 Looks That Way
Maybe the turbo don't work properly
Aint no problem. They’re just double heading a steam engine and a diesel
also disgised as an alco undercover that cheeky loco
Super catch ! 👍
I'm not a Diesel mechanic, but I understand internal combustion engines. The second "loco" [GP38-2 ] is bellowing both black and grey smoke. Black smoke is unburnt fuel with heat present [think tire fire], and the grey smoke is unburnt fuel with heat being removed - [think tire fire being put out]. Basically, the engine in the second "loco" [GP38-2] is going out and is phasing between starting with full fuel being added, then going to idle. Again, I'm not a diesel mechanic, and this is just an observation.
That was glorious and my favorite weather
Bet it sounds awesome in that cabin.
This is what happens when you cut costs on maintenance
What I think is going on here is that the GP’s engine is being overwhelmed with the weight of the train, so it’s being pushed too hard. The engines of the GP units aren’t designed for the scale of heavy hauling that engines like the SD60s or 70s are capable of. As a result, trying to meet the motive power needed to keep this train in motion is burning the engine out.
BS. They're designed to run at T8 all day long if necessary. Looks like the train is on flat ground as well.
It always defered maintenance that get them and the crews are told to just get out of the yard then its some one else problem
@@geraldmarcus947 no, sometimes shit happens enrourte because it can.
@@reginald2004 i am retired from csx and i have had 4 engine on my train and only 1 was running and they ordered me out of the yard only to break down 5 miles out and all comes to a stop Then towed back to the yard
@@geraldmarcus947 I spent 25 years working for CP and I can't count the number of time we'd get broke down on the road. My point is that it's not always poor maintenance. You're not railroading if things go right ALL the time.
Judging by the clear sound of the turbo working on the first locomotive , and zero turbo sound and mad black smoke on second locomotive …. The turbo crapped out on second locomotive…. Turbo diesels without a turbo make a crazy amount of black smoke (more fuel than oxygen basically) even my 1.9L Vw golf TDI when I had to limp it home after turbo decided to self yeet.
No problem with that diesel, it's just an honorary steam locomotive!
Awesome Catch!
Nice smoke show 👍🏻
Gotta love those GE toaster turbos that tent to smoke like that.
If you ran two trains with two crews, you might not have to destroy the locomotives to go from point A to B. My guess is that when Vanguard Group and Black Rock run the railroad into the ground they will act like Steve Urkel saying, "Did we do that?" Then they will pay their lobbyists and media people to get their bailout money from the federal government and Federal Reserve. Once that happens, everyone gets a bonus, and a lot of politicians will get their election war chests filled or a retirement job on the board of directors. 😀
The investments in the rail industry by Vanguard and Black Rock would be decimated if they government had to step in. It would be disastrous for them if this happened. Not sure you understand how badly stock prices would have dropped if such an event would take place.
@@cdavid8139 I was being glib about it but the problem that I am seeing is that the railroads or finance companies are not making capital reinvestment in the railroad infrastructure. Most RR bridges haven't had a fresh coat of paint for decades and are safe for now because of overdesign in the 19th and 20th centuries. They are having manpower shortages for a lot of reasons and just because of pay issues. They are rebuilding locomotives rather than upgrading them. None of the class ones are talking about electrification, etc., or upgrading signal systems to hand faster speed. A lot of dual lines are gone to a single track and the passing tracks are under length because of management decisions of train length. If things do come apart, I'm sure money would be found to shore up Vanguard and Black Rock because that is what Congress, the treasury, and Federal Reserve does, i.e., too big to fail and all that. This is a serious issue but it is not on anybody's radar. Thank you for the reply. I’m sorry for not being more serious in my comment.
@@eottoe2001 I can run with glib. Gotta laugh to get through this world. I'll take some exception to your comments. The railroad industry is absolutely pouring capital reinvestment into the infrastructure. Yes there are manpower issues....as there are with about every industry out there. Railroading is and has never been easy. Not for everyone and without profiling a great deal, today's younger workers are not as prone to hard work as they once were. Pay is generally not an issue as it is very good. Railroads have been single tracking for decades. Most of it was long gone decades ago given improvements in signal systems. As far as faster speeds there is no real reason to upgrade to do so. In North America it is tonnage not speed that is the key factor Yes there are sidings that need to be lengthened, and they are throughout the country. There is a massive re-investment in lengthening sidings underway. I've been handling massive intermodal trains out west for years now and with the new DPU and software capabilities the ability to move 3 miles of train is there. Is it wise to do so in all cases? Probably not. The industry will adjust and continue to adjust. Truckers certainly are.
Or maybe trying to keep the stock price high enough so CN or CP doesn’t buy it.
@@cdavid8139 Not seeing this in Ohio and Kentucky but it could be better elsewhere. BNSF seems tor run their freight faster. Faster seems better if they were derailing so much. Hopefully they will get those siding going but I'm not that that being done on CSX or NS. The length is an issue if they are assembling trains in small yards. Watching the train Sharonville, OH being put together is cringy at times. Cheers.
Smoking like a 2TE10M! Good catch.
If that locomotive had a favorite singer, it would be Smokey Robinson.
That's not an issue. It's just an 1880s era coal engine disguised as a modern engine 😂
I'm guessing burnt/damaged injectors.
My son loves your videos! He would like to know if you will be posting more? Please and thank you!
This comment made my day Molly! Plenty more to come! Tell your son I said thanks for watching - he ROCKS!
It was a great rhythm there, though
If a semi blew smoke like that it would be pulled over, the driver fined and the truck probably towed.
Interesting catch man, can’t say I have seen anything like that before.
I rode an Amtrak from Chicago to Grand Rapids. It was doing that nearly suffocated.
AYO FOR A GP38-2 bro that is wild
I’m not an expert but it’s a blown turbo that would cause the engine to smoke like that. Sometimes it’ll catch on fire
We always know when the train is coming in our town. You can see the smoke for miles. Because the locomotives are worn out.
The old donkey is certainly not a well donkey.😀
Usually low HP locomotives have to be isolated when in trail behind a high HP six axle unit.
It looks like that GP38-2 turned into a steam locomotive.
Looks like an Alco on a good day
How LONG HAS THE GP38-2 IDILING?
Damn that's a lot of coiled steel. And that poor SD is probably 40 or 50 years old.
Preventive maintenance pays for itself many times over. This is a pipeline of tax dollars into the pockets of shareholder class.
You never saw a diesel motor with bad rings before? I've seen that a lot here in Chicago.
Keeping in mind that Fairbanks-Morse 38 opposed piston engines have one more ring than most diesels because they need to seal the piston skirts to separate the air box ports and exhaust ports from the crankcase, and that the F-Ms I worked on had 12 cylinders vice the more common 10, one passed a full power trial. And we found 40 broken rings the next time we punched rings.
I like the video, smoke did seem odd.😮
Just need that good choo choo sound. lol
There are a lot of comments so some Brit has probably already said it, but we call that CLAG! Big time clag.
This EMD wanted to be a GE!
It didn't sound too good as it went by... Since that is a GP unit, it has no turbo, so it can't be a blown turbo. I wonder, was there a loading problem, or a failing bearing? Black smoke is usually from over-fueling or bogging down the engine too much. Also, it's smoking out both exhaust stacks, so it's not like a failure in just one cylinder.
That geep haven’t ran like that in years
Perfect running train....goof!
That was a lot of weight for 2 engines?
As a plate layer of some experience I'd say that track maintenance isn't a priority to the company , also , how can a loco in such bad condition be allowed to run on anyone's metals . Someone's maximizing profit over maintenance, and probably care for staff
Greta would not be Happy if she saw this one! "How Dare You!" lol!
It looks like the turbo went out of it by the way it's blowing smoke.
GP38-2 is blower driven
Not turbocharged
Where did the steel come from? China?
I'm guessing from a local Hot Strip Mill. someone mentioned Gary
This is how you get rid of mosquitoes smoke em out 😮😱😵💫😫😆🥺😃😁
What's your function?
Well, that geep sounds like it'll have the same fate as the Dash 8s...
I dont know what impresses me the most, an ACe Leader or a f*cking geep catching on fire
I have seen that in Chicago on a up not that matters I don’t know it blew a head gasket or what but looks like a job for some snap on tools .
A lot of you apparently do not know much about EMD locomotives. The second unit is a GP38-2, which is roots-blown like a GP7 or 9. THERE IS NO SUPERCHARGER. it can't have a blown supercharger because there ISN'T ONE.
Smh, best check your facts, a roots blower IS a supercharger. Did you confuse supercharging with turbocharging?
Probably a CP leaser on the second pull. Their shareholders never care about anything else but their R.O.I.s...
That seems to be not normal. But I'm not an expert. Thats more smoke than i see
what i think the problem is the GP38-2 is being pushed too hard and they are not really designed for caring trains with steel coils they don't have the power to pull such a train if there was the SD70M-2 another 6 axle locomotive and then the GP38-2 it would not be producing so much smoke because there would be more balanced power and i would be less stress on the GP38-2.
That's not really how diesel locomotives work. The prime mover doesn't work any harder in a mismatched consist, instead the traction motors would burn out if it were pushed too far. Its likely leaking oil or combusting fuel poorly and needs a tune up before it catches on fire. A GP38 is perfectly capable of moving heavy loads, it just can't do it as fast or efficiently as a modern high-powered locomotive.
The Illinois Central Railroad would routinely assign just two SD40 to a mile long unit coal train and they didn't smoke like that, no this is lack of maintenance pure and simple
Plus two SD40 make 6000 hp same as the lash-up in the video
@@mrmckenzie0 well you have your thought and i have mine because i work with ALCO and MLW engines
Another thing I wonder about is-- why are so many tracks in horrible condition. I've seen video of a spot in (I think) Ohio where the track pushes down at least 2 inches when the train gets there. Why is traffic allowed without fixing it?
Gee wiz...you'd think Big Boy went by!
Oh man, that's some bad exhaust/smoke for sure!!!😮
Norfolk Southern: An environmentally responsible corporation!
I really think that engine needs to be tooled up. Not like the Elkhart people could conjure up any mechanics. They would never do that.
That’s too logical, railroads could never do that
That's how you keep a tight balance sheet.
I can't believe how close they are filming. If that train should derail it would be curtains..
They should have immediately shut the engine down and stop all trains until they can get another 2 engines to hook up and pull it the rest of the way
You get fired for doing that
Surprised to see an NS train on the tracks and not carrying nerve gas.
Just looks like a blown turbo. When they don’t spool up they shoot crazy amounts of smoke out the exhaust .
Puff the Magic Dragon!
They knew the net effect of cutting maintenance 150 years ago.
thats a geep in notch 8!
This is probably coming out of Port of Indiana headed east to iintech
EGADS!! Did they borrow the 1218 from a museum??
Must have been 765 under the long hood......
😂😂😂 I wish that really was 1218!
@@boardman49 don't we all !?!?!? Even 611 would be good! A Y6b would work too!
@@paulsmith5398 A Y6b would be fantastic!
@@boardman49 YES!, small diameter drivers, slow, slogging💪 POWER! Add a fantastic N & W whistle, plus more smoke than diesels with blown turbos can produce!, and a kazillion railfans following it! 👍👍👍👍❗
Quality EMD equipment
Still better than a GE toaster.
Not really EMD fault, it’s called lack of maintenance. If you take care of any locomotives (EMD, GE and ALCO/MLW) that is made in the 40’s to the early 80’s they will last forever.
@NorthCountry Rail Production , it's just like cars. EMD's are like Honda's, simple and reliable and with the proper routine maintenance they can last forever.
@@Fullsenddiesel Well obviously NS doesn’t take good care of their railroad.
at least its not a derailment
Before I hear about it on the news I've seen it here first.
It looks like he's burning coal like a steam locomotive.
Why would you pair up an antique GP blower engine with a high horsepower GE for some mainline action ?
Because it wasn't a GE.
They were both EMDs
Smokes like an alco!!!
either a failure of the turbocharger (which there several different ways a turbo can fail) or an injector stuck open. I would put my money on one of those two.