Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site mtu.UUCP Path: utzoo!decvax!decwrl!Glacier!mtu!pop From: pop@mtu.UUCP (Dave Poplawski) Newsgroups: net.railroad Subject: Re: sand in diesel locomotives Message-ID: <206@mtu.UUCP> Date: Sat, 10-Aug-85 14:27:35 EDT Article-I.D.: mtu.206 Posted: Sat Aug 10 14:27:35 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 11-Aug-85 03:28:31 EDT References: <142@micropro.UUCP> Reply-To: pop@mtu.UUCP (Dave Poplawski) Distribution: na Organization: Michigan Tech, Houghton, MI Lines: 19 Keywords: sand model diesel locomotives Summary: >The service facility for diesel locos calls for water hoses, fuel hoses, >a wash rack, inspection pit and a SAND TOWER. The article was vague >though, and, for the life of me, I can't think of what sand would be >used for in a diesel locomotive. In steam, I imagine it has something >to do with banking fires, but I may be wrong there too. Sand is used by diesels for the same reason it is used by any locomotive (steam, electric, diesel, etc.) - TRACTION. It is put onto the rail just in front of the powered wheels to keep them from slipping when the rail is wet, when the train is going up a hill, or even when just getting the train started. The decision on when to sand used to be the engineer's, but now radar is used to detect the difference between the actual speed of the train and the speed the wheels are turning, thereby detecting wheel slippage and causing the automatic use of sand for more traction. -- Dave Poplawski Michigan Technological University uucp: {lanl, ihnp4, glacier}!mtu!pop arpa/csnet: pop%mtu@csnet-relay