Smr Simple!

I just watched a discovery tv show called "Really Big Things, Locomotive" on the General Electric's "Evolution" series locomotive plant in Erie, Pennsylvania,.

see https://www.getransportation.com/genera ... lution.asp

Followed the assembly line from beginning to end and and the presenter Matt Rogers actually in control of the Evolution on GE's own test track.

I was amazed how they assembled these huge things in kitset from basically a flat deck where they just plonked on the cab, the tail end and then the engine compartment.

The amount of plumbing and wiring involved was amazing.

Wish we could trains like this in NZ

GETS invested more than $200 million and six years of research and development.

"Six years ago, we pulled together a team of scientists, engineers and customers to explore how we could build the most fuel efficient and environmentally friendly diesel electric locomotive.

see wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GE_ES44DC

a pic

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:GE_E ... 9-44CW.jpg

Two GE locomotives, ES44DC (BNSF 7667) and Dash 9-44CW (BNSF 4335) showing differences between the two models. Location: City of Commerce, California, USA.

This site has some great cab pictures

http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulsid/se ... 93/detail/

They had a special last night on the Discovery Channel called Modern Marvels All about modern trains. Delt about this train mostly. showed the big Union Pacific rail and switching yard in North Platte NE. And talked about the Cajon Pass in Ca. The were in the cab of a Evolution as it was climbing the pass and were explaining about how they have slippage going up hill. everything is automatic when the wheels spin it sprays sand in front of the wheels for traction. The also showed two pusher engines on the back. Said that if they were not helping the train would just stop. Then at the top of the pass they stop so the back engines could unhook. On the down hill side the use dynamic braking, until the engine can't hold it no more then they use air brakes. Had a lot on the container side too.Showed the port of Los Angles container yard,it was huge. But I found the North Platte UP yard on Google Earth and added the KMZ.

BAILEY YARD: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bailey_Yard

Thanks dwax for the google earth KMZ and Big Papa for the wiki info.

I am going to have to look out for "Freight Trains" episode of Modern Marvels on The History Channel, might going searching for that episode.

We just don't have anything like the yard or trains in NZ .

I watch the one dwax spoke of. When my older bro worked at cat he mentioned moving tractors on air, and at the time it just went over my head, but to see the diesels get moved from one assembly position to the next on air and it was only 2 pads that were no wider than the frame, and they were square I always thought start a frame and just bring to parts to it till you had built the whole thing, with the people moving, not an assembly line moving the locos.......

Those movies can be bought on-line. Go to History Channel. I glimpsed 5 or 6, one on the Soviet Unions railroads.
Just found them on Ebay. search for 'history channel trains'

Never knew they had so many about trains and that they're in their 13th season.

Modern Marvels Transportation Tech DVDs
Episode list on TV.com.
and search for Modern Marvel Trains as well as Modern Marvel Railroad on eBay to get some hits.

Here is the link to the "Tracks Ahead" show that they had on my local PBS station (Public Broadcasting Service).
http://www.tracksahead.net/
They just took it off last month, too bad because they were showing a new show 5 days of the week (1/2 hour long each). Some of the series is a bit dated but it had a lot of good info on real trains, toy trains, train art & photography.

Big Papa

You can buy it on line at AOL, but I will think about just waiting to see if it will repeat on sat TV. here is a link to a teaser.

http://video.aol.com/video-search/query ... t%20Trains


http://video.aol.com/video/modern-marve ... ns/1801283

Thanks all for the links