After hearing the scanner squawk on the way home and an NS 563 waiting to proceed west, i knew it was one of the NS ECP (electronic controlled pneumatic) brake trains they use for a power plant run in our area. I had to wait out 2 eastbounds and a track car before the 563 got rolling. Nothing really special about it, except it uses electric brakes instead of air, but i still wanted some shots of it. i got a few good ones.
First at MP 56 on the Conemaugh
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=237630&nseq=1
then at CP Etna near Pittsburgh
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=237631&nseq=0
Enjoy.
Tom
Do they run dpu's on those trains because here anymore all the coal trains have dpus one them
No. just 3 units on the front. no rear helpers. its a pretty level route so they dont need any help.
jus a minor clarification if i may. they still use air its just electronically actuated by a 240vdc line.
Will those cars brakes work if the need arose for a local to pick it up from a set out or would it have to stay with the ecp eng?
ok now what im about to say is from memory and a very short class i had on ecp stuff.
from what i can remember there were two different ecp systems available. one where the cars could only run as ecp and one where they could run with or without. if im not mistaken NS put the system on that can only be run with ecp control(go figure , the cheaper route). dont take that as gospel though. i have the training crap sitting in my locker at work. i'll skim through it and see if i can get you a for sure answer. The engines equipped with the system work either way. you can see the ecp plug dangling between the mr hose and the coupler in one of those pics if anyones wondering