Under current DOT regulations, “Explosives A” no longer exist - these materials are now Division 1.1 or 1.2 (explosive) materials. During switching, cars so placarded must be separated from the engine by at least one non-placarded car.
To avoid penalties being assessed by the local FRA hazardous materials inspector, your hazmat tank cars need to display placards. Regarding switching and train placement regulations, suggest going on-line for US Hazardous Materials Instructions By Rail. It has charts showing requirements for handling hazmat cars during switching, and their placement in trains.
For the tank cars here in this video, the following placards are needed: Caustic soda: UN# 1824, Class 8 corrosive Sulfuric acid: UN# 1830, Class 8 corrosive Potassium hydroxide: UN# 1814, Class 8 corrosive The PROX 74128 car has no chemical listed on the side. You can make it anything you want. My road hauls benzene (UN# 1114, Class 3 flammable) in PROX 77000-series cars.
I love it! to keep up the good work. As for buffer cars, this is what I know applies to the Lake State Railway. Hazardous tank car loads must remain 5 cars away from the engines. Empties must be 2 cars. No distance (buffer cars) required during yard moves or within yard limits. Take care!
The FRA rule for loaded hazmat cars is that there must be at least one non-hazmat car between the car and the locomotive, and at least five if there are enough non-hazmat cars available. That's why you see, e.g., unit oil or ethanol trains with a buffer car: there has to be at least one car before the hazmat, but there don't have to be more, as there are no other non-hazmat cars on the train.
I love the switching yard. Collected quite a bit of HO and ready to start. If you dont mind I am going to copy this yard and add on later. Thanks for the vid.
@ 19:50... regarding buffer cars as it relates to "switching operations"... the only time a buffer car is required is when handling cars placarded "explosives A" (must be separated from engine by at least one non-placarded car)
Two quick thoughts. One, put some barriers on your extension bridge so you don't have my experience in watching your favorite locomotive take a plunge to the floor. Two, you deserve one of those new Digitrax throttles, because that is some nice work!
hello mmr !!! great videos !!! just watched your chemical plant video and would love to see the final project... any guess as to when it might be completed ? i am working on my 2nd plant on my pike and fully enjoyed your aerial shots and personal thoughts on how to build a model chemical plant !!! excellent work !!! being a retired industrial engineer, your ideas were very refreshing and made me realize that i was fortunate to work around many different plants, but then i forgot about just how plants are set up !!! thanks for setting me straight !!! ps... i went to the sabres/wings game the other night and the blue and gold put a real hurtin' on your wings !!! OUCH !!! here on our end of lake erie, we don't really have much hope for the sabres, but the bills are a different story !!! dad and i just love the big turn around for the lions, our 2nd favorite team of all time !!! great coach, too, but cannot go for it on EVERY 4th down !! we just love his aggression, though !!! we get detroit am radio here on our end of erie (wjr) and i have listened intently since my youth !!! go lions !!! blessings to you, mmr !!!
alfred... nazdrowie to you, my polish friend !!! i do not know how to exactly spell it so i will spell it as it sounds... zheemnah holetta here in western ny state !!!
Loved watching this switching. I have a switching layout myself here in the UK loosely based on the BN Yard at Fremont. Can I ask why you do not used magnets to uncouple your kadees?
Looks like you’re kind of messing up missed a couple cars on your switch and where is the horn and where is the bell got to keep the guys alert in the yard you don’t want to hit anybody
If you watch real-life switching, the horn is mostly only used for grade crossings, these days. There's no need to use it to announce ethat the train's about to start moving, because the conductor and engineer are usually in radio contact. The bell also isn't used a whole lot.
