The RU-vid algorithm brought me here and I felt the overwhelming need to let you, Distant Signal, know that this is on par if not a new standard for videos I watch on RU-vid. The narrating, the edits and overall information were really great and made the video even better to watch. Really great job.
For me, exactly the same situation (RU-vid recommendation), and also wanted to say this is a fantastically put together video, and the narrator's voice is perfect. Really feels like a show produced by a large TV production house. Also, as a Brit, I've only seen trains like this once before when I was working in Houston, seriously impressive trains you guys have.
These are among the best railroad videos that I have seen. The producer knows when to comment and when not to. Equally important, he knows when to edit the presentation, i.e., cut away as opposed to showing every car in a train. In too many videos the producers don't seem to understand the importance of editing their presentation.
I transitioned from truck driving after 25 years and 3 million miles due to health issues, and after several years being unable to work, I now transport railcrews to their trains and depots, sometimes assisting crews to build or separate trains, or go get equipment needed to get a train back to operational status. The longest I've assisted with was the night before last, a 16,800' coal bucket we split, so that one could proceed to the power plant downriver, and get the main cleared for other trains to continue their runs. It keeps me busy and able to work despite several physical disabilities. It's cool work.
Mr. Harmon, you have made my day. I am a 73-year-old train freak and I live in Ecuador. Being disabled, I am unable to view trains anywhere and you have brought them to me. I am grateful for this. I will now subscribe to your channel and look forward to watching your videos in the future. You have a mesmerizing voice and I look forward to learning about trains from you going forward.
@@justanotherguardsman.9681 Sir, it's never too late for trains. I'm still alive and so is my love for trains. Thank you for introducing me to this site. I will check it out right now.
@@justanotherguardsman.9681 Thank you for this. I'm now watching a video that says a train is going to stop yards from a deer that isn't frightened. This channel is a gold mine and again I want to thank you for introducing me to it. I have subscribed.
A note about NS’s use of DP from a current Norfolk Southern conductor in Birmingham: most of our trains are built by blocks. Cars are grouped in the train based on their destination. Most of the time when I’m doubling out of the yard and we have to place DP engines in the middle of the train, they go between certain blocks. On train 178 (Birmingham to Bellevue) we’ll place the DP locomotive between the Bellevue block and the Elkhart block. Upon yarding the train in Chattanooga, we’ll cut the Elkhart cars and the DP off, and shove the Bellevue cars into another track before going back and getting the DP off the Elkharts. The outbound crew will then swap onto the train and fill out in the class yard while 142 comes on duty and takes the Elkhart cars. Another thing worth mentioning is while the train lengths are increasing, as is the use of DP, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. DP units can be very problematic in certain territory. Our run from Birmingham to Chattanooga on the AGS North has seen a major spike in train separations, especially on trains that run DP and trip optimizer. NS is looking into multiple DP sets now, but I feel that’ll only make things worse
Hello 29 year old here. i want to tell you to please continue putting the physics and mathematics behind the trains in your videos....... RU-vid has become more dumber down in every videos content and i really was engaged in your presentation. it was like a professionally produced educational video.... i guess i felt like a kid again in science class is what im saying and i dont find that in most vids. was really engaged to your lesson. thank you!
I never considered myself a train fan, but I watched this video all the way through and found it fascinating. I certainly appreciate the time and knowledge that went into this video. Please keep it up!
A quick aside re: Origin of Distributed Power: My Dad worked for GE the 1960's as an Electrical Engineer. He had Radio experience from the USAF and held a First Class Radio Telephone license. In 1968 GE had an early stage project to design & control multiple GE train engines spaced throughout the length of the train (front, middle, rear) using radio control - I don't remember hearing the term "Distributed Power" (I was in High School at the time). My Dad was to be the leader of the project, but something happened and the project was put on "hold". My Dad was reassigned to work in Glens Falls, NY, on a completely different GE project and the "train project", as we called it, just faded away. It's very interesting to see your video describing today's reality of Distributed Power. It's been 50+ years for me wondering what ever happened to the "train" idea - now I know. Thanks for a great video! CRS
RC (radio control) cars,coupled to locomotives was how this was first done. It's something you can Google for more info. All the radio gear was in a box type car. Kinda neat evolution. Not a lot of meat here. Good editing😊
DPU trains are especially common in winter time to improve braking ability and response time and ensure consistent air pressure throughout the entire train. DPU systems are Also used in hilly or mountainous tracks to reduce train slack and help prevent as well as the potential for a "stringline" derailments.
Dpu,s are only used to give extra power to the train and helps prevent stress in the couplers on long heavy trains. The braking is controlled from the lead locomotive. Modern locomotives have a built in Dpu function, not remotely controlled, it uses sensors in the couplers and the brake pipe air pressure to automatically activate the locomotive when the power is needed.
@@jamessimmons3968 DP is integrated into the newer locomotives so you don't need to close a breaker for it to be active. The DP reacts to either the throttle input from the lead locomotive or from the commands of the engineer through the use of the fence to operate it independent of the lead locomotive. Auto control automatically puts up the fence when activated and controls the DP units. I've never had a DP unit that I couldn't control from the lead locomotive. DP units also help with braking and will pump up long trains quicker upon release.
it is noteworthy that the incidence of "busted knuckles" in the northeast and alleghany mts has decreased significantly since the proliferation of DPU arrangements. CP, CN, CSX, BNSF, and NS benefit from it. don't know about the rest of the continent.
Callahan is a lovely little town. Always had a real soft spot for that beautiful northeastern corner of FL; one mental snapshot that’s always stuck with me is the open views of the St. John’s River a bit south of Callahan. Ideal Southern swamp imagery & some quality railfan opportunities in the general area.
Man, this is definitely not what I expected when I saw a random train video on the home page! This is incredible quality and information! Keep doing this amazing work! I can't say for certain, but I'm barely 7 minutes in and I feel you pulling me into an incredible train-geek rabbithole! I gotta watch more of your stuff!
Years ago while in the military I had the honor of serving with two guys both Master sergeants that had worked on railroads before coming in service john worked for one up in Illinois where he was from and Dale had worked on the old MOPAC line in Oklahoma area. Dale told me, and I have found this to be true, that the railroad is still the best barometer on how the economy is. As long as the economy is strong and growing you will always find more trains rolling due to the amount of goods that need to get to market. When the economy is sluggish or just bad and not growing you will find fewer trains and they will be longer. In the last 2 years I have watched this play out with the inflation and a struggling economy. UP here in Arkansas are running fewer and longer trains than they were 3 or 4 years ago
16:15 ... Your "technical gab" is exactly what I clicked on this one to listen to. Being a novice to all things railroading, I was hoping for an even more in depth discussion.
I am delighted to listen about both engines and trouts in the same video :) Being a person with first-hand experience on European rail and intermodal, I have learned a lot about railroads in the US from your fascinating vid. At the first glance, US railroads look much less sophisticated than our European mostly-electrified network and locos (...and traffic control!). But on the other hand it's insane - the power, tracktive force and length of trains, especially intermodal. WOW! Remote DP is a beautiful solution to problems unknown in Europe. We sometimes add a loco on the butt, but only for some mountain lines and problematic slopes.
My husband and I have been railfanning Northern Arizona this past week and got to see many, many DPUs. Last night he asked me how DPUs work so we watched this video and it was very informative, and very interesting to watch! I think you were the first railroading channel I subscribed to once I became a railfan, and you are still one of my favorite content creators!
I'm down by the Union Pacific Line near Benson in the south Arizona: about 1/4 mile away. I'm not a big rail fan but it's somewhat interesting. Hope you enjoy the trains.
I found your channel not too long ago and I thoroughly enjoy your enthusiasm, narration, and knowledge of the locomotives! Your videos are truly high quality in every degree!
Thanks for another informative and entertaining video. I recently rode in a DPU and was surprised to discover the engines completely shutdown during crew changes and other longer stops.
In the 1960s Southern Pacific ran a daily ore train from Eagle Mountain Mine to the Kaiser Steel plant in Fontana CA. It always had three units at the head and two units in the middle. It was reported that at the time it was the heaviest regularly scheduled train. It had one hundred ore cars an a caboose.
Thank you, I didn't realize that the "Fence" could be turned on and off by the engineer. The use of the "Fence" as you describe makes sense in territory with undulating grades.
You Yanks are so, so lucky to have these magnificent beasts to enjoy. Our trains in the UK are really small in comparison. But...., and it's a big but..., I live where the very first train began. The "Rocket", George Stephenson's first trial locomotive ran right passed the house I now live in during the Rainhill Trials from 6 to 14 October 1829 in Liverpool. My house is much older than that and it is still in good condition considering its age, it is certainly in better health than I am. However, not as much rail traffic runs in Britain now and that's a damn shame. So, you are still lucky to have what you've got. Many thanks for the pleasure I get from videos like this but it also gives people like me, not in the US, a glimpse of what it's really like where you are that we wouldn't get to see without these videos and people like you who go out of your way to put them on YT for us to enjoy.
Thank you for the descriptive DPU understanding. I never even considered drag coefficients as a potential asset for this. Love your content and demeanor. You do excellent voice over!
Danny, NS tries to build our trains by destination. For example, I'm working a 153 (daily Greensboro, NC to Birmingham, AL manifest) today. I predict leaving Linwood, NC I'll have 50-70 Charlotte cars on the head end, with 50-100 more behind that cut bound for points south of Greenville, SC (Toccoa, Doraville, Atlanta, and Birmingham). The Yardmaster in Charlotte will have cars bound for Spartanburg, SC on the head end of one of our pickup tracks in Charlotte, so that when we get to Spartanburg this evening, our set off will be on the head end. Building trains this way unfortunately distributes the tonnage poorly through the train, but DP does help with that. The 153 I'm working today has DP about half the time. The northbound sister train, 154, has DP almost every day.
I have no idea why RU-vid brought me here but I ended up clicking and watching. I don't regret it. I used to love model trains when I was a kid and I have enjoyed the few videos of yours that I have seen.
This is a gold mine of railroading, really great stuff. One thing to make it really better for who doesnt know much of the area mentioned: add some maps or visuals that help people know where your talking about. I think it would be great if it happens
Danny, your integrity and humbly acquired knowledge shine through. Good combination of tripod/drone footage. Most impressed with your "safety tip insertions" and hearing protection warnings. I've casually railfanned since the end of steam on SP (San Francisco peninsula), and l would have happily integrated your methods~ woulda been great to have this technology back when we were budding railfans. PS: my mom's uncle was SP Western Division, and retired with steam (Pacifics, GS's, cab-forwards, etc.). He drew Pres. Harding's inbound off the extra board; drew his funeral train outbound: "brought 'im in 'live; took 'im out dead"
Danny you always nail it on your productions. Can’t say enough how much I enjoy watching your RU-vid channel. Awesome is all I can say! Take care brother. Kin Kindred
I didn't even get to think the full question "why aren't those containers double stacked like I've seen elsewhere?" when you brought that up and answered it. A++
even though i have always understood the DPU concept and the way it has grown and changed, watching this video about it was spectacular because you explained it so well.
Danny, I don't know if you know this, or not. You stay up on things really well...Distributed Power, used to be called RADIO TRAINS. They started out using a short red boxcar with a white top and about 6" down from the top was white, so it wasn't so hot on the inside. They also had thermostat controlled exhaust fans. There was a door, like a cab door, on each end. It had round donut mushroom vents on top. It also had 5 top fed "CAN" antennas up there 2 on each end, separated as much as possible and one 1/3 back from the "A" end. It had metal islands built up inside, welded to the floor, All rebar welded to the floor and poured with concrete. This was so they were bottom heavy. There were walkways around the islands. Plenty of conduit and cableing and an ECR receptical, mounted on each end of the car, and to the right of where the end door was, (to plug an ECR cable from tge ECR receptical on the Locomotive to the ECR receptical on the Radio Car. and a jutt rack to suspend the ECR cable. ((ECR = Emergency Cranking Cable. Female two prong receptical.)) One "T-Rack" voice radio, mounted below the 1/3 back antenna, for voice communications for linking up with the Lead unit. Then you had several "Channel Boxes" mounted on each end, in big square tubing frames, welded to the walls & floor. They were hooked to a 27 pin TRAINLINE MU receptical, out on the end of the car above and on the right side, (facing the coupler) and an MU Cable connected to the Locomotive and to the Radio Car. Lots of quick disconnect cables covered the ends. (inside the car). They were set up so when the "Radio Car" wasn't being used, they could snatch the radio boxes off and hooked to test equipment and everything verified to be right, and they were kept in the Radio Tech Building under lock & key. The Radio Car, WAS the Lead unit, in relation to the Locomotive it was connected to. The locomotive's batteries were connected to the car via the ECR cable, so the car had plenty of power. Ok, those racks, like I mentioned earlier, that held the radio LETTER BOXES or Channel Boxes. (the names were the same, just dependant on who was talking) were also in the Short Hood Nose of the lead Locomotive. There were switches that had to be set on the panels JUST ALIKE for that consist. You couldn't have any other link set, with those same combinations.
I didn't film it, but I was working in a switch yard and the engineer was well versed in using his remotes to switch. Empty coal train came in, three on the head end - no DP. It was to be switched, then power modded to have a DP on it before heading to the mine. As luck would have it, the second unit was facing the correct way to be a lead. Engine one became the DP, engine 2 became the new leader, engine 3 was a trail to unit 2. Brakeman was operating the switches, conductor was on the ground giving hand signals to the engineer, who was sitting in unit 2. He ran his remote from the cab of unit 2, was kind of neat to see! I hear it's super illegal, but... what do you do. The stories those guys had were pretty entertaining.
Danny, I think this was one of your best videos! Great to see the NS action and the locations you filmed were awesome. I especially enjoyed the drone footage. The DPU info was really informative. Kinda felt like I was trackside through the whole video.
Take the time to watch his entire library of videos going back several years. Yes, camera resolution wasn't quite as good when he started, but every one of them is well worth the time spent watching. You might also catch him in the credits for some commercial videos. Caught one a few months ago on TV, on "Trains and Locomotive" (runs Mondays on RFDTV). Don't normally watch the end credits, but "Narrated by Danny Harmon" caught my eye that time.
This is soooo fascinating. When I was a kid, I lived in Jax. My dad worked for ACL, then SCL in the office. We rode the train often. I miss the Ubion Station
Great video and a great explanation of DP. I live in the UK but really enjoyed your video. My son has been transfixed by both the train images and your narration (I think it's your voice). I've subscribed so I can get more of your videos.
Danny, the best rail channel I've encountered. Expertly shot / edited & professionally narrated. Plus, you clearly know your subject. My grandfather retired from the AT&SF in the late 1960's with 43 years time in service. I'm now older than he when passed in 1972 but the little boy who loved trains is still very much present. Subscribed! It's clearly a labor of love but thank you for your time and effort.
Many thanks, Larry! Sounds you got a leg up on railfanning with a Grandfather like that. Yes, for many of us, that little boy who loved trains never grows up.
This is a cool video. The NS train is my favorite locomotive. We still have one NS working in Kingsland/ St Mary's. Love learning about how DPUs operate. ❤😊 Thanks Danny.😊😊My husband use to live on Cahoon Rd in Marietta. I'm familiar with that area. Years ago.Both his parents passed so now lives In Kingsland. Love this video. 😊
IKR, there was about a 4 hour break between trains in Folkston this year. However, the fans waited patiently for the trains... If I had been fishing and caught nothing in 4 hours, I would have put my rod and reel down by then.
Haha, we frequently have 6 hour breaks between trains here on the Scenic Subdivision, mainly due to maintenance because it crosses the Cascades. Still, it's kinda frustrating lol.
Better than one train every 24 hours on the old CSX Panhandle line (especially when that one train is at night)...thanks to CSX selling it off a couple years ago to RailUSA/FG&AR. It pretty much killed rail fanning in the Western panhandle.
@@cup_and_cone theres always the But. They sold it to BNSF. So I'm sure they have plans for it. And of course we still make runs along it.Privately I think it's a maintenance deal.
That technical gab is why I clicked. I can understand a fascination with the engineering of railroads but that requires understanding the basic principles. For someone who knows almost nothing about trains, knowing about the different kinds of propulsion would help understand why observing the trains in operation is fun.
This was one of the best railfanning videos I have ever watched. Thank you for posting it. It was informational, it kept my interest throughout the video and the locations were awesome.
This is a great segment! I’m am a rail fan now for the rest of my life. I shared with my family and friends and hope they enjoy this channel as much as I do! Thank you so much for the great content!!
It seems to me that "precision railroading" is a cover up term to hide the real reason for long trains; reducing personnel by one or two thirds. A fifteen thousand foot train is operated by two people whereas in the past it would have been three trains with six people.
Our territory is eesigned for trains 7000-7500 feet. Anything over 8600 feet and it can only fit in 2 sidings between yards, not to mention longer it takes to walk back, check a problem or stop between sidings blocking more crossings
1980's version of downsizing. As a brakeman for the former SP, we had a crew of four. I guess as technology advances, we may see unmanned trains operated like unmanned drones.
Thank you Danny for putting together this amazing video.. Your editing and color commentary is the best I’ve heard. Your knowledge is incredible.. along with passion for railroading. Really enjoy the drone footage.. game changer! Have a great Memorial Day Sir🙏🏽
I do LOVE the quality of the narration ! He knows his stuff. He leaves in all the train sounds, has his radio scanner picking up cross-talk and he explains everything ! Here's something you may not know, on engines that DON'T have the dropped-nose (they have a full windshield), the Crossing Bell will be mounted high up above the sand tank, just above the head lights. Imagine looking AT the back side if the bell. The control stand will be on the RIGHT SIDE of the engine, looking at the BACK of the bell. (that's your trivia for the day). Knowing that enables you to know which side the engineer will be on.
nice vid - thanks. The shrimp looks mighty fine there too. We get DPU units on the unit oil and unit coal trains out here that go over one of the passes in the Cascade mountains in Washington state - frequently two units on the front and two more on the back.
Danny always knocks it out of the park with these. Information is always presented in an easy-to-understand and eye-catching way by a guy who clearly knows his stuff - and obviously takes pride in the quality of his uploads. Even though most people will never appreciate or understand the amount of behind-the-scenes work involved in producing quality content like this, it's a much-appreciated addition to my (and others') youtube-viewing. Keep it up!
I went back and watched this one a second time,Thank you so much your channel is just wonderful and the video is fabulous. I do look forward to all the detailed information you give us on the trains. Thanks again.
This was the most professional video on trains that I have watched on RU-vid. The voice overs were clear and easy to understand. and the camera work was great. The editing of the final product was flawless. Great job!
I really enjoy these videos! Your knowledge and narration style reminds me of the old railroad VHS tapes I would watch with my grandpa. Thank you for reminding me of those wonderful memories with him! Keep up the outstanding work!
Thank you for the informative video. When I was a kid back in the 80s, I was a rail fan, and I never saw engines in the middle or at the end of the train, Now I live near the Union Pacific line in Austin, TX and see the distributed power frequently. Your video has helped me better understand modern railroad operations. Great work!
Excellent video. When I was running trains we had units hooked up in multiple and operated from a single control. That was the definition of engine. And we had helper units which another engineer and fireman ran. It was a whole different ball of wax so to speak. Your explanation of distributed was excellent. So you enlightened me. Thanks Danny. I love your channel. 👍👍👍❤️
Woooohooo!!! 35 minutes of DH knowledge for us!! I’m 59, loved trains all my life, but never lived near any. Just now got to a point in my life where I can model some and learn the ins and outs of railfanning. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your videos. Bucket list is to cross paths with you someday.
I grew up just outside of Roseville, CA and always took trains for granted. I'm the same age as you, but this is my first time watching any train-related stuff online and I'm mesmerized. I didn't realize how much I miss being around them.
Another great video on more modern day railroading insight and everything else! CSX has indeed been running a lot of AC44s lately, and other good power too. I was at Folkston the 15th, didn't realize you were near there!
Danny, I want to say thank you for the effort, hard work, and knowledge that you give us in your videos. This was an exceptional video, and as always, I really enjoyed it! Thanks again sir
