WI & Southern RR

[ragtime88]

This is probably old stuff to all of you, but scanning is new to me. I was fascinated to pick up a fragment of a discussion Sunday night on 160.575 (this *is* in the database) on where to "park" a train. Seems, side tracks are hard to come by! They thought Rock Springs might be a good choice. --G

 

[djeplett]

Canadian National

Up here in Waupaca county I often hear the Canadian National guys on 160.785 parking trains. ("Three feet..." "Two feet..." "One foot..." "You're there.")

The other night they were discussing three different engines and the condition they were in. They had to meet a diesel repair tech near Dale in order to get one fixed. Another engine ran fine, but had a busted cab door. Now that would have been a cold ride during the winter!

I also hear the automated reports on that same channel for the number of axles and stuff. It gets tripped when a train passes by. There must be one of those stations near New London.

 

[kb9stb]

CN Auto Identifier

Closest I can figure, there's an automatic statistic recorder/announcer somewhere between the US-45 overpass and Dale on the CN main. I used to listen to it when I commuted to Milwaukee and back.

 

[KB9NLL]

WCL automated

I lived (on the weekends now) just south of Readfield and hear it all the time full blast. It might actually be west of North Readfield. When I was a kid I went somewhere on the north side of Hwy H... Actually It's right on my detailed book map-"Fremont Station" about 3-4 miles by road west of Readfield 3miles by road north of fremont hwy 96 and hwy H. Basically its 3miles west of North Readfield by track just off of hwy H on a private rd. It always has the temperature, weight, and says "no defense" or maybe its no defects? I'ts a automated computer voice on their main freq. 160.785. I never hear the other freqs. used in the valley around there. 160.785 is mostly used for the dispatcher which is in appleton I believe. I've heard the dispatcher in Readfield after a bunch of dtmf tones so I think they can use relays to talk farther than simplex.

 

[djeplett]

It might actually be west of North Readfield.

I think you're right. That would be close enough to me.

And I think when I hear them parking stock they are near Weyawega.

 

[ragtime88]

WI&S comes right through Marshall, and I've heard them several times since my earlier post, always on 160.575. Including early yesterday morning (about 5 am); I caught a fragment of conversation about backing up 10 feet to park 3 cars loaded with lumber.

 

[OpSec]

It always has the temperature, weight, and says "no defense" or maybe its no defects? I'ts a automated computer voice on their main freq. 160.785. I never hear the other freqs. used in the valley around there.

The talking defect detectors will generally give the railroad name, location, number of axles, train length, outdoor temperature and if there are any defects. If there are defects, the detector will say what axle(s) the defects were found at...causing the train to stop and sending the conductor walking to inspect the axle(s).

160.785 is mostly used for the dispatcher which is in appleton I believe. I've heard the dispatcher in Readfield after a bunch of dtmf tones so I think they can use relays to talk farther than simplex.

Most railroads use a series of simplex base stations along their routes and the train crews, MoW crews etc use DTMF to call the dispatcher. Each tower site has it's own DTMF coding, so the dispatcher knows which one it is when it pops up on their screen.

 

[KB9NLL]

That sounds right but it also anounces the weight my brother and I figured it must be the average of the whole train.