The history of locomotives, railcars and railroad logistics
Tank cars haul everything from natural gas to corn syrup. In 1963 locals collected whiskey dripping from a tank car following an Orrville derailment.
Editor's note: This is part three of a four-part series on the history of railroads in Wayne County. This week's installment is on locomotives, railcars and railroad logistics.
Today’s locomotives feature computer screens, a control stand with throttle and braking systems, an air brake system, a control to drop sand onto the rails to improve traction in slippery conditions and on steep grades, and, of course, the whistle.
Railcars are designed to carry specific types of freight while boxcars carry various items, and the refrigerated version transports frozen food, dairy products and vegetables. Tank cars haul everything from natural gas to corn syrup — and sometimes more attractive liquids. In 1963 locals collected whiskey dripping from a tank car following an Orrville derailment.
Centerbeam cars carry lumber, drywall and such while the autorack delivers vehicles. Open-top hopper cars haul freight such as coal while covered hoppers protect commodities such as grain and wheat. The flat car carries everything from airplane fuselages to construction equipment. Intermodal containers go straight from the train to trucks or ships for delivery to the customer. Intermodal trains can stretch for miles and are seen on most U.S. rail lines.
Over 200 companies in 32 states manufacture locomotives, passenger cars, and related components and systems. GE Transportation is the world’s largest builder of diesel-electric locomotives, with its main manufacturing facility in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Trains are stored and organized in railyards, which range from those with a few tracks to massive facilities that handle dozens of trains daily and hold thousands of cars simultaneously. Larger railyards usually feature wash racks, fueling pads, paint shops, sanding towers to fill sand boxes and maintenance buildings. Before methods were devised for locomotives to switch directions, these structures were circular or semi-circular and called roundhouses. The nearest railyard is that of the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway Company in Brewster.
Who paints all that graffiti? The “art form” is thought to have begun on New York City subway cars in the 1960s. But the letters and numbers on the sides of cars indicate its capacity, its dimensions, and maintenance and safety information. The obscuring of this data can slow work and cause accidents. Furthermore, the paint used on rail cars costs up to $300 per gallon. Defacing railcars and trespassing on railroad property are acts of criminals.
As for the tracks, the first step in their construction is grading or installation of a drainage system. A layer of ballast, primarily coarse sand, is then laid, followed by the crossties. Railroad spikes and fasteners are affixed to the crossties, and the rails are lowered and fastened to the spikes. A top layer of ballast consisting of small rocks is then applied. A second layer of top ballast typically is applied after some trains pass to solidify the surface.
The standard width of U.S. tracks is 4 feet, 8 1/2 inches. Portions of tracks designed for trains to switch directions include a Y-shaped junction called a wye, which facilitates a three-point turn; a circular loop, which the train rounds; or a turntable on which only the locomotive is turned.
The upkeep and repair of a railroad’s fixed property, such as tracks and bridges, is referred to as maintenance of way. This once involved back-breaking, dangerous work performed manually. Around the turn of the century, equipment to automate these tasks largely removed the human element.
The stillness of the countryside near Nashville, Tennessee was shattered one hot July morning in 1918. A train packed with passengers had just left Nashville. Another was inbound from Memphis. Both veteran engineers understood the inbound train had the right of way, but somehow the green light was given to the outbound train. The tower operator knew the inbound train hadn’t come through, but his frantic telegraphs and whistles were too late.
Rounding a bend at 60 mph, the trains collided. The wooden cars crumbled, leaving 101 dead, mostly soldiers and laborers from a Nashville munitions plant. The Great Train Wreck stands as the deadliest train accident in U.S. history.
Some notable local freight train accidents include an 1892 collision of a freight and a passenger train near Shreve that left 15 dead. In 1918 two trains hit head on in Rittman, killing eight people, while five trainmen lost their lives in a 1965 collision of two trains in Sterling.
According to the Association of American Railroads, thanks to technological improvements and safety awareness, the train accident rate in 2019 was down 30% from 2000, the employee injury rate dropped 46% and the crossing collision rate dropped 32%. It is urged that motorists look for trains at every crossing, gates or no gates.
Virtually every safety aspect of rail operations is overseen by the Federal Railroad Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Freight railroads are considered an environmentally sound method of transportation, accounting for just 0.6% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and just 2.1% of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Next week: Laborers, lingo and legends.