Working the Deuce...

rmgill · Dec 22, 2009

So, I volunteer at the local Railroad Museum. They recently received a tank car (kaolin slurry) that is in very good shape. It was placed at the rear of building 1 some time back. They had a donation of a VERY well preserved late 40s fire truck that they need to make space for and they'll be putting it into the back of building 1. So, the tank car had to move to clear the door. The problem is that the leader to get to the tank car via the back of building 1 is VERY short.

So, enter me with my truck last saturday. They needed the tank car moved and I had the means. I used the large 3/4" chain with pear links to hook up. I bought this at the last GaMVPA rally and I knew it'd be perfect for moves like this.

I had to be careful 1, to move the car slowly and 2 to be certain I didn't run over any part of the track that had bolts or projections that would tear a tire. I managed to do both neatly and NOT have a problem. The lead that I was pulling the tank car up was very slightly up grade so there was no issue with the tank car running down the truck on the incline.

The truck had no issues, gradually letting out the clutch, a bit of gas to 1500 RPM and letting it ease into the pull and it started the car moving no problem. It even climbed the rails to get past two sets of switches no problem.

I'll be going back today to help move the fire truck into it's position as it's NOT running right now.

mckeeranger · Dec 22, 2009

So, does Steel Soldiers have a hall of fame?

If so; does rmgill win in the heaviest object pulled with a deuce category?

If he doesn't, who does?

rmgill · Dec 22, 2009

The guys with the logging and construction companies probably have that. The tank car WAS empty. It is however a double wall tank with a great bloody structure and trucks, I'll have to check it's tare weight later today. I didn't note that before.

Coal Cracker · Dec 22, 2009

Lol I'm in the NRHS and a train nut too

I think you should name her SD40-Deuce :-D

saddamsnightmare · Dec 22, 2009

December 22nd, 2009.

RMGILL:

Congratulations on the tank car pull.... Figure rolling resistance and 4 to 6 lbs per ton on level track-roller bearings and warm temperatures(?), probably not pulling 400 lbs rolling resistance. I used to move a 47,000 LB Nickle Plate Road C-7-P bay window caboose on friction bearings with a 1989 Ford F250. Starting's not the problem..... Stopping can be.
If you look in the book US Military Railroads by General Carl Grey (1955?) you will see that many deuces, including cab over GMC's, were adapted in Europe during WWII as switch engines and locomotives, and back in the 1970's one of the US Army bases in Korea had an M35A2 adapted to run on the rails with couplers and air brakes to serve as the base switcher. Now your boys need to get an ex USAF GE44/45 tonner, they can suck it up operating for about $300.00 in paperwork charges, mooch a DOD roller bearing flat for a few bucks more to haul it in on, and you have a two car train.... :-D

Unimogs are frequently adapted to locomotive duty in Europe, and I believe that the Long Island has one as a shop switcher.

Cheers,

Kyle F. McGrogan :-D

rmgill · Dec 22, 2009

Kyle, the RR Museum, has two 44 tonners. Hartwell #2 and The problem is for this particular move it was a problem to get to this particular lead. The lead track beyond the points is just enough space for a single car and a track mobile (currently down). I don't think their 44 tonners AND a rail car will fit in this lead. It usually takes TWO locomotives to make the move. IT was quicker for me to use the deuce since I was there and they just need this one car moved clear of the doors to building 1.

I am going to ask why we don't extend this lead given they have some sections of track already made up.

PorscheTech911 · Dec 22, 2009

That's a really cool picture! Thanks for sharing it, it's cool to see the deuce pulling something that much bigger than itself.

Coal Cracker · Dec 22, 2009

saddamsnightmare said:
December 22nd, 2009.

RMGILL:

Congratulations on the tank car pull.... Figure rolling resistance and 4 to 6 lbs per ton on level track-roller bearings and warm temperatures(?), probably not pulling 400 lbs rolling resistance. I used to move a 47,000 LB Nickle Plate Road C-7-P bay window caboose on friction bearings with a 1989 Ford F250. Starting's not the problem..... Stopping can be.
If you look in the book US Military Railroads by General Carl Grey (1955?) you will see that many deuces, including cab over GMC's, were adapted in Europe during WWII as switch engines and locomotives, and back in the 1970's one of the US Army bases in Korea had an M35A2 adapted to run on the rails with couplers and air brakes to serve as the base switcher. Now your boys need to get an ex USAF GE44/45 tonner, they can suck it up operating for about $300.00 in paperwork charges, mooch a DOD roller bearing flat for a few bucks more to haul it in on, and you have a two car train.... Unimogs are frequently adapted to locomotive duty in Europe, and I believe that the Long Island has one as a shop switcher.

Cheers,

Kyle F. McGrogan

I would love to see a pic of a deuce or a 5 ton with a coupler and air hose / hirail setup, now I'm on a pic quest

srodocker · Dec 22, 2009

thats awesome! another thing checked on the list of "What you can do with a deuce" even my gf said that was cool!

USAFSS-ColdWarrior · Dec 22, 2009

Choo-CHOOOOOOOOO :!:

... Chugga chugga Choo Choo :driver:

We've all read "The Little Engine That could"... :not worthy:

Thanks for the mission recap.

tm america · Dec 22, 2009

nice job on the pull pics look great.i pulled i dead d9 with front loader about 1.5 miles in soft ground with my deuce when i got to where it was going it was sand i dug down to the hubs .i dont know how i was about to back out to unhook the chain.i used a 1 inch chain and had about 40000lbs of sand in the back put it in low and kept it going steady

dittle · Dec 22, 2009

40000 lbs of sand?????????? Did you break your axels with that

Nevermind, re-read your post. Had it in my mind that you had that in your deuce.

tjcouch · Dec 22, 2009

Found this:

Farmun · Dec 22, 2009

My brother in law works for a railroad company. He got his work truck (one that has the rail wheels that lower to the tracks) stuck this past weekend. We used the Deuce to pull him out. Not quite pulling a rail car, but .... his truck does ride the rails..... :-D

chicklin · Dec 22, 2009

tjcouch said:
Found this:

Wow, that looks like something out of Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome

DaveP · Dec 22, 2009

empty or not that tank car is a heck of o good pull for a 14,000 pound truck!

wreckerman893 · Dec 22, 2009

When I was in Korea I actually got to see the switcher mentioned above in action.

They had rail wheels adapted to the Rockwells on it and it was pulling a string of flat cars loaded with new M1A2 tanks.

I got pictures but not in digit form.

tjcouch · Dec 23, 2009

wreckerman893 said:
When I was in Korea I actually got to see the switcher mentioned above in action.

They had rail wheels adapted to the Rockwells on it and it was pulling a string of flat cars loaded with new M1A2 tanks.

I got pictures but not in digit form.

Neat-o!

Ferroequinologist · Dec 23, 2009

I win,
http://www.steelsoldiers.com/deuce/40941-what-can-m35a2-tow-2.html#post452874

690tons of locomotive and stone, uphill. That's 1,380,000lbs.

USAFSS-ColdWarrior · Dec 23, 2009

Ferroequinologist said:
I win,
http://www.steelsoldiers.com/deuce/40941-what-can-m35a2-tow-2.html#post452874

690tons of locomotive and stone, uphill. That's 1,380,000lbs.

Thanks for the Thread Link :!:

Trucks, trains and boats (barges).... Now we need aircraft to have the full set ;-)

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