Archives, Room Use Only - KFP301.A3 1884

Archives, Room Use Only - Z43.C37 1923

To enable public transit agencies to engage in more rigorous and effective safety planning, their safety planning records should not be admissible as evidence in civil litigation, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Henry E. Huntington in 1907.; Credit: Theo C. Marceau, New York City. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens

One of the most prized treasures of LA County is 100 years old this year.

The Huntington Library is beloved for its lush botanical gardens and fine art.

As KPCC's Brianna Flores reports, you can trace its origins to a pivotal moment in Southern California history.

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. ˗˗  CSX will close Lansdowne Road in Fredericksburg to through traffic on Monday, Nov. 12 through early  Saturday, Nov. 17  to...

NEWINGTON – Backlick Road at the Fairfax County Parkway (Route 286) intersection between Cinder Bed Road and Terminal Road will be closed nightly...

LYNCHBURG – Motorists who use Odd Fellows Road from the US 29 Business Lynchburg Expressway to access the Main Post Office, Division of Motor Vehicles or other businesses/organizations in the immediate area will need to use alternate routes beginning Monday, October 8. The bridge on Odd Fellows Road over the railroad will be closed for approximately one year beginning that date for replacement.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to improved designs of railroad spikes and improved methods of manufacturing the same. According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for manufacturing a railroad spike may comprise the steps of: preparing a metal blank having a substantially circular cross-section; subjecting the metal blank to at least one cold heading process and at least one cold extrusion process to form a railroad spike having (a) a circular head with a fillet at its bottom side that is angled to engage a railroad tie plate or rail base and (b) a non-threaded shank with a substantially square cross-section and a chiseled tip; and coating the railroad spike with an anti-corrosion material.

A vehicle restraint system for an auto-rack railroad car which includes an active chock and an anchor chock configured to co-act to secure a vehicle in the auto-rack railroad car. In various embodiments, each chock has a chock body including a substantially diamond shaped elongated tube which includes four integrally connected elongated walls. In various embodiments, for each chock, various components of that chock extend substantially along longitudinal axis that lie in the same or substantially the same vertical plane as the apex and trough of the substantially diamond shaped elongated tube of the chock body. The active and anchor chocks: (a) have a lower height than known commercially available vehicle restraints; (b) have a smaller width than known commercially available vehicle restraints; (c) position the strap and the torque tube closer to the tire of the wheel than any known commercially available vehicle restraints; (d) take up a smaller area of each safe zone adjacent to the wheel than known commercially available vehicle restraints; (e) provide a greater strength to size ratio than known commercially available vehicle restraints; and (f) are easy to operate, install, and remove.

A vehicle wheel chock for a vehicle restraint system for an auto-rack railroad car which secures a vehicle in the auto-rack railroad car. The vehicle wheel chock is configured to be positioned on a grating adjacent to a tire of the vehicle.

A method and computer program product of limiting sand use in a railroad locomotive sanding system applying sand to railroad rails to enhance adhesion of wheels of a railroad locomotive on a track having a pair of railroad rails, the sanding system including a plurality of sand applicators for each rail for directing sand flow toward the rail and with the locomotive having two trucks carrying the wheels for supporting and propelling the locomotive along the track. The method and computer program product may include steps of automatically controlling a flow of sand applied to the rail by the locomotive sanding system to limit the application of sand to situations in which applying sand to the rail would be effective to increase the adhesion of at least one of the railroad locomotive wheels on the rail by a predetermined incremental amount. The operation of each of the plurality of sand applicators may be independently controlled for selectively operating those sand applicators whose operation will result in at least the predetermined incremental increase in adhesion of the locomotive wheels on the rail, while not operating the other sand applicators so as to limit the amount of sand applied to the track.

A system for increasing the efficiency of the movement of a railroad car over a length of rail, including a fluid reservoir for containing a quantity of efficiency enhancing fluid, a fluid dispensing member, a fluid pump connected in fluidic communication between the reservoir and the fluid dispensing member for dispensing a predetermined quantity of fluid through the fluid dispensing member, a microprocessor operationally connected to the fluid pump, and a first sensor for generating a first sensor signal in response to a railroad car crossing a predetermined section of track and operationally connected to the microprocessor. The fluid dispensing member is positioned along a railroad portion substantially equal in length to the circumference of a railroad car wheel to provide a substantially continuous flow of efficiency enhancing fluid substantially equal in length to the circumference of a railroad car wheel onto the rail portion when the predetermined quantity of fluid is dispensed.

The invention relates to a plastic screw plug (6) for attaching a rail to a sleeper, in particular concrete sleeper, having an essentially cylindrical plug body which has at the head end a stem region (7) which preferably adjoins a plug crown (8) toward the bottom, and in the continuation of which stem region (7) has an outer thread (9) with which it can be turned out of or into the sleeper, and is provided with an inner thread (10) underneath the stem region (7) in order to receive a sleeper screw. The intention is to improve such a plastic screw plug, in particular, with regard to its operating properties such as uniform application of force into the sleeper, simpler mounting and replaceability, reduction of the risk of fracturing, and additionally to permit it to be used in a variable way. For this purpose, the stem region (7) has on the inside, in the junction with the inner thread (10), a shoulder (13) which reduces the internal diameter over part of the length of the stem region (7) and extends in a spiral shape over at least part of the circumference.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to improved designs of railroad spikes and improved methods of manufacturing the same. According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for manufacturing a railroad spike may have the steps of: preparing a metal blank having a substantially circular cross-section; subjecting the metal blank to at least one cold heading process and at least one cold extrusion process to form a railroad spike having (a) a circular head with a fillet at its bottom side that is angled to engage a railroad tie plate or rail base and (b) a non-threaded shank with a substantially square cross-section and a chiseled tip; and coating the railroad spike with an anti-corrosion material.

A method of making an electrical connection to a railroad rail includes fastening a wire bonding assembly to a railroad rail, the wire bonding assembly including first and second spaced apart washer plates contacting the rail and a metal bar supported by the washer plates. The metal bar is electrically connected with the rail with a first conductive lead contacting a selected point on the rail and a selected point on the metal bar. A second conductive lead is connected to another selected point on the metal bar for establishing an electrical connection to the rail from an electrical device.

A ballast anti-flight sleeper characterized by having on the upper face two surfaces endowed with sufficient inclination as to prevent the accumulation of ballast over this side of the sleeper, with this geometric topology being the main claim; the fundamental elements in the same figure: track (1), ballast anti-flight sleeper (2), ballast (3) and the elements to anchor and secure the track (4).

A preloadable side bearing for railroad cars having a mass of hard elastomeric material on a base adapted for attachment to a supporting surface, such as the truck bolster of a railroad car with provision for an initial reduction in the overall height of the bearing in response to preloading forces and to then absorb substantial loading forces with resulting compressive depression of the mass and wherein the mass is formed of a material such as polyurethane.

A coupler body for a railcar coupler, said coupler body comprising at least one central datum feature that does not wear during coupler use.

A railroad freight car multipiece spring seat assembly including a spring seat, a top plate, and a spring. The spring seat is adapted to operably engage one end of a spring assembly in a railroad freight car draft gear. The top plate is adapted to operably engage with each of a plurality of friction shoes arranged in the railroad freight car draft gear. The spring of the multipiece spring seat assembly is operably disposed between the spring seat and the top plate.

A model railroad car coupler assembly comprises a coupler with an upper shank having a coupler knuckle at a distal portion and a flat proximal portion, a lower shank having a coupler thumb at a distal portion and a flat proximal portion, and a coil spring terminating in first and second end portions, with a first turn of the coupler spring interlocked with the upper shank and a second turn interlocked with the lower shank. A mounting box has a circular mounting post that accepts circular openings in the shanks permitting them to rotate relative to each other between a closed coupled position and an open uncoupling position. The spring end portions engage the mounting box to bias the shanks into their coupled position. The knuckle carries a ferrous actuating pin that cooperates with a magnetic pad along a track to rotate the upper shank into its open position.

A railroad coupler assembly having at least a body and a knuckle both formed in a no-bake manufacturing process, the body and the knuckle having dimensional tolerances of distances between features that wear during operation that are about half those obtained from a body and a knuckle manufactured by a green sand process, resulting in increased fatigue life compared to the body and the knuckle manufactured by a green sand process. The body and the knuckle resulting from the no-bake manufacturing process have no observable laps, scabs, chaplets or welding in critical areas of the body and knuckle, which are reflected in surface conditions matching SCRATA (Steel Castings Research and Trade Association) values of: D1 (laps); E1 (scabs); F1 (chaplets); and J1 (welds).

A railcar draft gear assembly having an axially elongated spring assembly comprised of an axially stacked array of individual spring units and further including cooperating instrumentalities for maintaining the spring assembly generally axially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the railcar draft gear assembly during operation of the draft gear assembly while maintaining the individual spring units in generally aligned relation relative to each other.

Embodiments related to a self-contained coupler for model railroad rolling stock are provided. In one example, a self-contained coupler comprises a coupler assembly including a knuckle and an uncoupling assembly configured to operate the coupler assembly. The example uncoupling assembly includes a signal input for receiving a signal and a motivator coupled to the coupler assembly via a movable link, the motivator operative to adjust the knuckle from a first position to a second position responsive to the signal. The example uncoupling assembly also includes a housing including the motivator and a rolling stock mounting location for mounting the uncoupling assembly to an item of the model railroad rolling stock.

A device for coupling tilting railroad cars onto a high-speed railroad train comprises a coupler and a shock absorber held in a shock absorber frame, each joined by a coupling pin via a coupling joint. The frame includes a front inner surface with a front end wall opening and a cylindrical surface extending to a semi-circular concave inner surface. The joint includes a rounded convex surface engaged with a semi-circular concave surface, a circumferential surface of a short cylinder receiving the rear portion of the coupler, and an insertion hole which is provided in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the short cylinder. The frame has a removal hole and an air removal pin of the coupling pin facing each other at a position to rotate at a predetermined angle in a circumferential direction in the assembled state, and at a position coaxial with the coupling pin in the assembled state.

An Engineer's View (EV) wireless video system for powered and unpowered model railroad engines is disclosed. The invention uses commercially available wireless spy cameras, powered by a custom power supply circuit which is compatible with either DC or DCC track systems. The present invention is compatible with all commercial model railroad gauge diesel engines including HO and N Gauge or may be factory installed. The EV system demonstrates a remarkably stable and realistic image of a model railroad layout. Moreover, the present invention may also provide a stable source of power to the engine where stalling could occur at points of track defects.

A mechanism for coupling a switch point to a point detector box having a point detector bar includes a first portion structured to be slidably coupled to the point detector bar and a second portion structured to be slidably coupled to the switch point.

A method and system for verifying trackside conditions in safety critical railroad applications by reporting the status of trackside signals and switches to a remote train control system. The system comprises at least one sensor for providing trackside conditions electrically connected to a circuit for providing trackside conditions to a railroad, said sensor being powered by voltage applied to the circuit such that the sensor is energized only when said electrical component is engaged. The system and method further comprises a method and system which is failsafe and which enables the control system to independently verify signals from each sensor.

An apparatus for operating a railway system, the railway system comprising a lead vehicle consist, a non-lead vehicle consist and railcars, the apparatus including a first element for determining a slack condition of railway system segments, wherein the segments are delineated by nodes, and a control element configured to control an application of tractive effort or braking effort of the lead vehicle consist or the non-lead vehicle consist.

A railroad tie removal machine for removing a railroad tie from beneath a pair of rails. The machine includes a movable frame, wherein when the frame is in a stationary location, a workspace is defined with respect to the stationary frame. A tie shear workhead and a kicker workhead are both mounted to the frame. The tie shear workhead includes two sets of shears configured and arranged to divide the tie into a center portion and two outer portions. The kicker workhead includes at least one kicker configured and arranged to outwardly kick corresponding outer portions of the cut tie from under the associated rail.

Disclosed is a system and method for decreasing airflow and improving ventilation within a tunnel, such as a railroad tunnel, including a path for movement of a vehicle (e.g., train) therethrough. The system has a plurality of air baffles mounted within the tunnel, each device comprising a body and a mounting device. Each mounting device positions each body inside and along the length of the tunnel between the entrance and the exit. The air baffles are configured to restrict airflow at least in part in a longitudinal direction of the tunnel, thereby increasing a relative difference between a vehicle speed and air speed in a tunnel annulus when the vehicle passes through the tunnel. The restriction (e.g., decrease) of airflow in the tunnel reduces the piston effect resulting from the vehicle or train passing through, thus reducing emissions and heat generated by the locomotives in the tunnel.

Live performances from Railroad Earth, Jake Shimabukuro, Joe Pug, The Mastersons, and Emily Scott RobinsonRecorded Feb. 24, 2020 in Charleston, WV. Support is provided by Adventures on the Gorge. https://adventuresonthegorge.com/

(United States Ninth Circuit) - Affirmed. In a claim of negligence for secondary exposure to asbestos, the plaintiff failed to establish sufficient cause. The panel held that in the context of asbestos claims, the substantial-factor test requires “demonstrating that the injured person had substantial exposure to the relevant asbestos for a substantial period of time.”

(United States Ninth Circuit) - Affirmed. In a claim of negligence for secondary exposure to asbestos, the plaintiff failed to establish sufficient cause. The panel held that in the context of asbestos claims, the substantial-factor test requires “demonstrating that the injured person had substantial exposure to the relevant asbestos for a substantial period of time.”

Washington, D.C. : Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, 1976.

Traditionally held in June, Delaware’s 2018 Chautauqua will take place in September.

Exhibit explores the history of rail travel and transport in the First State.

Exhibit-opening on Feb. 23, 2019 to include a lecture, historical re-enactment and music

Middletown --

Location: North Broad Street (Railroad Crossing) between Cedar Lane Road and Middletown Warwick Road/Summit Bridge Road, Middletown.

Times and Dates: 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 until 5:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 2, 2020

Traffic Information: DelDOT announces to motorists that Delmarva Central Railroad will be replacing the railroad crossing, performing railroad signal upgrades, and doing general maintenance on their railroad crossing on North Broad Street. DelDOT's crews will be reconstructing the existing traffic signals. [More]

Houston --

DelDOT announces to motorists that Delmarva Central Railroad will be resurfacing and performing general maintenance on their railroad crossing at Deep Grass Lane between School Street and Front Street. The closure will begin at 5:00 a.m. on Friday, April 17, 2020 until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, April 19, 2020.

Detour Routes:

Northbound: Deep Grass Lane onto Front Street to Broad Street to School Street and return to Deep Grass Lane. [More]

Seaford --

Seaford:

DelDOT announces to motorists that Delmarva Central Railroad will be resurfacing and performing general maintenance on their railroad crossing at Industrial Park Boulevard between Park Avenue and Ross Station Road.

The closure will begin at 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 24, 2020, pending weather.

Detour Routes:

Eastbound: Industrial Park Boulevard to Park Avenue onto Ross Station Road and return to Industrial Park Boulevard. [More]

Milford --

Location: US 113 Southbound (Railroad Crossing) between Route 14/Milford-Harrington Highway and East Lane, Milford.

Times and Date: 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15, 2020.

Traffic Information: DelDOT announces to motorists that Delmarva Central Railroad will be performing general maintenance on their railroad crossing on US 113 in Milford. [More]

Greenwood --

DelDOT announces to motorists that Delmarva Central Railroad will be resurfacing and performing general maintenance on their railroad crossing at Adams Road between Newton Road and US 13.

The closure will begin at 5:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 19, 2020 until 11:45 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21, 2020, pending weather.

Detour Routes:

Northbound: Adams Road on Newton Road to US 13 and return to Adams Road. [More]

Lincoln --

DelDOT announces to motorists that Delmarva Central Railroad will be resurfacing and performing general maintenance of their railroad crossing at Butler Avenue between North Old State Road and Front Street.

The closure will begin at 5:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2020 until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21, 2020.

Detour Routes:

Eastbound: Butler Avenue onto North Old State Road to Johnson Road to Front Street and return to Butler Avenue. [More]

Blades --

DelDOT announces to motorists that Delmarva Central Railroad will be resurfacing and performing general maintenance on their railroad crossing on Johnson Road between Gum Branch Road and Seaford Road.

The closure will begin at 5:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 23, 2020 until 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, 2020, pending weather.

Detour Routes:

Eastbound: Johnson Road to Gum Branch Road onto O'Neals Road to Seaford Road and return to Johnson Road. [More]

Laurel --

DelDOT announces to motorists that Delmarva Central Railroad will be resurfacing and performing general maintenance on their railroad crossing on Old Sailor Road between Woodland Ferry Road and Penn Street.

The closure will begin at 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, April 30, 2020, pending weather.

Detour Routes:

Eastbound: Old Sailor Road onto Woodland Ferry Road to Penn Street and return to Old Sailor Road. [More]

Laurel --

DelDOT announces to motorists that Delmarva Central Railroad will be resurfacing and performing general maintenance on their railroad crossing on Dukes Road between Hastings Drive and Bi State Boulevard.

The closure will begin at 5:00 a.m. on Monday, April 27, 2020 until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29, 2020, pending weather.

Detour Routes:

Eastbound: Dukes Road onto Hastings Drive to West Street to Market Street to South Central Avenue and return to Dukes Road. [More]

Laurel --

DelDOT announces to motorists that Delmarva Central Railroad will be resurfacing and performing general maintenance on their railroad crossing on Market Street between Oak Street and Townsend Street.

The closure will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 30, 2020 until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12, 2020, pending weather.

Detour Routes:

Vehicular Traffic:

Eastbound: West Street to West Sixth Street onto South Central Avenue and return to Market Street. [More]

Frankford --

DelDOT announces to motorists that Maryland and Delaware Railroad will be replacing, resurfacing and performing general maintenance on their crossing at Lazy Lagoon Road between US 113 and Pepper Road.

The road closure will begin at 5:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 14, 2020 until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, 2020, pending weather.

Detour Routes:

Eastbound: Lazy Lagoon Road to US 113 to Delaware Avenue to Pepper Road and return to Lazy Lagoon Road. [More]

Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP) has agreed to settle alleged violations of the Clean Water Act in Nevada by restoring 122 acres of mountain-desert streams and wetlands, implementing storm water controls at its construction sites, and paying a civil penalty.