spoiled in Philly

[645diesel]

i live in Philly, on the Chestnut Hill East (former Reading) SEPTA line, it runs thru my backyard.  the seasonal rail washing train has been diesel powered until this year.  each night i get the special treat of the rail washer powered by a survivor, SEPTA AEM7 2304, built 33 years ago (12/87).

i tried to get a few photos, but the lighting is all wrong and it would require me to put down my beer.  i never thought i'd see an AEM7 on the rail washer, but hey, here we are...

if you want to see an AEM7 pushing up a stiff grade, head to the Mt Airy train station around 7:30pm and it will be along shortly... you can hear the AEM7 whine, they run it slow and the grade is noticeable.

here it is coming into Chestnut Hill before heading back down...

[davefoxx]

I know those SEPTA AEM7s well, because for years, I was able to catch one resting on a stop in Newark, Delaware, before it would return to Philly.  While those AEM7s are sitting, they make a loud clicking sound.  I have no idea what that is, but it's pretty loud.  Listen to the video at 6:53.

That said, what the heck is the purpose of the nightly rail washer train?  Those rails not shiny enough? 

DFF

[645diesel]

I know those SEPTA AEM7s well, because for years, I was able to catch one resting on a stop in Newark, Delaware, before it would return to Philly.  While those AEM7s are sitting, they make a loud clicking sound.  I have no idea what that is, but it's pretty loud.  Listen to the video at 6:53.

That said, what the heck is the purpose of the nightly rail washer train?  Those rails not shiny enough? 

DFF

air bleed off poppet valve is the clicking... the rail washer is a unique solution to wet leaves on the rails.  since the MU cars don't have sanders, this is the method employed to remove the film from the rail head.

[davefoxx]

Thanks for the reply!  I have heard of wet leaves being a problem for other roads, too, so that makes sense.

DFF

[645diesel]

Thanks for the reply!  I have heard of wet leaves being a problem for other roads, too, so that makes sense.

DFF

the 2am wire train has the diesel, and holy cow is that loud.  my house was built in 1935 and i would LOVED to have seen the steam power freights climb this hill.  there were multiple coal dealers with trestles, several team tracks, and at least two freight houses. 

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this still exists but now is home to "Event Depot" (dig the pool!) - we could have a TRW meetup after we get ALL our shots!
https://www.bing.com/maps?osid=d2bf8a00-1024-4ac4-8843-2cf5af25b19b&cp=40.03681~-75.163937&lvl=22&dir=180&style=g&v=2&sV=2&form=S00027



this one i'm not sure if it's still there...
https://www.bing.com/maps?osid=2206de7c-0e92-4439-841a-197d9c3a35dc&cp=40.036773~-75.170445&lvl=22&style=g&v=2&sV=2&form=S00027