Straight Air and Steaming Taconite
The Orinoco Retainer System, otherwise known as "Straight Air" is a separate air brake system installed and used on the DM&IR's ore trains in conjunction with the Automatic and Dynamic Brakes. It's incredibly useful as it can be regulated like the independent, wherein you can put a little on and take a little off as necessary.
The descent down to the docks in Duluth from Proctor can usually be accomplished with a combination of straight air and dynamics, and by the time the train gets to us here at 40th Avenue in the Denfield neighborhood of Duluth the cars are squealing pretty good with only about a half mile of hill to go.
The 8am Proctor switch has a clean 40W leading, a CN engine equipped with straight air. A rumor is that the Missabe shop guys held back their knowledge of installing the straight air system from CN management after the takeover but instructions were eventually traded for a case of beer.
Straight Air and Steaming Taconite
The Orinoco Retainer System, otherwise known as "Straight Air" is a separate air brake system installed and used on the DM&IR's ore trains in conjunction with the Automatic and Dynamic Brakes. It's incredibly useful as it can be regulated like the independent, wherein you can put a little on and take a little off as necessary.
The descent down to the docks in Duluth from Proctor can usually be accomplished with a combination of straight air and dynamics, and by the time the train gets to us here at 40th Avenue in the Denfield neighborhood of Duluth the cars are squealing pretty good with only about a half mile of hill to go.
The 8am Proctor switch has a clean 40W leading, a CN engine equipped with straight air. A rumor is that the Missabe shop guys held back their knowledge of installing the straight air system from CN management after the takeover but instructions were eventually traded for a case of beer.