pedrop
A Railfan in Brazil
Hi, yesterday I went to Nova Granja yard (ENG) near here to watch the switching operations of Vale mining M2467 empty train. Here is how it was done;Locomotives BB40-9 1172 and BB40-9WM 8671 leading the second block of the M247 train crossing the PN of ENG. The leaders of this train were the BB40-9W 1237 and 1165.
The switching operations were done as follows:
1) The leaders advance to the entrance key of one of the Nova Granja loading areas, where the GDE class gondolas are loaded with limestone. There the leading locomotives are cut off from the train;
2) The set of two locomotives in the middle of the train push the first of block of 80 cars into the loading area.. When they arrive at the modal key, they are separate from the second block;
3) The locos then enter with the first block to the loading area and the leading units come back and couple in the second block and take it to another loading area in EMS yard;
4) The two units that pushed the first block to the loading area leave that area and coupler to the container train of limestone to form the daily C04 class train back to Vale mining system..
On the left we see the MRS O382 train waiting for the M247 to pass. This is is a 2 x 2 locotrol composed of a iron cast block and another of coke coal. The leaders are the C44EMi 3913 and 3906. The DPU are the 3964 and 3922.
Date: 02 July 2019
1- Vale leading units approaching the crossing level at ENG yard. Note the container train that the units of the second section will take back to Vale mining system later;
2 - The second block (section) have two units with engineer to switch the train in this yard. At this moment, the leading units were removed from the train and these two in the middle will push the first section of GDE gondolas to the loading area;
3 - The middle units are at the side of the MRS DUP units. Note that MRS is broad gauge (1600 mm) and VLi and Vale are meter gauge (1000 mm).
The switching operations were done as follows:
1) The leaders advance to the entrance key of one of the Nova Granja loading areas, where the GDE class gondolas are loaded with limestone. There the leading locomotives are cut off from the train;
2) The set of two locomotives in the middle of the train push the first of block of 80 cars into the loading area.. When they arrive at the modal key, they are separate from the second block;
3) The locos then enter with the first block to the loading area and the leading units come back and couple in the second block and take it to another loading area in EMS yard;
4) The two units that pushed the first block to the loading area leave that area and coupler to the container train of limestone to form the daily C04 class train back to Vale mining system..
On the left we see the MRS O382 train waiting for the M247 to pass. This is is a 2 x 2 locotrol composed of a iron cast block and another of coke coal. The leaders are the C44EMi 3913 and 3906. The DPU are the 3964 and 3922.
Date: 02 July 2019
1- Vale leading units approaching the crossing level at ENG yard. Note the container train that the units of the second section will take back to Vale mining system later;
2 - The second block (section) have two units with engineer to switch the train in this yard. At this moment, the leading units were removed from the train and these two in the middle will push the first section of GDE gondolas to the loading area;
3 - The middle units are at the side of the MRS DUP units. Note that MRS is broad gauge (1600 mm) and VLi and Vale are meter gauge (1000 mm).
