04-06-2012, 05:23 PM
For what it's worth; on the F&C all the engines (both GE 70 ton and ALCO S-2/S-4) were kept inside the concrete block engine house. We simply started them up, let the air system charge, then after a quick test of the engine brakes, we knocked off the hand brake and off we went. No warm up time to speak of.
On the L&N we kept two engines in Frankfort all the time and they were kept running 24/7 in the winter months but shut down in warm weather. As mentioned in a previous message, if you had to shut one of them down in cold weather (below 40 degrees) the cooling system water had to be drained to prevent freezing and damage to the engine block.
I've noticed that a lot of the short line operations that I've visited in Indiana and other locations usually have what I assume are electric crankcase heaters installed and are shut down, but kept plugged in to an electrical outlet when not in use. About the same as you do with diesel trucks and buses. You can see an example of this here:
On the L&N we kept two engines in Frankfort all the time and they were kept running 24/7 in the winter months but shut down in warm weather. As mentioned in a previous message, if you had to shut one of them down in cold weather (below 40 degrees) the cooling system water had to be drained to prevent freezing and damage to the engine block.
I've noticed that a lot of the short line operations that I've visited in Indiana and other locations usually have what I assume are electric crankcase heaters installed and are shut down, but kept plugged in to an electrical outlet when not in use. About the same as you do with diesel trucks and buses. You can see an example of this here:
Ed
"Friends don't let friends build Timesavers"
"Friends don't let friends build Timesavers"