@rbpray, Many northeastern transit railroads have problems this time of year with falling leaves on the rails. When crushed, oils from the leaves are deposited on the rails, making them slippery, especially for cars not equipped with sanders. The wash or gel trains use a high pressure stream of water to clean the rail head, then deposit a substance called Sandite (something like Elmer's glue with sand in it) to increase adhesion. This is usually done each night before the next morning's rush.
@bxbomber92, SEPTA got it several years ago. LIRR had already removed the engine and turned it into a power pack. SEPTA installed gel dispensing equipment in it and used it with another engine providing power on its gel train. Then SEPTA custom-built their new pressure washer/gel trains using the flat car/tank car combinations, and the FA is now just a cab car. SEPTA also has ex-LIRR F7 622.
Kinda wierd here thinking that after a while the K5LA on 615 would have to be replaced, and ever since SEPTA got it from LIRR, it still has the same loud K5LA! 615 still looks very well for it's age!
That first train was pretty cool, i liked the horn!
LOL! Getting a pretty good workout in the beginning. Great video.
@rbpray, Many northeastern transit railroads have problems this time of year with falling leaves on the rails. When crushed, oils from the leaves are deposited on the rails, making them slippery, especially for cars not equipped with sanders. The wash or gel trains use a high pressure stream of water to clean the rail head, then deposit a substance called Sandite (something like Elmer's glue with sand in it) to increase adhesion. This is usually done each night before the next morning's rush.
@bxbomber92, SEPTA got it several years ago. LIRR had already removed the engine and turned it into a power pack. SEPTA installed gel dispensing equipment in it and used it with another engine providing power on its gel train. Then SEPTA custom-built their new pressure washer/gel trains using the flat car/tank car combinations, and the FA is now just a cab car. SEPTA also has ex-LIRR F7 622.
@TrainSounds, between about 8:30 and 9:30
Very nice
Kinda wierd here thinking that after a while the K5LA on 615 would have to be replaced, and ever since SEPTA got it from LIRR, it still has the same loud K5LA! 615 still looks very well for it's age!
Thanks you, Videos very nice,
@chbitter, yes, the former GN FA1 442A and later LIRR 615
@oaksmodelrr Thanks very much for your response. Do they do this every night?
Thanks again!
What time was it?
Hey John,
Can you explain to all of us who are rookies @ railfanning what a gel train does?
nice , is Septa upgrading all stations and adding announcements?
Wow noce video! those automated voices are weird!
@bxbomber92, if you search my videos for "gel", you will see a couple from 2002 and 2005 when they ran just the FA and an RL1