Here's another example of "You never know what you're gonna get." We got some really closeup switching in Lakeland and ended up on the road chasing down an ethanol train.
"Folks who drive small pickup trucks never seem to be in a hurry." You have not met my husband. He drives everything like he stole it. Excellent video as always.
@@user-cu9kz5ec8o i guess if it was an electric motor they would use kilowatt per hour... but i think the railroads don't care what they call it as long as there is someway to track the units overall use
They are electric motors... attached to a generator. I read they go by how much kilowatts an hour for lease agreements... the article was in trains magazine talking about the Oakway Leasing SD60s that were leased to the Burlington Northern.
"If the cloud hadn't gotten me, it might have been perfect" - certainly a mantra among train chasers! Great video as always, if it weren't for you, I don't think I would have ever stepped out of my comfort zone to narrate my own videos. So thanks for the motivation and inspiration!
Danny, buffers are usually loaded with sand... in an attempt to provide enough mass to steer derailing hazmat cars away from the locomotives in the event of a pile up.
I have to tell you that I really enjoy your channel. I grew up in the 1960s loving trains (my mother worked for Southern in the late 40s/early 50s) but gradually my interests migrated towards aviation and airlines. I spent about 40 years as an airline dispatcher, and many of the operational-oriented issues I experienced I see reflected in your explanations in the videos. I can readily tell you the differences between different variants of the 737 family, and I'm now working on telling the difference between a GE and an EMD. ;) I especially appreciate all the little operational nuances you discuss that contribute to my understand of how the railroads run.
Hi Danny. As always another fantastic video. I think the locals videos are my favorite. Thank you for all the awesome videos. I find them very relaxing after a hard days work. I love trains. I have since I was a kid.
Hello from Pennsylvania. Fun video as always from you Danny. Spending a lot of time trackside during the lockdown along the NS main near my home in Lebanon. Major track maintenance job underway with unique MOW equipment. Got up close to the ballast cleaner unit last week. What a unique piece of equipment. Great fun to watch and hear. Really great way to spend time as we all await the OK to get on with our lives. Many thanks for this trip around CSX in FL. Stay well!! CAS.
That first scene with the super faded cross bucks and stop sign was super cool, not to mention I love industrial track with very little ballast and gras growing through
My grandfather managed the City Products ice distribution plans on 17-92 in Sanford. He took me to watch vegetable trains being “bunker iced” in the Sanford yard several times in the late 50s. Amazing ice handling to put 25lb chunks into the open bunker doors on top of both ends of each car. The ice plant at the yard was at one time the largest in the world. All gone now just history.
Very nice slowdown on that SOO LINE buffer car, I thought it was lag for a second, and then I realized what I was looking at LOL. Amazing video Danny! Even though this one is a couple years old, your videos NEVER get old. :)
i have loved trains since i heard Gordon Lightfoots " Canadian Railroad Trilogy" in college in the 70's .what a marvelous song, just like he did with the Edmond fitzgerald using the music and voice to simulate long big waves peaks and troughs with the guitars and bass, this songs cadence perfectly sounds like the old trains of the era he sang about.....starting . speeding up , running.... another one he did that used the same technique was 'The Patriots Dream".....quite amazing song writter and arranger... Canadas best ever for sure..... he mentions trains many times in his huge library of music......Bless trains and Bless Gord... 'Ya cant jump a jet plane , like ya can a freight train, so i best me on my way , in the early morning rain..."
Another great video, Dan! To my knowledge, buffer cars on unit tanker trains usually carry a dense material like sand or gravel, that’s my guess. Usually however ethanol trains are rarity in Nashville.
I quite enjoy your videos that feature some industrial works. Also, on CN engines we have a chain bin in the nose of the locomotive rather than hang them on the side. Keep the great videos coming!!
Danny, beautiful under bridge shot of the ethanol train with UP Power. The amazing thing about the shot is the different eras represented. The bridge piles are timber with concrete caps, and still going strong. Great catches, as always.
Thank you for explaining the 'simple' things! I appreciate when you explain terms like, "Spotting Cars", among other things. Being fairly new to the channel, when you take the time to put everything in layman's terms, it makes it very enjoyable. Thanks, Danny!
A great video Danny as usual. Lots of flats on the ethanol cars. I enjoy your videos as a railfan and more as a modeller. You help me to weather my cars by showing the mix of rust buckets to fresh to inbetweeners. Thanks mate from Melbourne (no the other one in Victoria Australia). Andrew from Andrew's Trains
Thanks for the info on the chains - I didn't know that. Same about the spare knuckle, but it makes sense. The cloud didn't hurt the shot at all. As always your videos are much anticipated, and for good reason - never disappoint.
Excellent video, Danny! I think I can give some insight on a few curiosities in this video: The UP power on the ethanol train is probably because (correct me if I’m wrong) UP leases some of their older GEVO’s (5500-5600) to CP. It’s still technically a CP train with CP/CSX paperwork, but just has UP power. As for the buffer cars, from my past conductor experience, buffer cars are usually partially loaded with either sand or gravel. Now that only applies to cars that are strictly for buffer service and should be marked “Buffer service only, do not load.” The capstan is usually removed after so the slider can’t slide back and forth anymore and or sometimes welded shut.
Another great video! I feel your pain on the backroads with slow traffic! CR 35A by Dade City's former depot (you've done videos on the depot/museum!) is lots of turning traffic. And US 98/FL50 from I-75 east until where US98 turns South to Trilby has been under construction for what, two years now, often to one lane each way. I travel through there often too. Thx Danny!
Those buffer cars will often have dried distillers grains loaded in them, a by product of ethanol production and a useful feedstuff for the cattle industry. Basically, the dried remnants of the leftover corn mash used for making the ethanol.
Every time you are trying to catch up to a train you’re gonna get red lights and slow traffic. Has happened to me way to many times lol. Nice video Danny!
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR AWESOME WORK AND YOUR TIME HAVE A GREAT DAY IN FLORIDA BE SAFE AND CAREFUL SLOW DOWN AND POST YOUR VIDEO AND KEEP US IN FORMED THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME JIM KAMMERER OF PHILADELPHIA PA 😁👍👌
Up here in Canada they have buffer cars on either end on crude oil unit trains, but they also have to run a DPU at the end for braking purposes. Good video, thanks Danny!
Another great video Danny... on the UP we almost always have sand in the buffer cars. Also we run several trains out of Roseport, MN through WI to interchange in Chicago at Barr yard with csx power... foreign power is becoming the new normal on most trains since ptc is now interoperable between carriers.
As always, first class. Really like the information you include in the video, like the chain and the knuckle. Will be waiting for your next show. Stay safe
Buffer cars are loaded to at least 70% of their load capacity with junk/waste materials. When we loaded the 4 DME boxcars we use, we took the waste pile of sand from a dozen derailed frac sand cars and through that in the car. Those boxcar doors were welded shut and they have been running ever since. Covered hoppers typically get sand, or unrecyclable cement materials.
First I took months to comb through Danny's archives. I subscribed and set up alerts. The alerts broke but that's fine because I was finding new videos the same day they were posted anyway. Now I'm finding myself waiting for the premieres. I've gone one step too far.
Thanks for another great video Danny! I especially liked the switching moves, and noticing that that the conductor visually checked the switch points after each repositioning. A real pro! BTW, saw a couple of CSX 44AHs up here in central Massachusetts the other day, they're a long way from home!
Danny; I've heard two different stories about buffer cars. 1). They are empty older cars running out their last days (I've seen covered hoppers and boxcars.). 2). The cars, normally a covered hopper, is partially loaded with sand. Which is absolutely true I'm not sure, but I love the added lettering variations you see sometimes, "Buffer Car Only ~ Do Not Load". Their use makes it easy to know if the unit train is loaded or not, as when empty both buffer cars will be behind the locomotives.
They’re normally cars that can be filled with sand or cars that are available at the time. In the end it doesn’t matter what the car is as long as it’s not a dangerous goods car, so you could have an empty tank car or a bulkhead flat as the buffer if need be. Normally on those unit trains they’ll get a railcar that isn’t going to be needed or ordered for a long time.
As a railway conductor I can assure you mass doesn’t matter unless it comes down to train handling and/or marshalling instructions. With a unit train it’s normally a covered hopper with sand, but on mixed manifests or any other train the type of car doesn’t matter unless it can’t be placed there (marshalling restrictions). Without getting into too much detail
If u r talking about what the hoppers r loaded with, they r loaded with sand to help keep the ethanol from getting to the crew, I learned that a while back from a fellow railfan
I worked in the petroleum industry before I retired. Our buffer cars for our crude oil unit trains were filled with sand. Also, max length of our unit trains was 104 cars; maximum legal length.
Well that was a swell surprise to see this in my feed tonight! For National Train day I’ll say we both had a great one...at least from what I know! Also I’m fairly sure that those Buffer Cars are loaded with sand. That may not be fully accurate though.
Thanks Dakota! Yes, it was a great day. Saw lots of other railfans out there, but only driving by them. I called a CSX friend Saturday night and he confirmed that's sand in the buffer cars. Some companies have dedicated buffer cars and they have concrete in them.
![Cody Johnson - I'm Gonna Love You (with Carrie Underwood) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/yy9PuYMU29g/mqdefault.jpg)
"Folks who drive small pickup trucks never seem to be in a hurry."
You have not met my husband. He drives everything like he stole it.
Excellent video as always.
You gotta good man here...
My late Aunt drove hers like (as she would say) "a bat out of torment."
No, but the people driving the bigger pickups seem to think they're running the last lap of the Talladega 500.
Thank you for explaining how railroads are paid for powering trains on a “foreign” line (horsepower x hours).
I could of sworn that foriegn power is paid by "kilowatt per hour", not horsepower per hour. Maybe times have changed...
@@user-cu9kz5ec8o i guess if it was an electric motor they would use kilowatt per hour... but i think the railroads don't care what they call it as long as there is someway to track the units overall use
They are electric motors... attached to a generator. I read they go by how much kilowatts an hour for lease agreements... the article was in trains magazine talking about the Oakway Leasing SD60s that were leased to the Burlington Northern.
@@user-cu9kz5ec8o It’s definitely referred to in the business by horsepower hours. I have no idea how the calculate it, as that’s above my pay grade.
Horsepower to KIloWatt is about a 3:4 ratio. Doesn't really matter which they measure in, power*hours is energy.
Put your seatbelt on Danny! Never know what could happen and we appreciate you too much
I was thinking the same. Please wear your seatbelt, we want you to be safe out there.
So I'm not the only one who noticed that. Tsk tsk Danny.
Not to mention the distracted driving as well.
"If the cloud hadn't gotten me, it might have been perfect" - certainly a mantra among train chasers! Great video as always, if it weren't for you, I don't think I would have ever stepped out of my comfort zone to narrate my own videos. So thanks for the motivation and inspiration!
Great job as usual Danny, ...........best narrator on RUclips.
Danny, buffers are usually loaded with sand... in an attempt to provide enough mass to steer derailing hazmat cars away from the locomotives in the event of a pile up.
I have to tell you that I really enjoy your channel. I grew up in the 1960s loving trains (my mother worked for Southern in the late 40s/early 50s) but gradually my interests migrated towards aviation and airlines. I spent about 40 years as an airline dispatcher, and many of the operational-oriented issues I experienced I see reflected in your explanations in the videos. I can readily tell you the differences between different variants of the 737 family, and I'm now working on telling the difference between a GE and an EMD. ;) I especially appreciate all the little operational nuances you discuss that contribute to my understand of how the railroads run.
Danny Harmon, the best rail fan on RUclips. All agree.
I agree he's the best
I'll admit it's a hard choice between him and DIB Productions.
Man DIB or Danny hard to say I like both though
No argument there.
Danny is the man!
He is king of the rail fans
You Know the routine, Drop everything, and watch the most recent premier! bet it will be another great one as always!
Hi Danny.
As always another fantastic video.
I think the locals videos are my favorite.
Thank you for all the awesome videos.
I find them very relaxing after a hard days work. I love trains. I have since I was a kid.
Hello from Pennsylvania. Fun video as always from you Danny. Spending a lot of time trackside during the lockdown along the NS main near my home in Lebanon. Major track maintenance job underway with unique MOW equipment. Got up close to the ballast cleaner unit last week. What a unique piece of equipment. Great fun to watch and hear.
Really great way to spend time as we all await the OK to get on with our lives. Many thanks for this trip around CSX in FL. Stay well!! CAS.
That first scene with the super faded cross bucks and stop sign was super cool, not to mention I love industrial track with very little ballast and gras growing through
My grandfather managed the City Products ice distribution plans on 17-92 in Sanford. He took me to watch vegetable trains being “bunker iced” in the Sanford yard several times in the late 50s. Amazing ice handling to put 25lb chunks into the open bunker doors on top of both ends of each car. The ice plant at the yard was at one time the largest in the world. All gone now just history.
Very nice slowdown on that SOO LINE buffer car, I thought it was lag for a second, and then I realized what I was looking at LOL. Amazing video Danny! Even though this one is a couple years old, your videos NEVER get old. :)
Having to stay at home, your videos make my day go faster and better; thank you.
Happy to hear that!
i have loved trains since i heard Gordon Lightfoots " Canadian Railroad Trilogy" in college in the 70's .what a marvelous song, just like he did with the Edmond fitzgerald using the music and voice to simulate long big waves peaks and troughs with the guitars and bass, this songs cadence perfectly sounds like the old trains of the era he sang about.....starting . speeding up , running.... another one he did that used the same technique was 'The Patriots Dream".....quite amazing song writter and arranger... Canadas best ever for sure..... he mentions trains many times in his huge library of music......Bless trains and Bless Gord...
'Ya cant jump a jet plane , like ya can a freight train, so i best me on my way , in the early morning rain..."
As always Danny you are the celebrity amongst rail fans.. Amazingly well informed, articulate and very humble. We are not worthy ;-)
Danny: "This ain't like dropping a box somewhere on somebody's front porch."
Me, an Amazon delivery driver: "Well I'll be damned."
As others may have explained, buffer cars typically are filled with sand or gravel, something with considerable mass. As always, great video! Kennedy
I can’t wait see this video looks good Union Pacific power up front
Taylor Baggarley Union Pacific railfan I get UP through my area daily. Because that is who owns the line. The line that comes through my area is Ex-SP
usually forgin power on the the point have in cab signals that's what i was told
Awesome video! The narration made even more enjoyable. Enjoyed! Thankyou!
At 12:15 buffer cars are usually loaded with an inert material like sand. They usually need to be a certain weight to be in a buffer service.
Another great video, Dan! To my knowledge, buffer cars on unit tanker trains usually carry a dense material like sand or gravel, that’s my guess. Usually however ethanol trains are rarity in Nashville.
13:21 I remember that creek. Millenniumforce ran through that creek screaming "HEY YOU FORGOT YOUR JUICE"
Fantastic videos Danny, keep up the great work, from a UK based US railroad fan.
You have a great voice for narrating.
Once again Danny you did it again. Excellent job.
I quite enjoy your videos that feature some industrial works.
Also, on CN engines we have a chain bin in the nose of the locomotive rather than hang them on the side. Keep the great videos coming!!
Love the switching segments of your videos.... could watch those all day!
Danny, beautiful under bridge shot of the ethanol train with UP Power. The amazing thing about the shot is the different eras represented. The bridge piles are timber with concrete caps, and still going strong. Great catches, as always.
Another great one Danny, thanks Chas.
Thank you for explaining the 'simple' things! I appreciate when you explain terms like, "Spotting Cars", among other things. Being fairly new to the channel, when you take the time to put everything in layman's terms, it makes it very enjoyable. Thanks, Danny!
Photography and narration both excellent.
A great video Danny as usual. Lots of flats on the ethanol cars. I enjoy your videos as a railfan and more as a modeller. You help me to weather my cars by showing the mix of rust buckets to fresh to inbetweeners. Thanks mate from Melbourne (no the other one in Victoria Australia). Andrew from Andrew's Trains
That's a treat,2 geeps switching. It reminds me of the day's.
Love your videos Danny. I feel like I know more about florida railroads than I do here in Wilmington, N.C. Keep up the Great work.
Thanks for the info on the chains - I didn't know that. Same about the spare knuckle, but it makes sense. The cloud didn't hurt the shot at all. As always your videos are much anticipated, and for good reason - never disappoint.
Excellent video, Danny! I think I can give some insight on a few curiosities in this video: The UP power on the ethanol train is probably because (correct me if I’m wrong) UP leases some of their older GEVO’s (5500-5600) to CP. It’s still technically a CP train with CP/CSX paperwork, but just has UP power. As for the buffer cars, from my past conductor experience, buffer cars are usually partially loaded with either sand or gravel. Now that only applies to cars that are strictly for buffer service and should be marked “Buffer service only, do not load.” The capstan is usually removed after so the slider can’t slide back and forth anymore and or sometimes welded shut.
What about Boxcars. I know it's rare but I've seen it.
Danny, I have a photo of an NS train using those chains for that very purpose. It is quite a sight to see!
great video as always , Allan
I don't miss the lovebugs! As always superb video.
Another great video! I feel your pain on the backroads with slow traffic! CR 35A by Dade City's former depot (you've done videos on the depot/museum!) is lots of turning traffic. And US 98/FL50 from I-75 east until where US98 turns South to Trilby has been under construction for what, two years now, often to one lane each way. I travel through there often too. Thx Danny!
Thanks. Yeah, just about everywhere has got a lotta traffic in Florida lately. I don't think it will get any better anytime soon.
Superr great video!! Again , appreciated the industrial switching clip
Those buffer cars will often have dried distillers grains loaded in them, a by product of ethanol production and a useful feedstuff for the cattle industry. Basically, the dried remnants of the leftover corn mash used for making the ethanol.
Love your videos. You have answered a lot of questions I’ve had about thing’s that are done on the way the railroad do things!
Every time you are trying to catch up to a train you’re gonna get red lights and slow traffic. Has happened to me way to many times lol. Nice video Danny!
Thanks Danny for explaining how the different railroads work with foreign power
Another excellent program. Thanks for your efforts in reducing the Love Bug population. And kudos to CSX for providing the Porta-Potty at Lacoochee.
Thanks Danny , Another grate Video. Tanks for sharing!
Thanks enjoyed. The ride. Trains in motion.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR AWESOME WORK AND YOUR TIME HAVE A GREAT DAY IN FLORIDA BE SAFE AND CAREFUL SLOW DOWN AND POST YOUR VIDEO AND KEEP US IN FORMED THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME JIM KAMMERER OF PHILADELPHIA PA 😁👍👌
Up here in Canada they have buffer cars on either end on crude oil unit trains, but they also have to run a DPU at the end for braking purposes. Good video, thanks Danny!
Another great video Danny... on the UP we almost always have sand in the buffer cars. Also we run several trains out of Roseport, MN through WI to interchange in Chicago at Barr yard with csx power... foreign power is becoming the new normal on most trains since ptc is now interoperable between carriers.
Did you work for the UP at some point?
Because you know waaaay more than I know
@@railfanmaximstill7279 yep.
@Eric T my grandpa on Both sides of mine worked for that same company back before I was born
Danny, thanks for sharing your passion with us. Be careful out there. Slow down some. I don't want to have to bail you out of the clink.
Love your videos. Professional and clean and easy to watch. Enjoy everything.
I sure do enjoy your video's. Keep up the great work.
Danny always provides the best info on trainwatching! Keep up the good work!
I always learn something new here! The part about the chains on the locomotives was really cool!
thanks for the explanation of the chain on the engines, I always wondered what they were for.
Great video Danny. Love the green scenery in your shots.
Keep up the great work and keep on smiling 😃.
As always, first class. Really like the information you include in the video, like the chain and the knuckle. Will be waiting for your next show. Stay safe
Great video Danny. Love the bridge shot..
Awesome video. Iove how you give so much information on the train
Buffer cars are loaded to at least 70% of their load capacity with junk/waste materials. When we loaded the 4 DME boxcars we use, we took the waste pile of sand from a dozen derailed frac sand cars and through that in the car. Those boxcar doors were welded shut and they have been running ever since. Covered hoppers typically get sand, or unrecyclable cement materials.
just great. I look forward to your videos.
Love seeing Wildwood. Was my Dad's home terminal.
thank u 4 your time show and tell was great pops64 liberty ky
Great video! Thanks for sharing.
Buffer cars are either loaded with sand, usually, or sometimes water. Hatches are welded shut. It's their only purpose post life. Sweet video!
So if there’s sand it can’t easily be emptied unless the welds are broken?
@@lightdark00 Buffer cars aren't really meant to ever be unloaded until they're retired.
I guessed sand
First I took months to comb through Danny's archives. I subscribed and set up alerts. The alerts broke but that's fine because I was finding new videos the same day they were posted anyway. Now I'm finding myself waiting for the premieres. I've gone one step too far.
Rick Boivin nah you haven’t don’t worry about it
Nice to see that old SOO Line hopper getting service still. Great video as always Danny!
Another great video, like those UP leaders, they looked great
Another great video Danny. Yeah those Love Bugs are a pain. LOL
That was fantastic. Great to see those UP’s up front, and a wooden trestle too. Thanks Mr Harmon.
Faster than the posted speed limit. . .
Confession is good for the soul.
Another great video, Danny!
Love the quality of your videos!
Another top notch job!
That shot from Blackwater Creek was great!
Ah, reminiscing about all the times I stopped to get some food, only to be interrupted (in a good way) by the radio!
Love the video, as always!
Great job as always Danny! Best train vids and train information on RUclips. Thanks for your channel! 😃
Love the shot of the UP over the creek bridge.
Another good one Danny 👍
Nice one! I was actually one of the kids that you honked at just north of blackwater creek filming the ethanol train. Ha!
Great Video Danny! keep up the amazing work
Great video as always, I always look forward to seeing a new video from you
My grandson loves dannys videos. He calls him mr.danny. we railfan lots of yards and track by me. I live in chicago.
Great video ! Thanks Danny.
Thanks for another great video Danny! I especially liked the switching moves, and noticing that that the conductor visually checked the switch points after each repositioning. A real pro! BTW, saw a couple of CSX 44AHs up here in central Massachusetts the other day, they're a long way from home!
Danny; I've heard two different stories about buffer cars. 1). They are empty older cars running out their last days (I've seen covered hoppers and boxcars.). 2). The cars, normally a covered hopper, is partially loaded with sand.
Which is absolutely true I'm not sure, but I love the added lettering variations you see sometimes, "Buffer Car Only ~ Do Not Load". Their use makes it easy to know if the unit train is loaded or not, as when empty both buffer cars will be behind the locomotives.
They’re normally cars that can be filled with sand or cars that are available at the time. In the end it doesn’t matter what the car is as long as it’s not a dangerous goods car, so you could have an empty tank car or a bulkhead flat as the buffer if need be. Normally on those unit trains they’ll get a railcar that isn’t going to be needed or ordered for a long time.
@@TrainGuy33 The car needs to have some mass to it to absorb impact momentum.
Jovet no it doesnt
As a railway conductor I can assure you mass doesn’t matter unless it comes down to train handling and/or marshalling instructions. With a unit train it’s normally a covered hopper with sand, but on mixed manifests or any other train the type of car doesn’t matter unless it can’t be placed there (marshalling restrictions). Without getting into too much detail
Looking forward to the premiere.
Dude you catch the best catches ever man 👍👍👍👍👍
Love your videos, Danny, thanks! The ethanol unit train rolled thru Sturtevant (Racine) WI on CP (ex-Milw Road) on it's way to Bensonville.
If u r talking about what the hoppers r loaded with, they r loaded with sand to help keep the ethanol from getting to the crew, I learned that a while back from a fellow railfan
Great!! Another great one, Danny! Please keep them coming!
Danny, If I could, I’d hit the Like button before your video even premieres. There’s no video of yours that I dislike.
I worked in the petroleum industry before I retired. Our buffer cars for our crude oil unit trains were filled with sand. Also, max length of our unit trains was 104 cars; maximum legal length.
Howard Runser legal length?
Danny fantastic job on the Lakeland industrial switching and spotting job. Thanks!
Well that was a swell surprise to see this in my feed tonight! For National Train day I’ll say we both had a great one...at least from what I know! Also I’m fairly sure that those Buffer Cars are loaded with sand. That may not be fully accurate though.
Thanks Dakota! Yes, it was a great day. Saw lots of other railfans out there, but only driving by them. I called a CSX friend Saturday night and he confirmed that's sand in the buffer cars. Some companies have dedicated buffer cars and they have concrete in them.
Right as I finished watching this video I look out the window and here comes a train with the Norfolk Southern Nickel Plate Road Heritage unit
Always interesting vids Thanks !!!