A Compressor failure BN B-30-7A in Tales of the Jointed Track

Yeah, Monument again. I have an extra North out of Pueblo. We are heavy, but have the power to make the summit, even if we lose one. I have a BN SD-40 on the lead, followed, by three B-30-7A boosters and two SD-9’s.

It’s uneventful, a typical try and get over the road, type of trip. Flashing yellow at MP 60.4, were meeting one or more at Monument. We’ll be in the hole, and the BIG tonnage will head down the main.

No train at Monument, so they are either cresting the grade or close. We haven’t heard them on the radio, but it is what it is. Throttling down, and a set of the air. The caboose is in the clear, and we stop about 3 cars from the signal. Looking in the mirror, the B-30-7A, closest to me, looks odd. I see a hood door flexing, and not in a normal manner. I tell the head brakeman, I need to check something out, I will be back up.

A BN B-30-7A The doors past 4010 and the air inlets the first set of doors is where the compressor is located. The breach was on the opposite side. The bigger inlets are for cooling the radiators, and dynamic brake grids.

I walk back, and I can hear unusual noises, and banging. The flexing, hood doors have broken the latches, and something odd, it is continuing to breach. I go into the control compartment and isolate the unit. I hit the “STOP” button, and the sound of the death throes, get louder and louder. I wait till the carnage comes to a full stop. I walk back and the sound of water, leaking and draining. I open one of the damaged hood doors, by the compressor and here it is. One of the LOW Compression cylinders has fractured, about two inches, where it is bolted in. So it and the piston are freewheeling, away from the main compressor unit. Luckily, it hasn’t breached any air lines. I don’t need the motor, the remaining units will get us over. I do need the remaining compressors, to maintain and recharge the air system. I drain and tag the motor, and will let the roundhouse know.

We get down the hill, without incident, after meeting two trains. Yard and tie up. I relate to the foreman, and tie up…

Last updated May 28, 2017