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Reading Topic #18654
I was looking at the timetable and rule books for BNSF and came across some 3 letter acronyms but there is no explanation of their meaning in the book. The one I am particulary linterested in is TOB. I think it has to due with the tonage of the train. This acronym is most often used to set speed limit rules for different track segments.
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I think that 'TOB' is abbreviation for 'Tons per Operating Brake'.
Dan
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That's correct...you take the total tonnage of the train and divide it by the number of operating brake cylinders (not counting your locomotives) and you have the "tons per operative brake). BNSF has speed restrictions on loaded coal trains and freight trains that are over 100 tons per operative brake. Usually drops the speeds down about 10mph. Hence a train under 100 TOB can run at track speed, usually around 55 MPH. If it is over 100 TOB, it must reduce speed to 45 MPH.
Happy Rails,
Chaz
(BNSF Engineer)
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Chaz,While you are here, are you aware of a limit of mu'd units?Derek
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Derek,Yes, there is. According to the BNSF System Special Instructions, rule 2:"The powered axle rating of a locomotive consist must not exceed 36."and"Locomotives coupled together in multiple-unit configuration must be limited to 12 locomotives."As a general rule of thumb, older locomotives have powered axle ratings equal to the number of axles on the locomotive...a GP38 is rated at 4 powered axles, and an SD40 is rated at 6.High Horsepower locomotives like the Dash 9 are rated anywhere from 8 to 12 powered axles and an SD90MAC (6,000 horsepower version) is rated at 13!There are also considerations by subdivision...you may need to have a certain minimum number of axles of dynamic braking.So, if you're running a three-unit lashup of SD70s on the Tehachapi, you'll have 33 powered axles and a dynamic braking rating of 24, which is legal for any train up to 105 TOB. You can find the operating instructions at <http://www.bnsf-ttc.com/bnsftime/>.Kurt
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