Virtual Rail-ality

Had a good week this week, I work for a company called PI Engineering out of Williamston Michigan, more accurately a division called Trainmaster where we make virtual worlds for training American Railroad operators, as part of this I have been away this week with Henk Plaggemars (Ex Auran games) surveying Hinkle Yard for Union Pacific, Many Trainsimmers think this is all Glory but in truth its very hard work, Wednesday alone had us walking at least 4 miles photographing every object in the yard Complex.

Hinkle is in Oregon and is visible on Google Earth by typing "Hermiston, OR" in the search, the yard is to the south.

I have never visited anywhere like this and it is a fully automated yard which makes up the trains which deliver freight all over the US, its a really fascinating and well run place and we had full access to the entire complex.

Running the Hump where they push cars over a hill and let them run into each track makes it like a huge tetris game where they have to get all the cars into their respective roads depending on where they are going, these groups of vehicles are then made into trains which leave for other facilities and destinations to make sure all the cars get to their destinations.

The Photo's show some of the activity we witnessed, and some of the huge Freight Locomotives which are used to haul these massive trains all over the US.

Watching the cars going over the hill and into the yard is impressive, even to the noise they make as they travel through the retarders which slow the vehicles and control them as they roll down the hill, the noise is incredible and a good justficiation why hearing protection is mandatory!

I Have included a small selection of Pictures, one interesting one is the Eleveators at a a place called Stanfield, where they are made of stacked wood, the wood is basically like railroad ties, and they are pinned together to form the structure of the building.

Thats it for now, Now I get to build all this!

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• #1 Comment from gtw58121 
  2/16/07 11:44 AM | Permalink

  Gee, I work for the same company!!! <Grin> I bet ya don't know who this is do ya? <Grin> I found you! You can run, but ya can't hide!
  
  Yes, I am jealous that you got to go to Hinkle instead of me, but maybe some day I can take another trip that is work related....
  
  Good blog so far....keep up the good work!
  
  -Anonymous