A northbound BNSF coal train passes Coal Creek Junction, Wyo., in July 2008.
Steve Glischinski
Q The picture on page 42 of the March 2016 issue shows some interesting trackside equipment. It looks like they could be switch heater propane tanks, however, I don’t see any switches. – Bruce Bussert, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
A The propane tanks are indeed for switch heaters. In fact, each switch has two heaters, one for the switch points and one for the swing-nose, or moveable, frog – where the rails converge.
Propane or natural gas power switch heaters and keep the switch points clear during winter storms. They are especially common on busy main lines, like the Powder River Basin coal line shown. Many installations are dispatcher controlled, which requires a dispatcher to have current weather information along the territory. Other installations have weather-sensing technology that will turn on the burners when snow falls. – Brian Schmidt
