Longest train ever

UP5799 · 12-01-2005, 09:47 PM

Ok, this is a weird question, but what is the longest length a train can operate on the rails. I'm having a bet with a friend and he thinks that a train cannot be more than 700 metres long. I know that I have seen longer trains than 700 metres long but he doesn't think you can get any longer.

$20 dollars is the bet and I want to prove him wrong.

Cheers

UP5799

StL-rail · 12-01-2005, 09:53 PM

Just wipped out the Guinness Book, and I quote; "The world's longest freight train, measuring 4.8 miles (7.3kM) . . ."

Hope that proves your bet

hoydie17 · 12-01-2005, 10:15 PM

Wasn't that an ore train in Australia? I think I remember reading that somewhere, and it was used as an experiment to prove the feasability of DPU helpers throughout the train.

Nevertheless, 700 meters isn't even a mile long, and I've seen coal trains that measure in excess of 6500 feet and that's well over a mile.

You've got this one in the bag.

Sean

StL-rail · 12-01-2005, 10:25 PM

Actually (this suprised me too), it was on the Sishen-Saldanha Railroad in South Africa. It was on Aug 29 and 27, 1989. It used 7 diesels and 9 50-kV electrics to move 660 cars, a tank car, and a caboose. It traveled 535 miles in 22 hours and 40 minutes. It took a whopping 4.3 miles to stop the train.

Colin Voss · 12-01-2005, 11:16 PM

While not having set a world record for lenght, there's a train line in the Sub-Sahara that is used to transport copper from mines deep inland to harbors, where it is loaded onto ships, and those trains are regularly more than 2.5 miles long, and that as said on a regular basis, and not just on a one-off occassion.

Frederick · 12-01-2005, 11:41 PM

I saw a 179 car train on the CN Dundas Sub. That is about 2 miles if I don't miss my guess.

cmherndon · 12-02-2005, 12:19 AM

Quote:

"The world's longest freight train, measuring 4.8 miles (7.3kM) . . ."

If I remember correctly, they ended up either breaking or pulling out a drawbar on it. I surely would've hated to be the conductor on that one.

Based on a 60 foot car though, 700 meters would be roughly 40 cars. That's less than a half mile. When NS still ran their radio trains, 111 and 112 usually could only meet at one place on the Louisville District. That was at Waddy where the siding is 11,632' (3500 m). We frequently get autorack trains over here close to 10,000' or more. (3000 m).

A lot of factors can determine length, but on average, I'd say that most trains run roughly 4,000-7,000' long.

I guess this just proves the saying that a fool and his money are soon parted.

Slopes09 · 12-04-2005, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StL-rail

Actually (this suprised me too), it was on the Sishen-Saldanha Railroad in South Africa. It was on Aug 29 and 27, 1989. It used 7 diesels and 9 50-kV electrics to move 660 cars, a tank car, and a caboose. It traveled 535 miles in 22 hours and 40 minutes. It took a whopping 4.3 miles to stop the train.

Thats slightly outdated. I remember reading it a few years ago in a Trains magazine that I had gotten off one of those get 2 free things(I've gotten several). The new record was set in Australia on BHP Mining Company with I believe either 6 or 8 AC6000W engines distributed throughout the train. I just can't remember the length of train and I'm too lazy to go dig out the magazine.

dodi4200 · 12-05-2005, 12:47 PM

i read before in abook that was released in 1995 and said (the lingest train in the world was american one and it was consist of 500 hopper cars with 5km long).

Jaypee_Logger · 01-14-2006, 05:08 PM

i saw a train on the UP spokane sub that was 679 cars long. not sure how many feet that is bit it took over 20 min to go over the Joso bridge at 25mph

Frederick · 01-14-2006, 06:13 PM

I kind of doubt that. It is illegal for a train to obstruct a public crossing for more than 5 minutes, I believe.

The train would be almost 10 miles long, too.

hoydie17 · 01-14-2006, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frederick

I kind of doubt that. It is illegal for a train to obstruct a public crossing for more than 5 minutes, I believe.

The train would be almost 10 miles long, too.

Last time I checked the law is that train cannot occupy a grade crossing for more than 15 minutes while stopped. As long as it's moving it's in the clear.

Sean

craftsmaster · 06-11-2010, 05:16 AM

Hey!

The longest train ever is freight train

Length: 7.353 KM
# of cars: 682
# of engines: 8 diesel/electric
Company: BHP Iron Ore
Location: Port Hedland, Australia

Cheers,
Carmel