Get bent...

Went over to my buddy's across the street to shoot the shit for a bit. He said (knowing I like messing around with cars) "Hey I got something you would appreciate seeing..." And proceeds to show me what looks like an end table or an oversized ashtray. He works for Union Pacific Railroad as a machinist and apparently one of their diesel engines suffered a fatal hydraulic lock (water in the cylinder) and actually bent a rod! For comparison, I brought over a 1959 Chevrolet 348 rod from an engine I blew up a while back. Talk about freaking HUGE. He also has a few stories about turbochargers blowing up in the shop and sending pieces through doors and walls etc. That's nuts. Just thought some people might appreciate destruction on a different scale.

 

That would make a great Billetproof trophy !

Don

 

Now THAT is an epic fail! Would love to have that.

 

Very cool, was watching "Dirty Jobs" when he visited the train rebuild plant. They tore down one of those engines there. It was very interesting.

 

I'm a millwright by trade. When I was working with the tools we overhauled gas engines that made that big rod look like a baby. Most were 2 stroke and ran at 300 rpm. 18" to 25" dia. pistons, 10" rod throws. We would get inside the crankcases to clean them. --TV

 

I worked at the plant that that dirty jobs episode was shot at! I remember we had an old freight engine that ended up sucking in oil from a bad seal in the turbo. The thing just kept reving like it was wide open and the operator in the load cell didnt shut off the airflow to the prime mover fast enough, all I can say is hell of a bang and lots of smoke!

 

I work for the BNSF (their competition, LOL) & that shit happens every once in a while; they push those engines to their limit...

 

Yep those cheap chinese turbo main shafts caused alot of problems in the newest units. Ive seen quite a few parts like that as my father is a machinest for good old UP. I'll try and dig up some more pics!

 

.....And you say thats a genuine Mini part??.......................

Doc.

 

i was thinking a barstool

where i used to work there was a burned out valve being used as a doorstop, don't know what it came out of but the thing was waist high

 

I have a rod from a farrie boat that's the size. They are freaking HEAVY duty

 

The last carrier I was stationed on, USS Ranger in San Diego, had 4 diesel loco engines as back-up generators for electricity! They would auto start in what seemed like microseconds to keep the electricity flowing. Gary

 

Fleet ocean going tugs had crankcase access doors you could walk thru, scary big!

 

Nice table lamp ya got there!

 

Fellow railroaders on the HAMB will appreciate this one ... "DON'T EVER RESET THE CRANKCASE BUTTON!" Can you say "Safety Violation". Only did it once, the crankcase oil sure looked pretty as it cascaded off the walkways