Skip to main content

3 replies

Question on air hose connected to multiple cars on a siding

E ExeterOGR Forum Member

On a recent Saturday morning, I had dropped my wife off at work and was driving home when the gates came down on the BNSF line running through Oklahoma City to Dalles/Fort Worth.  Turned out it was the Heartland Flyer going by on its morning run to Fort Worth.

As I was waiting I noticed multiple cars on a siding with what appeared to be a air hose running from the air hose coupler on the lead box car to a grey box next to the siding.  My google searches have not turned up anything except the 2012 BNSF manual for employees(addendum) and I will very readily admit I am most likely doing incorrect searches.

Was(is) this air hose used to keep air pressure up on the brake line?  If not a air hose then its purpose?

If so, is this a common practice that I have seen for the 1st time?

Why?  Safety?  Less time to charge line when connecting to engine?

If the above is true, may I assume that even with the brake line charged you would still have to set a number of hand brakes?

Thanks,

Tim

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

AceAceOGR Forum Member
Exeter posted:

 

... If so, is this a common practice that I have seen for the 1st time?

Fairly common in some places, like departure tracks.

Why?  Safety?  Less time to charge line when connecting to engine?

Yes, less delay for engine and engine crew if yard crew handles it.

If the above is true, may I assume that even with the brake line charged you would still have to set a number of hand brakes?

Hand brakes would have been set, if necessary, before the brake line was charged.

Thanks,

Tim

 

Last edited by Ace
G GreggOGR Forum Member

Lots of big yards had "ground air" so the car department could do their brake tests before the power was coupled to the train.. They would apply the trains  brakes.,walk the train making inspections of the brakes and other things, They would then release the brake and walk the train again. It just save time and could they could get  the work done  without the engines coupled onto the train.   Eventually another shorter  test with the engines coupled on.

Add Reply

Tags: brake, Question, air
Views: 320
Post

Membership Required

We're sorry. You must be signed in to continue. Sign In or Register
×
Are you sure you want to remove from your Block List?
×
Loading...
×
When you block a person, they can no longer invite you to a private message or post to your profile wall. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content.
Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following .
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×

Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership

OGR Forum Supporting Membership

Help support this forum with an OGR Forum Supporting Membership.
You will be able to watch the videos in the INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO FORUM!
A one-year OGR Forum Supporting Membership is only $12 per year, so sign up now!


    OR     


Access the ALL the OGR VIDEO FORUMS AND  over 300 back issues of OGR
with a DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION!



$12.00 per 12 Months (plus tax if applicable)
×