Switching with air

Thank you Mr. Anderson.  Your answer helped me see how simple that actually was. I remember the guys telling me a 5 lb. reduction, by itself, would not kick off reliably, but this was spoken while taking a train over the road.  I was too dim to bring that idea into a road switcher setting.

Thanks

3 STEP protection. Brake pipe reduction,center reverser,put down the gen.field switch.

 

You must use unit number and name of person asking the protection,and the 3 step can only be released by that person.

 

We switch a lot with air at Kenova.But when you need to kick cars out into tracks the conductor just simply cuts the air out between the car and bleeds the air off to "kick'em".

That sounds like a very safe procedure.  At least, it stops short of having you get off the seat box, go outside and set the hand brake.

I am surprised to hear that kicking cars is still an option for today's railroads.

When I hired out we could still kick cars at certain locations in Southern CA, and we could also switch without air. They eliminated them both years ago, but I know it's still a common practice at different places around the system.

 

Switching without air is so much easier, and saves a lot of time. If the cars are loads, they will still roll without knocking off the handbrake. So just go to a hook, shove or pull the cars around as needed. No saying "going in between" on ever car, waiting for a response of set and centered, lace up the hoses, open the angle cock, climb on the car to knock off the hand brake, report in the clear and then start your movement. Repeat for cutting the cars off. Do that for every car at an industry, say 10 -12 times... takes time.

 

Just like cutting the "helpers" in on the rear of a train.... The helpers make a reduction at least 5 lbs deeper than the train has set, to make sure that the train brakes don't release when the Helpers cut the air into to their power. If the engineer were set set the same or less, the train brakes will start releasing, and the train will start to roll. Then you have some unhappy trainman as they have to go tie it down  

How do you get any work done with so many rules?  We switched with no radios and put our trust in the engineer every time we in to  turn a angle cock or did up a hose bag. Engineman just never moved unless instructed to.... a few exceptions. With 3 man crews   it was like a ball game, the Forman called the shots (pitcher) and one helper  stayed with the engine (back catcher). He usually lined  switches on the lead and would kick cars on instructions from the conductor. The other brakeman played the field. (pulled the pins in the yard and kept cars from rolling away or coming back .   I still remember hand signals for at least 10 tracks  plus all the others for dropping cars (running switch),  connecting air,  crossovers, main line. and the most important one lunch. Do I miss it? kind of on a really nice day.

Great reply, Gregg.

Your description is exactly how I remember it all.

Wyhog refers to something that makes me grin.

Someday, I hope someone starts a thread on the REAL TRAINS forum titled, "Fun with torpedoes".  That will be entertaining.

Exactly as Wyhog said, we don't! Getting the work done is NOT a priority any more. Customers can go days without getting their cars, it's just a fact of modern day railroading. Its takes 2-3 yard jobs to spot industries that 1 job used to do in 8-9 hours. Words like "assume", "trust", and "common sense" have been removed from the glossary terms. You are not allowed to work like that, and there is a rule for everything. You don't have to know or understand how to railroad. You must know how to read and follow instructions.

If I could show you one of the videos we have to watch with a crew switching in the yard and the proper radio procedure.... you would laugh, shake your head, be disgusted or all of the above. We don't get much done now, and for many... that is their objective, do as little as possible when you're here. If we followed every rule to the letter of the law.... NOTHING would ever get done. Work your shift and go home without incident or injury... you'll get Employee of the Month every month. If you only switch 2 cars your whole shift... good job buddy, at least you were in position.

Wyhog, love your 'war' stories. I laughed out loud at your Torpedoes and Fusees story.

Thank you.

Dan Weinhold

I have laughed until it hurts....but please don't stop. !!