Steam Crew Question

[enr2099]

And to think the conductor does all that by him/herself now. Unless the crew is provided a helper/ brakeman/assistant conductor, etc.

[MOJAX]

Thanks for the info!

[BillyDee53]

In the days before air brakes, a crew consisted of an engineer, fireman, conductor, head brakeman in the engine cab, rear brakeman in the caboose, and several 'swing' brakemen, who rode the car tops.  The head brakeman applied the brakes to the first 5 cars, the rear brakeman worked the last 5.  There was 1 swing man for each 5 cars in the train, and it was their job to run from one car to another applying brakes.  The conductor was in overall charge of the train, but it was the engineer's duty to follow the conductor's directions safely.  When a local freight was switching a town, the head and rear brakemen threw the switches at their end of the train, the swing brakemen did the coupling and applying of brakes, with the conductor in charge.

[jimrice4449]

The brakemen would also be respsponsible for conducting the initial brake test if there weren't carmen available.   Typically, the head man would walk back and the rear man forward checking for the "set" until they met at the middle of the train and then each would return, checking for the release.   The brakemen would also be responsible for setting up retainers (a device next to the brakewheel for restricting the release of air pressure in the brake cylinder allowing the engr to recharge the train line while retraining some brakeing) and releasing them at the bottom of the grade.   On some non-stoker equiped engines there might be a second fireman.

[MOJAX]

The brakemen basically did a lot of the "hands on" work, like uncoupling cars, throwing switches (turnouts), connecting airhoses when coupling up to cars, etc. If you were brakeman on a manifest freight like a reefer express, you could ride in the cupola of the caboose and keep an eye on the train while generally taking it easy...if you were brakie on a wayfreight on a cold rainy day, you spent a lot of time in the rain getting muddy and cold and wet.

Thanks, I knew that based on an earlier reply. I guess what I was asking but not conveying properly was "Did the brakeman do all the switching, coupling, etc as well as running on the tops of the freight cars before the air brake was invented?" 

[wjstix]

The brakemen basically did a lot of the "hands on" work, like uncoupling cars, throwing switches (turnouts), connecting airhoses when coupling up to cars, etc. If you were brakeman on a manifest freight like a reefer express, you could ride in the cupola of the caboose and keep an eye on the train while generally taking it easy...if you were brakie on a wayfreight on a cold rainy day, you spent a lot of time in the rain getting muddy and cold and wet.

[MOJAX]

Thanks for the replies.

So what did the brakeman do after air-brakes came into use?

[timz]

a steam era train crew consisted of 5 people.

Unless state law required more brakemen. How high could the total get-- 7, or more?

[rji2]

Most commonly, the crew consisted of an engineer, who ran the engine; a fireman, who fired the engine; a conductor, who was in charge of the train in all respects except the engine's operation; a head brakeman, who rode the engine and lined switches, coupled and uncouples cars and air hoses; and a flagman, who rode with the conductor in the caboose (usually), who provided rear-end protection when necessary, and assisted with switching.  In some cases the head brakeman would ride either on a seat in front or or behind the fireman, on the engine's left side, or in a "doghouse," a small cabin on the tender.  All crew members were charged with the responsibility for the train's safe movement.  Firemen would sometimes run the engine, a part of their training to become engineers.

[KCSfan]

The locomotive crew members were Engineer, Fireman and Head Brakeman. The Conductor and Rear Brakeman would ride the caboose. The Conductor was in charge of the train.

Mark

[MOJAX]

I read something a while back that a steam era train crew consisted of 5 people. What titles and jobs did they perform? Also who was in charge among the crew?

Thanks

Michael