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How many members of a train crew?

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Posted by BRAKIE on Saturday, June 8, 2013 11:55 AM

RicZ

How many crew members on a transition diesel crew?

RicZ

 
If you mean the transition era there was five,Engineer,Fireman,Head brakeman,rear brakeman and conductor.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


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Posted by RicZ on Saturday, June 8, 2013 10:29 AM

How many crew members on a transition diesel crew?

RicZ

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Posted by Bruce LA on Friday, June 7, 2013 11:44 PM

dehusman

NP2626

 

Brakie, what would be the purpose of a caboose with the doors welded shut?  Do the trainmen climb in through the windows?

 

A caboose becomes a "shoving platform", someplace for the crew to safely stand while riding the point of a shoving move.  The doors (and windows) are welded shut because there is no reason to go into the caboose.  The conductor/brakeman are supposed to be on the rear platform watching the shove not inside the caboose.  There wouldn't be anything in the caboose anyway, all the seats, stoves, and other interior stuff would have been removed.

I would imagine that they welded the car shut more to keep out unauthorized people than the train crews.

When I was a conductor for CSX I worked several jobs where we used a shoving platform. They did not weld them shut so we had a place to get out of the rain to escape the risk of lightning during thunderstorms. They were stored on a storage track away from the main yards so there were a lot of times we had to chase some bo out of the car who was sleeping in it. Fortunately, they had the decency not to use it as a toilet.

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Posted by wjstix on Friday, May 31, 2013 10:08 AM

NP2626

I don't think I've seen a caboose in operation out here in Minnesota in 15 years.  Not saying they ain't, just saying I have not seen one. 

Canadian Pacific still has several Soo Line cabooses (including one brown one) that are used as shoving platforms when moving tank cars from the old Milwaukee Road yard southeast of downtown St.Paul down the Mississippi River about 10 miles to the large Marathon oil refinery in St.Paul Park. The yard and rail line (the old Milwaukee Road and parallel BNSF ex-Burlington Route mainlines to Chicago) are next to highway 10/61 which I take to and from my home in Cottage Grove to my job in downtown St.Paul. There are usually several Soo cabooses visible in the yard each day, and often a train with a caboose will be sitting south of the yard, north of the refinery.

Stix
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Posted by BRAKIE on Thursday, May 30, 2013 11:23 AM

dehusman

NP2626

 

Brakie, what would be the purpose of a caboose with the doors welded shut?  Do the trainmen climb in through the windows?

 

A caboose becomes a "shoving platform", someplace for the crew to safely stand while riding the point of a shoving move.  The doors (and windows) are welded shut because there is no reason to go into the caboose.  The conductor/brakeman are supposed to be on the rear platform watching the shove not inside the caboose.  There wouldn't be anything in the caboose anyway, all the seats, stoves, and other interior stuff would have been removed.

 
Dave,You may be surprise that some cabooses has.'t been gutted..I know of several active cabooses that still has seats,stove desk..However,there is no fuel for the stove and the generator has been disabled.
 
One doesn't need to stand on the platform during a shove..In inclement weather we stood in the door.
 

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

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Posted by NP2626 on Thursday, May 30, 2013 6:23 AM

Thanks Dave!

NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"

Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association:  http://www.nprha.org/

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Posted by dehusman on Thursday, May 30, 2013 6:21 AM

NP2626

 

Brakie, what would be the purpose of a caboose with the doors welded shut?  Do the trainmen climb in through the windows?

 

A caboose becomes a "shoving platform", someplace for the crew to safely stand while riding the point of a shoving move.  The doors (and windows) are welded shut because there is no reason to go into the caboose.  The conductor/brakeman are supposed to be on the rear platform watching the shove not inside the caboose.  There wouldn't be anything in the caboose anyway, all the seats, stoves, and other interior stuff would have been removed.

Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com

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Posted by NP2626 on Thursday, May 30, 2013 5:49 AM

I don't think I've seen a caboose in operation out here in Minnesota in 15 years.  Not saying they ain't, just saying I have not seen one. 

Brakie, what would be the purpose of a caboose with the doors welded shut?  Do the trainmen climb in through the windows?

As far as my dream job is concerned, keep in mind I also wanted to be a Lighthouse Keeper, too.

NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"

Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association:  http://www.nprha.org/

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Posted by BRAKIE on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 5:08 PM

NP2626

So, two and sometimes three, no cabooses; sheesh, my dream job is gone!

 
Actually some cabooses are still in use for long reverse moves.
 
There are two types..Some have the doors welded shut while others are fully functional..

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

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Posted by zstripe on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 4:18 PM

Larry,

I know the short way,or the long way,,,to the principle's office,,,I always preferred the long way...LOL..

Cheers,

Frankie

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Posted by NP2626 on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 3:45 PM

So, two and sometimes three, no cabooses; sheesh, my dream job is gone!

NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"

Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association:  http://www.nprha.org/

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Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 12:44 PM

Laugh

BRAKIE

richhotrain

BRAKIE

Dave is correct..2-3 men crews is the norm.

Hey, I came up with that first.   CryingCryingCrying

Sad Rich   Laugh

Oops!! My bad!  Embarrassed

Rich and Dave is correct..Big Smile

BowBowBowBowBow

Now, life is worth living once again.   Laugh

 

Happy Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by BRAKIE on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 11:07 AM

Frank,I fear there are those among us that thinks I should go to the principle's office or stand in the nearest corner.Smile, Wink & Grin

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

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Posted by zstripe on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 8:45 AM

BRAKIE

richhotrain

BRAKIE

Dave is correct..2-3 men crews is the norm.

Hey, I came up with that first.   CryingCryingCrying

Sad Rich   Laugh

Oops!! My bad!  Embarrassed

Rich and Dave is correct..Big Smile

Larry,you can come up front and sit with me,,,all the good boys sat at the front of the class,,he he,,,,,Boy that ''NUN'', had long arm's....

Cheers,

Frank

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Posted by BRAKIE on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 8:35 AM

richhotrain

BRAKIE

Dave is correct..2-3 men crews is the norm.

Hey, I came up with that first.   CryingCryingCrying

Sad Rich   Laugh

Oops!! My bad!  Embarrassed

Rich and Dave is correct..Big Smile

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
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Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 7:22 AM

BRAKIE

Dave is correct..2-3 men crews is the norm.

Hey, I came up with that first.   CryingCryingCrying

Sad Rich   Laugh

Alton Junction

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Posted by BRAKIE on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 7:01 AM

Dave is correct..2-3 men crews is the norm.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

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Posted by dehusman on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 6:31 AM

"JaBear"

Gidday, here's a link...........

http://railroadingjobs.com/Railroad_Careers.html

 

Curious list, Division Superintendent is listed as a dispatching center job.  It is by no means all inclusive.

A normal road freight crew has an engineer and conductor.  Some jobs that do local work or have a lot of work events might have an engineer, conductor and brakeman.

In the yard they can 3 main crews, engineer, foreman, switchman, or two man crews, engineer, foreman, or RCO crews, foreman, switchman.

Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com

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Posted by "JaBear" on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 5:55 AM

Gidday, here's a link...........

http://railroadingjobs.com/Railroad_Careers.html

Cheers, the Bear.

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

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Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 5:44 AM

That is my understanding, just an engineer and a conductor.  Occasionally, on local runs, I believe that a brakeman may be part of the crew.

Rich

Alton Junction

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How many members of a train crew?
Posted by NP2626 on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 5:32 AM

What does a train crew consist of today (how many people operate a train)? 

My ex boss' son had just been hired by BNSF and was out in Glasgow Montana, receiving training in operations, it's my understanding they start as the conductor now and that after years of doing that, they may become engineers.  I was lead to believe a train crew now consists of only two people, an engineer and conductor?

NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"

Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association:  http://www.nprha.org/

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