Today while watching action in a CSX yard in Nashville I observed three actions I didn't understand:
A fuel truck was refilling a locomotive from a truck. When going from one side of the locomotive to the other he walked about l5 feet and then crossed the track. Is this a safety meaure?
When coming from the other side where the truck was located he brought a large flexible disc about three feet around and placed it on the track roadbed beside the fuel tank. What was it?
A switchman was throwing switches. Each time he threw a switch he used his arms to make a waving motion along each side of the switch in its new location. Why?
choristerA fuel truck was refilling a locomotive from a truck. When going from one side of the locomotive to the other he walked about l5 feet and then crossed the track. Is this a safety meaure?
Yes,15 feet is the safety rule.
Why?
You have lots of room to escape if the engine or cut of cars start to move.
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That is a catch basin for any leaking or overfill fuel leaks.
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That's a new one but,I suspect the switchman was signaling the engineer that the switch points was firmly closed..
There's FRA rule stating the switch points must be checked for proper closure before proceeding with the move over the switch.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Thanks, I love to watch the real railroads at work. It just takes a lot of patience; seems like they move so slowly but then they have to be cautious about everything they do.
Yup for the first part, 15' or so has been standard a long time. I have a GN training film from 1946 that demonstrates it. As noted, it's so if a car or engine should move unexpectedly, you have a change to get clear.
I suspect the second question refers to some type of a blue-board or blue-flag. When someone is going to be working around or under an engine or car, they put a blue marker on the rail or the car. This means that the car or engine cannot be moved until the marker is removed - and only the worker who put it in place can remove it. This is to be sure the car or engine doesn't move while someone is crawling under it or otherwise endangered.
wjstixYup for the first part, 15' or so has been standard a long time. I have a GN training film from 1946 that demonstrates it. As noted, it's so if a car or engine should move unexpectedly, you have a change to get clear.
As a tibit when I started my student brakeman training on the PRR in '66 the rule was 10' but,the old heads said forget that 10' make it 15' instead.When I started on the C&O(Chessie) the rule was changed to 15'.-
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Don't think that was a blue board since one doesn't move the board just because he walks around the engine or car .I'm sure its a EPA catch basin for fuel spills.
The rule is one car length or 50 feet.
chorister When coming from the other side where the truck was located he brought a large flexible disc about three feet around and placed it on the track roadbed beside the fuel tank. What was it?
Others here have already covered this
chorister A switchman was throwing switches. Each time he threw a switch he used his arms to make a waving motion along each side of the switch in its new location. Why?
The switchman has to check the gap between the points for obstruction, and then he has to check to make sure the points are closed afterwards. He wasn't swinging his arms, he was pointing at it to show that he was looking. This is so when the trainmaster is watching from 500 feet away, he can see that the switchman is checking the points. A casual glance at the points has gotten people time on the street because the trainmaster can't see you checking the points. This is something the crews do in Nashville to keep the trainmasters off their backs.
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50'.. Okaaaaaaaay..That would be safer then the older 15' rule but, very time consuming.
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The switchman has to check the gap between the points for obstruction, and then he has to check to make sure the points are closed afterwards. He wasn't swinging his arms, he was pointing at it to show that he was looking. This is so when the trainmaster is watching from 500 feet away, he can see that the switchman is checking the points.
Sheesh! With all the rules in place today how on earth do you guys get any work done?
We threw the switch step on the handle to ensure it locked in place and a quick glance and continued the work.
Of course the "peeping toms" wasn't as bad back then as they are today.They was to busy watching for more serious safety and operating rule liberties ( read infringements).
You see back then they like to nail your hide to the wall with street time or time slip not Mickey Mouse slips..Of course you wasn't a experience railroader if you didn't have some Mickey Mouse slips in your file.
BRAKIESheesh! With all the rules in place today how on earth do you guys get any work done?
We don't. The safety numbers sure are good, though.
I just wonder how much revenue is lost due to non-movement.
Mike WSOR engineer | HO scale since 1988 | Visit our club www.WCGandyDancers.com