I read somewhere once that tracks ( parking spots ) around a turntable were sloped slightly away from the pit so the things with wheels could not accidentally roll into the pit. Can anyone expand on this? I have not been able to find any info on this.
Thanks.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
I'm not aware of any concerted effort to have the track slope away from the turntable pit, Brent. I wonder how many pit "accidents" were caused by "creepers" and how many were caused by over zealous hostlers?
I'd guess the latter was more common. Some locomotives were known to be creepers (night crawlers). Leaky throttle was always to blame, although it could be leaks in the dry pipe, too. Some engines had valves on the steam chest that were opened to keep any steam pressure from building in the cylinders, IF the hostler cared or remembered to open them. Cylinder cocks were not always relied upon to keep open. Mechanical ones would but later poppet-style ones may shut on their own.
Chains were supposed to be tossed around one of the drivers. Some roundhouses had large chain with handles forged to them for ease in placement. Wood wedges were used, too, again, if the crews remembered. (Some?) PRR tenders had hand brakes, did any other roads?
3734GTW_Pontiac_6-9-55 by Edmund, on Flickr
I've actually done a little "hostling" with the very same engine shown in the photo above, GTW 3734, aka 4070. Often the steam pressure isn't quite up to operating range when the fire has been dumped and you're puttin' her to bed. The air compressor, thus main reservoir pressure might be low — reduced braking effort = increased distance. I've had a few surprizes! Also with low steam pressure the engine is slow to react but once she gets rolling, difficult to predict where she'll stop. Not to mention the rail is usually pretty slippery around the service tracks and roundhouse, lots of oil and water around.
I'll bet there are a lot of guilty hostlers out there that blamed a leaky throttle when they full-well knew they were "hot-rodding". Ooops!
Regards, Ed
I have spent some time at a couple of roundhouses and TT's, and never discerned that there was a purpose-built grade away from the pit. As the others have said, professional attention to details was what everyone relied on everywhere on a railroad. It was a way of life, a culture of 'doin' it right'. Tying down an item of rolling stock meant something.