Have you ever driven a train?

[Anonymous]

How many of us have actually driven a locomotive?

In December 200?, a friend of mine and ? employee at the ? Yard in ?, N.C. allowed my dad and I into the yard and even let me take control of 3 Dash 9s for a short distance in the yard. I didn't travel far but the power of the engines was amazing! And for any of you who have played Microsoft Train Simulator, the controls on the Dash 9 are just as they are in the game. I knew how to almost do everything to get it moving.

Share your train driving stories!

[Mookie]

Not yet, but I am not dead yet either!

Mookie

[FThunder11]

I've always wanted too, hopefully someday!

[Anonymous]

First off, you don't "drive" a train. You "operate" a locomotive or a train.

Yes, as a certified locomotive engineer I have operated locomotives and trains many, many times...

LC

[Anonymous]

Well, I have "operated" a locomotive then.

[edblysard]

Not an engineer, but my engineer has let me spell him every once in a while.
Dont like the way Dash 9s stop, nor their controls.
Do like the way the SD70M stops, dont like their controls either.
Like the way a SD40-2 stops, starts and runs, and like the old control stand.
You can run it by the seat of your pants, you "feel" what it is doing, and going to do...

All that said, its a blast having that much horsepower at your fingertips, but I bet the first time you suck a drawbar out, or bust a knuckle, it aint so fun having everybody look at you like its your fault...
Ed

[Kozzie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Not an engineer, but my engineer has let me spell him every once in a while.
Dont like the way Dash 9s stop, nor their controls.
Do like the way the SD70M stops, dont like their controls either.
Like the way a SD40-2 stops, starts and runs, and like the old control stand.
You can run it by the seat of your pants, you "feel" what it is doing, and going to do...

All that said, its a blast having that much horsepower at your fingertips, but I bet the first time you suck a drawbar out, or bust a knuckle, it aint so fun having everybody look at you like its your fault...
Ed

Considerable power...and considerable responsibility too...[;)] I found the recent 'Trains' article on braking quite a revelation - so much to consider! Whew! [;)]

[Allen Jenkins]

www.trainmaster.com has a free demo download. try It! acy

[espeefoamer]

I am a member of the Orange Empire Railway Museum. Recently on Members Day, they brought out their ex SP ALCo S4 pulling a caboose.Members could take turns running the loco on our main line.It was an awesome experience.[:D]

[CShaveRR]

Ed, you're calling the SD40-2's control stand "old"?

From the reactions of others, and the reasoning behind those reactions, I'd have to concur with you on the "desktop" controls.

But your "old" control stand is the newest I've actually operated...I think they called the EMD's "oil drum" stands until an early version of the standardized stand came into use during the late 1950s. And I loved the wrench-style reverse lever and loooong throttle handles on Alcos!

However, I have not operated a locomotive since hiring out on a railroad (other than to sound the horn while the engineer was absent for personal reasons). All of my locomotive-operating escapades were as a teenager...and the engineers who were with me thought I was pretty darned good at it!

SJ, I hope you get the opportunity somehow, somewhere, but it's a lot different nowadays, what with licensing requirements. It used to be just the railroads that frowned on unauthorized persons in the cabs, but now...

[Willy2]

I'd like to operate a locomotive, but that'll be the day!

Willy

[athelney]

Back in the UK when I was employed in railway car control , we had an arrangement where my partner in the office went to the pub a couple of times a week when on shift . In turn his friend an engineer let me go for rides late at night . I once drove a 4 car electric mu from Southampton to Eastleigh ( about 7 miles ) at up to speeds of 75 mph while the engineer & conductor sat & chatted , another time I drove a DEMU about 12 miles again up to track speed & stopped it right on spot under the footbridge so the driver could view the young ladies leaving the train . All this and I' m colour blind!! - so not able to be an engineer by trade. -- great times.

[locomutt]

I personally have never 'operated' a locomotive,been in the cab several times,but otherwise "no joy in" Mudville"(I said "Mudville",not "Mudchicken")

[jeaton]

QUOTE: Originally posted by athelney

I once drove a 4 car electric mu ...

Reminded me that I had similar experience with the Illinois Central's electric MU cars (the 1929 single level versions) back in the early '60's when I was a trainman on that line. When deadheading home on a late night train, a friendly engineer let me take overs the controls, but he stayed in the compartment. I needed him to give me the spots for brake applications for the station stops. Trickiest part was letting off the air just as the train was about to stop, otherwise the riders got a nice jolt. After a few oppurtunities, I wasn't too bad at it.

Oh yes, engineers, not motormen. These guys bid the jobs off the Chicago District roster that covered freight and passenger, and at that time many had steam experience. "Motorman" at best would get you a cold stare.

At a later time on a "familiaration" for us office types got to move a light SW down a stretch of track, but not much of a deal.

Had many rides in cabs of real trains, but was more than happy to let the hogger do his job. My train handling skills? Good thing simulators are virtual.

[AntonioFP45]

Regarding Control Stands.

On www.railpictures.net

Several different cab interior shots of MODERN CANADIAN locomotives, GE and EMD. The control stand: Not the desktop controls but a "modernized left-hand" control stand!

Quite refreshing to see. Have heard that many engineers dislike the "trolley car" style (nicknamed) desk on many of the modern units.

[Anonymous]

If I had the chance Id thank the Northwestern crew that let me drive a 6800 SD40-2.We went up Pioneer hill in run 8 with a grain train and those 2 SD40's screaming behind me while i blew the horns was a thrill to me when i was young. Thats the frist trian i ever got to operate but the first locomotive i ever got to get into the cab was in 1984 on the old Milwakee line across illinois. An SD40-2 again but in the hiawatha paint. Got a pic of little ol' 5 year old me in the cab. AWWWWWW. LONG LIVE THE ROCK!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

I ran a switcher a bit when I was 5. My dad just walked into the yard and asked.
These days you can rent a locomotive in San Francisco
www.ggrm.org/rentaloco.htm
or Nevada
http://nevadanorthernrailway.net/locorental/engine_rental.htm

[jeffhergert]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Limitedclear

First off, you don't "drive" a train. You "operate" a locomotive or a train.

Yes, as a certified locomotive engineer I have operated locomotives and trains many, many times...

LC

On the UP/CNW wide cabs the cab signal cutout was somewhere down in the nose , usually across from the toilet compartment. On some of the UP's EMD engines, in the 8000 something series, the cab signal cutout is in the computer and accessed thru the computer screen.
Down in the nose is a sign, "CCS/ATC cab signal cutout located on driver's side computer screen."
Maybe whoever came up with the sign was British.
Jeff

[edblysard]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR

Ed, you're calling the SD40-2's control stand "old"?

Sorry Carl,
What I meant was older style, left side stand, with guages instead of monitors.
And I didnt like the Nintendo, or desk top controls, they make running backwards a pain in the neck!!!

I perfer the old analog guage instead of the computer screen, I had to figure out what the screen was saying, but with the guages, all it took was glancing at them for it to make sense.
Thats what I liked about the SD70M, even though it had desktop controls, it still had guages, not screens.

Whoever decided the Dash 9s radiators should hang out that far and that low should be made to run the silly thing long hood forward for a few hours, you cant see out of the read door past them, unless you kinda crouch down in the chair, or sit sideways leaning back, trying to look out the side window.
Not designed very well.

Ed

[csxengineer98]

yes..i have... many many many times.... thats what i get payed to do..lol
csx engineer

[Anonymous]

A few times - narrow gauge switchers and industrial locos in the UK. Its one of those things that is just great fun but I guess doing it for a living is somewhat different.

The critter drove has a clutch and stick shift just like a car

Kev

[wabash1]

I have never diven a train. dont think i would like to.

Ed
The gages are nice but the display screen is nice on the dash 9s if done right. all the right info is there just read it. the desk tops are not bad running backwards just use the mirror ( not this again) its no differant than backing a car only you aint steering.

Carl
I am fond of the ole aar control stand also it is much easier on the body. dont haft to sit with your arms up all the time.

Will in tryon
If he is a friend why are you interested in getting him fired? you scan that pic then post it the next thing that will happen is he will be fired for letting unauthorized person in the cab run a loco and for letting a treasspasser stay on the property. The shake up of these new collage educated non transportation trainmasters looking for a way to progress thru the company will get him fired they dont even haft to be on that division to do it. your best bet is to keep your pic to yourself enjoy your memories but provide no evidance of what happened.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Yes, once, with 3 loaded passenger cars in tow. I had volunteered to be fireman for a day on the local excursion line, and knew the engineer. He let me do the final trip of the day, 20 miles roundtrip, uphill out, and downhill back.

Uphill was fairly easy with the old SW pushing the cars. The only trick was that the conductor was on the back platform acting as the eyes at all of the grade crossings, and was giving instructions on the radio. Not much braking involved uphill, just keep it moving, and slow for the crossings.

Downhill was a different story, lots of things to remember and think about. The conductor got a free ride, and all of the responsibility was in the cab. The engineer was there coaching me, and I had been watching on the previous trips, but that was a very stressfull half hour. Just as we were coming into the station, a car cut in front of the train at an unprotected crossing. We were only doing about 5 MPH, but that was way too close for my taste. My knees were knocking after that.

Also, when I was 16, I operated the local streetcar on a regular basis. The same organization owned both the train and the streetcar. That's how I knew the engineer, he had trained me on the streetcar, 12 years earlier.

[mloik]

Yup. Engineer for a Day on an 1898 Heisler (the oldest operating in the world) at Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton, CA. The most exhilirating thing was stopping the train (with passengers) before a dead-end, complete with rock wall due ahead.

[espeefoamer]

The Portola(CA) Railroad Museum has a program called Rent A Loco.For one hour you are the engineer,with someone guiding you all the way.More than one person can buy an hour together,each operating the loco for a portion of that time.

[edblysard]

Well, there you go with the mirror thing again...
Whats with you engineers and your mirrors?

You guys never meet a mirror you dont like!

Ed

QUOTE: Originally posted by wabash1

I have never diven a train. dont think i would like to.

Ed
The gages are nice but the display screen is nice on the dash 9s if done right. all the right info is there just read it. the desk tops are not bad running backwards just use the mirror ( not this again) its no differant than backing a car only you aint steering.

[Anonymous]

True, but you can't even tell where I'm at (though I said) or see the employee, just me with my head out the window. Only real identification you can see is the number on the locomotive. The boss wasn't there that day, probably the only reason I got in the yard and in the locomotive. I'm not going to post his picture on here and say, "look, fire him, fire him - I know that's exactly what you're evil scheme for the day is!"

[Anonymous]

A friend of mine is a teacher for train engineer´s.

So I´m in a good position!

I driven a few trains with him in the last years.

For example:

- freighttrain with a Type 140 electro from Heidelberg to Frankfurt
- regional dieseltrain type 628 from Limburg to Kassel and back via Frankfurt
- push Pull IC from Frankfurt to Dortmund and back. along the Rhine river. Powered with a type 101 electro

The best trips were:
- ICE 1 train from Frankfurt to Nuernberg and back, max speed 250 km/h (155 mph)
- ICE 1 train from Frankfurt to Hamburg and back, maximum also 250 km/h
- ICE 3 train from Frankfurt to Muenster and back, max speed 302.4 km/h (188 mph) YEAH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Well, there you go with the mirror thing again...
Whats with you engineers and your mirrors?

You guys never meet a mirror you dont like!

Ed

QUOTE: Originally posted by wabash1

I have never diven a train. dont think i would like to.

Ed
The gages are nice but the display screen is nice on the dash 9s if done right. all the right info is there just read it. the desk tops are not bad running backwards just use the mirror ( not this again) its no differant than backing a car only you aint steering.

See!!!!!!!! You guys are finally admitting it!!!!! That wasn't such a silly question was it!!!!! You do use mirrors on engines if nothing more than to check your hair-do!
I still think you use them to back down the rails!

Mook

[cherokee woman]

No, I've never driven a train. I think it would be nice to try, though. (As long as the engineer doesn't leave me alone at the controls. Hmm, would I be tall enough to
reach the cord for the horn?!?!