Railroad Freight Train taking up the slack. What is it called?

[CShaveRR]

SealBook27, your slack on those reefers may have sounded like a Gatling gun, but my sister (Mookie) and I can attest to how it sounds on about 130 empty coal gons.

Definitely thunder!

[ValorStorm]

The only term I've ever heard of ascribed to the sound of slack action is "slack action."

[SealBook27]

I don't know what it's called, but I sure know what it sounds like. In 1959 I spent a year in Riviera Beach, Florida where they unloaded Fruit Grower's Express cars from a car ferry coming from Havana. Within earshot of my bedrooom window they had what looked to me like a small classification yard. Late at night an engineer must have been stretching out a train like he was in a big hurry. There would be about two dozen loud BANGS about a half second apart, fading off into the night.

I wouldn't say it sounded like rolling thunder. More like an old Gatling gun.

[Overmod]

I've also heard the terms "running in" and "running out" for the slack action -- presumably from the outside, not the POV of the engine crew... also 'run-in' for the incident when the cars bunch up and you hear the roar approaching the front end.

[CSXrules4eva]

yes I wish

QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR

Sarah, I can tell what you've been reading! [;)]

I don't know why, either, but I've been giving the pin-pullers the "rubber" for over 34 years now. I haven't heard "give me some pin" used on the hump, though.

AMG

Carl, I defanitly know that you know what I've been reading lately :)lol AMG.

[BR60103]

Isn't it called "Let's bounce the conductor around in the caboose"?

[CShaveRR]

Sarah, I can tell what you've been reading! [;)]

I don't know why, either, but I've been giving the pin-pullers the "rubber" for over 34 years now. I haven't heard "give me some pin" used on the hump, though.

AMG

[Anonymous]

Got it stretched out! Or got it PILED onto the engine.

[CSXrules4eva]

Hay I like that term rolling thunder, I'm going to use that :):)
Another name for "slack" is "Rubber" at least on the UP in the Chicago area it is. They also use the term "Give me some Pin" I have no clue as to why Rubber is used instead of slack around there but I guess it must be a Chicago thing.

[miniwyo]

Isn't it also sometimes referred to as rolling thunder, or am I just nuts?

[edblysard]

Stretching the slack out, or taking up the slack. when you start pulling...


When you bunch them up together, it’s called...bunching or taking in the slack.


The term you used, slack, is both the "slang" and the technically correct term.
You will find the term slack used both in the GCOR and the NORAC rule books.

You will often hear conductors and switchmen telling the engineer, "I need the slack for a pin" meaning that the slack has stretched out, and the knuckle will not open...the engineer will shove slowly against the cut to give the slack, or bunch it up, to the switchman so he can lift the cut lever...


Ed

[arbfbe]

The best I can remember from years of experience is the sound as well as the motion is called just slack. Can you feel the slack, did you hear the slack. That seems to be enough for the folks on the job.

[ValleyX]

Starting the train. Gee, I dunno, "letting out the slack" might be as close as it comes, you want to start off easy, don't want any abrupt run-outs, that can lead to trouble and beaucoup questions.

Of course, the opposite of that is "taking up the slack" or "bunching the train".

[JoeKrause]

When a freight train starts up there is a long rumbling beginning at the front of the train going like a chain reaction to the end. As the locomotives beginning pulling, the slack between each of the couplers causes a movable chain of noise. What is it called? Is there a technical term for it? How about some legendary "slang" terms?
My wife called it "vibration". I said it wasn't that, but she came back with: "Well then, what is it called?" My answer, "Duh, I dunno know."
Please help me