Roll-By Advice for Railfans

[JoeKoh]

Mudchicken is right
you also have tie plates,spikes brake shoes,couplers etc etc stay back stay safe
Joe

[mudchicken]

(1) If you do see something obviously wrong, get the cell phone out and call the "panic" number posted at most public road crossings with the larger railroads. Give them where you are, the DOT# if possible, which way the train was going and what was wrong (Car # if possible).....

(2) If a rail grinder (Loram, Speno, Jackson, etc...) , the next county away is too close! (those grinding stones can fly when they break!, saw one clear a R/W fence 200 feet away...)

(3) Keep your distance, the western railroads insist you are fouling their operating R/W any time you are within 25 feet of the track. Out at the fence is close enough.

Mudchicken

[Anonymous]

[8D]Also watch where you walk A lot of RR's are replaceing ties and sometimes
small pieces of tie are left there they are a trip hazard [;)]

[PNWRMNM]

The person who suggested stay 20 feet away from moving trains had right idea but did not go far enough. On level ground I would get no closer than 50 feet and even that would be sporty if they derailed. I have been to lots of derailments that got cars 50 feet from the main. You can not outrun em.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

The fingers are an indication of either their age or IQ or was it hat size?

Mookie

It could also be used to inform you of the number of their known parents [:)]

G

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by heavyd

The only other thing I can add besides common sense is don't stand too close to the train as it is going by! Always stand at least 20 feet away. You would be surprized of the stuff that is on freight cars and can fall off at any time! Empty cars are just as dangerous if not more because of materials used to hold down the cargo. Flatcars and boxcars usually have loose lumber on the floors that can work their way off. They also have loose metal banding wire that can be seen flapping in the wind as they go by. Any of these hazzards could kill you if you were sanding too close! Safety first!

[:p]I Tend To **** Off The Side Of A Boxcar So Stand Back People Like Me Are Every Where (Even In The White House)

[heavyd]

I was told when lifting empty boxcar to, yes, make sure the door was closed. But every time I found one open it was because it was jammed or the door runner was screwed. You needed a forklift to close the door! I was also told that if the door would not close to take the car anyway. We would spot it on a shop track to be repaired. Why would anyone refuse to lift the car just because the door was stuck open? How does that customer get the next load? Don't forget that while you are railroadin' that you are also providing customer service! A shipper checks to make sure the next days loads have been spotted and finds yesterday 's empty boxcar still there! This guy might get his stuff trucked in next time!!!

[locomutt]

Railbeaux[?]
They are coming with nets for you[:D]
Rembemer to watch for squirells[:D]
locomutt[}:)]

[coalminer3]

railbaux?

Couldn't resist...sorry

work safe

[Anonymous]

Nets? Did I miss something??? [:p] I think that a rubber room is in order for you. [:D] Later.

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

Sure It wasn't leaking from a bauxcar??

[:)][:)]

[xx(] Groan!

Mook

MlaM,
Since joining the forums I have refocused my life. I believe that God had placed me on Earth now with the singular purpose of entertaining your officemates through your verbal responses to the forum posts......[:D][;)]

Which beats finding a real job.......[:D]

oh yeah and I get to be Kevin's forum punching bag too........[:D][:D] joking Kevin, only joking[:D]

[:D] I laugh so much in here - they are out ordering nets!

Mookie

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

Sure It wasn't leaking from a bauxcar??

[:)][:)]

[xx(] Groan!

Mook

MlaM,
Since joining the forums I have refocused my life. I believe that God had placed me on Earth now with the singular purpose of entertaining your officemates through your verbal responses to the forum posts......[:D][;)]

Which beats finding a real job.......[:D]

oh yeah and I get to be Kevin's forum punching bag too........[:D][:D] joking Kevin, only joking[:D]

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

Sure It wasn't leaking from a bauxcar??

[:)][:)]

[xx(] Groan!

Mook

[tree68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

Sure It wasn't leaking from a bauxcar??

[:)][:)]

Well, we are pretty close to Canada...[:D]

[lrfogle]

Was sitting in my vehicle about a month ago at grade crossing watching BNSF move a cut of grain cars from yard lead over to main when a rail broke and they put the first three cars on the ground. Was back behind the "white" line with my vehicle, but kid on a bike was leaning on the crossing gate. I yelled at him when I saw the cars going down. Talked to the lad since and he now has a healthy respect for the trains. Maybe something we should all remember!

Everyone have a happy and SAFE holiday season!

[dharmon]

Sure It wasn't leaking from a bauxcar??

[:)][:)]

[tree68]

There was recently an incident in my area involving a hopper of bauxite - the stuff used to make aluminum. Apparently there was a small leak of the powder, but it must have been obvious enough to raise someone's suspicions. The local fire department was called out, but once the train crew saw what it was, they continued their trip. The HazMat boys were all ready to do their thing, too.

Have no idea who called it in. All I know is what I heard on the fire radio.

[Anonymous]

With all due respect, and I can certainly understand the tendency to distrust reports
like these (there are enough loose screws out there who crave attention that they call
in false reports), if I see something OBVIOUSLY wrong, like what's been described
as a flaming bearing box or a pin lifter banging down between the cars or a load
that's just about to fall off, I'm going to call it in. I'll give my name, my address, phone
number, whatever they want with as much info on the train as I can give. The hobo
thing was ludicrous indeed for somebody to report that - anybody would know a hobo
wouldn't make himself that obvious but if I see a kid hanging on the end of a train
like I did in Cedar Rapids once - yep, I'm calling.

[wabash1]

I have had several railfans with good intentions call in on us saying that we had sticking brakes and/ or smoke from wheels only to find nothing it wasnt long that this person was found. ( he gave away his location and admitted to calling in.) and was advised that we did like the idea of false reports. I was told he was going to jail next time. he has never called in again. I rather not have a railfan call in. back in my conductor days i was reperted to the police as a hobo riding the rear car ( we cut the train outside of town 37 deep) when dispatch ask us where we was and told us i told them that was us. got a laugh out of it, but if you dont know dont bother the railroad,

[Anonymous]

This is tremendous dialog. I was wondering this very thing a few weeks back when I was out rail fanning and saw a CSX roll by with actual flames coming off one of the bearing boxes. Next time I'll be prepared to note the reporting number of the car and have the CSX phone number programmed into my cell phone. Not such a problem on the east coast, but passing trains can start pretty good wild fires.

[corwinda]

I wonder how many of those open boxcar doors were closed but not latched when leaving the customer's track and slid open during switching. (I have seen occasional loaded boxcars with partially open doors, too.)

[edblysard]

Hi Jen,
Like Carl said, the customer who is returning the car empty is responsible for cleaning the boxcar out.
But, down here at least, as a conductor, I can refuse to move any boxcar with it's door not properly closed.
Same with tank cars that still have their manway hatches open.
Its just too dangerous, they can and do fall off, and we dont have to pull them from the shippers plant if they dont close and secure them.

To answer the question about what to do if you see hobos or riders on a freight, call the railroad.
They will contact the train crew, and have them stop in a area where the gumshoes can nab the guys.
Most crossing signal boxes have a 1 800 number for the railroad on them.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[Mookie]

The fingers are an indication of either their age or IQ or was it hat size?

Mookie

[Anonymous]

Before a train passes when I'm at a grade crossing, and since I now make it a point to ALWAYS have my camera in my car, I get ready to snap a photo of gate jumpers. I did that this past Wednesday in Northfield, MN. I like the looks on people's faces and those fingers are appreciated too.

[CShaveRR]

Good question, Sis!

In the early 1970s, we on the CNW used to deliver trains to the UP for forwarding to North Platte. At that time, UP insisted that the doors be closed, to improve aerodynamics (if there were a box car or reefer that was missing a door, it could not be put on trains 247, 249, or 251). So the Car Department, I assume, had to ensure that all car doors were closed.

Obviously, for whatever reason, UP doesn't care about the doors any more. I'm with you--security and aerodynamics would be two good reasons I could think of to close them (a third reason would be to keep the interiors clean and dry). Of course, the doors aren't all that secure (I can open and close 'em with a retarder sometimes!), but I'd think that closed doors would be a deterrant. With plug doors, it's a question of safety, and those cars are stencilled with instructions to close and lock the doors before the cars are moved. Otherwise that's a lot of weight to be sliding freely, and sometimes falling off.

I'd say that the doors are left open because nobody wants to take the time to close them. The customer leaves them open because the railroad has to inspect the car (customers could get into trouble for not cleaning out the cars). Although the train crew makes the inspection and can refuse to take a car that hasn't been cleaned, it's not their job to close the door. Carmen? Their ranks have been cut to the bone, at least around here.

If I were a road conductor (I'm not), I don't think I'd want to have cars in my train with open plug doors. They slide too freely, and--in spite of the extra safety devices along the top--are not incapable of falling off. If they fall, there's no telling how they'd bounce, and who or what might be at risk. We've had carmen killed in the yard by falling doors (it may have been one of those incidents that caused the safety hook in the top center of the door to be required).

Oh, your other question...I got to stay at home for most of Thursday, but if Friday was your holiday, I was definitely out there...the rest of the weekend, too.

[Mookie]

And that poses another question - I saw freight cars leaving town with their doors open. Any reason they would leave the doors open on empty box cars- I would think for security reasons they would shut them all?

Mookie

[RudyRockvilleMD]

What if you see hobos? To whom should you report them?

I had an experience many years ago north of Oceanside, CA. While I was driving down to Oceanside on I-5 on a Sunday afternoon in May, 1985 I noticed the northbound traffic was being detoured through the Border Patrol's checkpoint near San Clemente: I didn't give it much thought then. I went out to photograph a southbound Amtrak San Digan after eating dinner in a restaurant near the Surf Line tracks. A northbound San Digan passed first, and I noticed what I thought were "illegals" hanging on to the outside of the west side of its coaches. I went back into the restaurant, I explained the situation to the manager, and I asked him to call the Highway Patrol to contact the Santa Fe dispatcher to report the people riding on the outside of the train which he did.

Later it dawned on me that those people who were riding on the outside of the train might have been 'illegals' who were heading north to the Los Angeles area who wanted to avoid getting caught in the Border Patrol's traffic checkpoint.

I turned on my scanner when I returned to my car, but I never heard anything about the stowaways from either the dispatcher or the train crew, nor did I see the train stopped in San Clemente across from the Border patrol's San Clemente checkpoint.

[edblysard]

And to add to someone elses comment, use you ears.
Sliding wheels, from handbrakes left on or air brakes that failed to release, make a sound, no kidding, just like frying bacon, except really loud.
On occasion, carmen can and do miss a handbrake when working a train for departure, and if left on, this brake can lock the wheel set, and slide the wheels flat.
This can lead to the wheel picking a frog, or wearing away enough of the flange to allow it to jump over the rail head. Not a good thing.
Easy to see at night, the sparks are a giveaway, but hard to see in bright daylight.
If you find one, note the reporting marks on the car, and call the railroad.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[heavyd]

The only other thing I can add besides common sense is don't stand too close to the train as it is going by! Always stand at least 20 feet away. You would be surprized of the stuff that is on freight cars and can fall off at any time! Empty cars are just as dangerous if not more because of materials used to hold down the cargo. Flatcars and boxcars usually have loose lumber on the floors that can work their way off. They also have loose metal banding wire that can be seen flapping in the wind as they go by. Any of these hazzards could kill you if you were sanding too close! Safety first!