is this possible??

[wisandsouthernkid]

is it possible to push a car like a boxcar by yourself if the air brakes were off and also the hand brake because i am talking about an empty box car that weighs about 50000 lbs on flat can you push it with alot of force or not?

[4merroad4man]

I think the more important question is "Why would you want to?"  Why would you want to palce yourself in a very dangerous position?  That does not sound like fun........

[J. Edgar]

yes it is possible...ive done it 

[wjstix]

Because of all it's wheels and rods using roller-bearings, two men could push a Missabe 2-8-8-4 on level track and get it rolling.

 

[wisandsouthernkid]

sorry shouldnt have said fun but it was just a random thought that needed to be told

[4merroad4man]

Yeah, I understand.  Frankly don't know if it would be possible, but sure wouldn't want to try.

[BaltACD]

is it possible to push a car like a boxcar by yourself if the air brakes were off and also the hand brake because i am talking about an empty box car that weighs about 50000 lbs on flat can you push it with alot of force or not?

And if the grade is in the least a decending one....you don't eve have to push it....it will roll away on it's own.

[trainfan1221]

Supposedly it can be done, I know a group of workers moving a caboose has happened.  I guess its the old adage as long as you can get it moving you can keep it moving.  I also agree with the Why would you want to part?  A local industry by me spots covered hoppers occasionally by using a very long piece of either rope or cable for leverage.  They don't go far and I think the siding is on a slight downgrade.

[trainfan1221]

is it possible to push a car like a boxcar by yourself if the air brakes were off and also the hand brake because i am talking about an empty box car that weighs about 50000 lbs on flat can you push it with alot of force or not?

And if the grade is in the least a decending one....you don't eve have to push it....it will roll away on it's own.

And if you are in this situation, hope to be in back and not in front of the car.

[Anonymous]

I've done it so I know it's possible. Anybody else ever watched those strong man comps on ESPN? They pull em with a rope.

[E. Hunter]

is it possible to push a car like a boxcar by yourself if the air brakes were off and also the hand brake because i am talking about an empty box car that weighs about 50000 lbs on flat can you push it with alot of force or not?

 

I've done it multiple times though there is nothing fun about it watch so ever, sometimes it is just something that needs to be done, sometimes by ones self, and sometimes the engineer has to get involved, just depends on everything involved. And by no means should any non-rail try this, nor a new rail as there are many things that can go wrong while doing this.

[wsherrick]

We move freight cars by hand all of the time at my job.  It's called doing a roll by.  One person stands by the switch and the other person has a long pole with a hinge on the end connected to a wedge.  You use this tool if the boxcar won't roll on its own.  The wedge is placed under the rear truck wheel and the car is forced to start rolling this way. 

Once the car starts rolling you hop on the rolling car then tighten the hand brake down enough to control the speed as you roll through the switch.  After the switch is cleared then you either tighten the hand brake enough to stop or reach down and pull open the anglecock closest to you to dump the air to stop the car from rolling, that is if the car has the air bottled.  Bottled means that you have air on the car and it is in release.  Opening the anglecock releases the trapped air and the brakes set by going into emergency.

This is a dangerous procedure and is done only when necessary. 

[mj5890]

I know of a tool used to move an empty railcar, the local historical society has one in their colection.

Its a long wooden pole that conects to a wedge like thing that gets put under the wheel, then the lever is pushed down and that pushes a bar out of the wedge that pushes on the wheel and starts it moving.


Joe

[sanvtoman]

 I worked at a grain elevator for a time and we would push (1 at a time) loaded grain hoppers with a small backhoe.

[espeefoamer]

I know of a tool used to move an empty railcar, the local historical society has one in their colection.

Its a long wooden pole that conects to a wedge like thing that gets put under the wheel, then the lever is pushed down and that pushes a bar out of the wedge that pushes on the wheel and starts it moving.


Joe

I nhave used one of those poles.I used to work in a warehouse that had a rail siding.Occasionally,we would have to move a boxcar a short distance using such a contraption.

[tdmidget]

I'm surprised that 2 here have apparently used one but don't know what to call it. It's called a pinch bar. And yes on level track with roller bearings one man can often push a loaded car without it.

[Anonymous]

We move freight cars by hand all of the time at my job.  It's called doing a roll by.  One person stands by the switch and the other person has a long pole with a hinge on the end connected to a wedge.  You use this tool if the boxcar won't roll on its own.  The wedge is placed under the rear truck wheel and the car is forced to start rolling this way. 

Once the car starts rolling you hop on the rolling car then tighten the hand brake down enough to control the speed as you roll through the switch.  After the switch is cleared then you either tighten the hand brake enough to stop or reach down and pull open the anglecock closest to you to dump the air to stop the car from rolling, that is if the car has the air bottled.  Bottled means that you have air on the car and it is in release.  Opening the anglecock releases the trapped air and the brakes set by going into emergency.

This is a dangerous procedure and is done only when necessary. 

I wouldn't go advertising on here that you bottle air. It's illegal and the FRA frowns upon it.

[wsherrick]

You're right about that.  Now, we'll probably hear about it in rules class next month.

[WP 3020]

I've done it so I know it's possible. Anybody else ever watched those strong man comps on ESPN? They pull em with a rope.

Yea, but can they push one with a rope?

Gee, I wonder why its called a pinch bar?

[Anonymous]

I've done it so I know it's possible. Anybody else ever watched those strong man comps on ESPN? They pull em with a rope.

Yea, but can they push one with a rope?

Gee, I wonder why its called a pinch bar?

Never seen anything being pushed with a rope. pinch bar? explain.

[FranklinC55]

I remember at the Museum of Science and Industry while waiting to enter the Pioneer Zephyr, there was a movie playing. There was a scene where 4 or 5 guys pulled it with a rope.

[wisandsouthernkid]

doesthe museum have an exibit on train related things like cars and locomotives?