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[sanvtoman]

While watching an Alco switching on Youtube it looked like the crew was poling. I dont know how to post a link as i have never tried it before so if anyone is interested just go to Youtube and type in Alco in Middleboro. It is near the end of the clip. It is good Alco footage anyway.

[Anonymous]

Here's a link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aL6ij87TUA8 

It did look like poling, (that part was around 7:00) but the description of the video said it was gravity switching. I think it was just a coincidence. That video was filmed in the early 1990s, and poling was illigal long before that.

[GraniteRailroader]

Not poling.

They rolled them by.

[sanvtoman]

 If you go to Youtube and type in railway poling you can see a NYC 4-6-0 poling a caboose.

[spikejones52002]

The engineer power ran those cars. He pulled them fast and uncouplered them on the run. The train man did a fast throw of the switch. After the engine passed the switch and before the cars.  Cars rolled down the second track. After the cars passed the engine and switch. The engine picked them up on the other end.

[ndbprr]

That practice is frowned on also on many railroads.  Sometimes there isn't a choice but I wouldn't want to do it in front of a manager.

[BillyDee53]

Before the Seminole Gulf took over operation of their branches in Florida, CSX and its predecessors routinely did their switching by 'kicking ' cars, and making flying switches.  When Seminole Gulf took over, all such moves were banned and only 'flat' switching is permitted.  The man who owns Seminle Gulf also owns Bay Colony.  I dont think todays freight cars even have poling pockets any more, do they?

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

That practice is frowned on also on many railroads.  Sometimes there isn't a choice but I wouldn't want to do it in front of a manager.

I've seen drops (also known as flying switches) only twice in too many years.  The precise timing required to pull it off successfully explains why it is frowned on by management and why it's considered a move of last resort.

[tomikawaTT]

I was once told about a flying switch that turned into a poling job, long after both had been outlawed.  The car didn't roll into the clear so the crew picked up an old tie and used it between the car and the loco to gently nudge the car back onto the thoroughfare track for a second attempt.

The railfan who watched them do it wondered aloud how they explained the bent-up steps on the switcher...

Chuck

[Anonymous]

Chuck: There was a story in TRAIN's Magazine's Railroad Reading section about a case exactly lke that; except it was from the perspective of the conductor or brakeman or someone. It was titled "Switching at Springfield" but I forget what issue it was in.

[csxt98engineer]

"Dropping cars" or "flying cars By" has been done for many years by all railroads...It is how ever frowned upon and a infraction on some companys rules and comes with forms of punishment (out of service)...as one if caught by an offical or management.

Ive seen cars go on the Ground from throwing the switch prematurely and Cars get stuck fouling ajacent tracks and blocking the crews in that attempted the Feat!!!

Ive also witnessed up to 55 cars getting dropped by by a railroad I used to work for on a decent grade ( with a EOT attached to pop off the air when the cut of cars cleared )

[garyla]

BillD53A,

I don't know how long it's been, but I'd guess that it's been 40 or 50 years since freight cars got built with poling pockets.

Anybody else know exactly when it stopped?

 

Personally, I like seeing pictures of those old switchers with a built-in set of hooks for the pole itself.  Anybody trying to get away with it today would have to HIDE that thing!