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[quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard Joekc6nix. Dan was right, someone has to walk the train and connect the hoses. (usually my helper, rank has its priviliges) The connection is called a glad hand, because when both hoses are connected, they look like they are shaking hands. As long as the hoses hang downward, the connection is good, but streach the hoses away from each other, as when pulling one car away from another, and when the hoses reach a horizontal position, they seperate. You would have to look at a glad hand to understand why and how they do this, and why they dont leak air when connected, but trust me, its a simple, but very effecient design. As to who walks the train connecting the hoses, it depends on what the local union contract states. Here, at the PTRA, I am required to make the first air joint between the engine and a cut of cars, connect the hoses and cut in the air. Then if we double over to another track, I have to make that joint, and the next four air joints. Any more than that, the car men have to connect them, I just couple the cars up. In the yard, before a engine is coupled to a outbound train, the carmen are responsible for making up all the air joints between all the cars, lacing up the tracks and doing a air brake test before they release the track, and the outbound's conductor is responsible for the first air joint between the locomotive and the track.. Out in the field the conductor and the switchmen are required to lace up the cars and perform a set and release, then a walk set on the brakes. Help any? Ed [/quote] Absolutely! Thank you for a most comprehensive answer. I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but for some reason, it seems to be moving towards me faster than I'm moving towards it.....[:0] And once again, thank you to Nora and to all who have made entries to this thread. This is one of the best threads I've read and contains a grunch of information! Joe
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