Waving is a tradition that is only understood by railroaders and those who understand railroading. I would say that relatively few bystanders initiate a wave. I have never encountered a train crewmember that refused to return a wave. I just see it as a kind of "thumbs-up" greeting. It's common courtesy. It should be taken by an engineer that you are probably a friendly observer as opposed to a bystander with unclear motives.
When they had cabooses, a wave to the conductor or brakeman might be taken as a reassurance that everything looked OK as the train passed. I always took their return wave as a thank you. And if there was a problem in the train such as a hotbox, sticking brake, shifting load, etc., you could indicate it to the hind end. Of course if they still had cabooses and you did that today, you would probably get charged with a crime.
I love the attitude shown by some on here.... wah, wah, I deserve a wave. Get real, people. There's a lot to do in the locomotive. Sometimes that means the crew is too busy to give a wave. Other times, the crew may just not see you, or see you too late. Sometimes railfans look so goofy, the free hand is needed to stifle laughter. Other times the crew is coming onto their 12th hour on duty and is dead tired and sick of that train - and there you are, all smiles and waving. Other times, crews can get tired of waving to people every 5 minutes.
Saying that, I usually try to give a quick wave, esp, to members of the fairer gender and always kids. But to say not getting a wave means the RRer is a jerk - is completely uncalled for, and will not get you that most desired wave.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
I get waves almost all of the time, but even if I don't, that's okay too. If I don't get a wave, I usually get a toot on the air horn.
There was one day while I was with my little ones, and they started waving, and this UP crew member saw them, and opened his window and waved like crazy with both arms.... Both my kids found that immensely entertaining. Got a smile out of me too.. The train was leaving Proviso Yard, and was just beginning to roll
Well now they have AC & in the old days no AC which could be the reason! Look at the recent pix I took in Southern California & you will see the cab windows are almost always closed on the locos
magicman710 wrote: Back in the old days, the engineeer or conducter would happily wave at you, and if there were will cabooses, they would wave at you to. But today, there seams to be less egineers and conducoters waving, even if you wave at them. I have waved my hand off before but they never look at me or wave back. I have even had some conducters on a few occasions look right at me, and not wave while I wave them. Is it them just not paying attention, or is it they dont want to wave? I dont really mind them not waving if they dont see me, thats fine, but its when they look at you, or notice you, but dont wave, that makes me mad. What has happened? Grayson
Back in the old days, the engineeer or conducter would happily wave at you, and if there were will cabooses, they would wave at you to.
But today, there seams to be less egineers and conducoters waving, even if you wave at them. I have waved my hand off before but they never look at me or wave back. I have even had some conducters on a few occasions look right at me, and not wave while I wave them.
Is it them just not paying attention, or is it they dont want to wave? I dont really mind them not waving if they dont see me, thats fine, but its when they look at you, or notice you, but dont wave, that makes me mad. What has happened?
Grayson
Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub
An engineer who has to time observe people trackside and make a determination as to whether they are on the railroad's property and represent a threat (terrorist or otherwise) to his train, as we've been told in this thread, also has the time to lift his hand to return a friendly wave.
Unless he's purposely being a jerk.
My wife and myself go up in the N.S. Horseshoe Curve area every once in awhile.Just about always get a wave.
Yes the engineer must concentrate on the road ahead,but if he is doing so ,he is aware of people along the tracks waving at him.He doesn't even have to look at them, but just pick up his arm and wave.They waved in the steam era and it took a lot more work and concentration to run those babies than the locomotives of today.
Terry
I will wave if my grandson is with me otherwise i dont. I would feel like a boob waving without my grandson. My grandson is my excuse to watch trains. We were watching a NS crew kick cars and the engineer honked the horn blinked the lights and waved. A real nice guy!!
wabash1 wrote: other wise be greatfull i am not calling in on you.
wabash1 wrote:if you think of taking a picture better not i hate defending my actions caught on camera,
Your attitude is part of the reason railroads enjoy the absymal rep they do among the public. Good work.
magicman710 wrote: Limitedclear wrote: The Rules of Engineer waving: 2. If you are a kid (under 10 or so) I will wave to you.LCDoes 14 qualify? I doubt you would call the cops on a 13 or 14 year old. It appeard our engineer friends here enjoy pressing them 3 digits......... And for the one who said: "Be gratefull I dont call the cops on you" Would a 18 wheeler driver call the cops on me for watching that truck on the side of the road? Does watching a intermodel train carring around an extra 100 semi trailers make it so I cant watch a train without the engineer calling the cops? Sounds a bit ridiculous to me..... What has happened since 9/11?
Limitedclear wrote: The Rules of Engineer waving: 2. If you are a kid (under 10 or so) I will wave to you.LC
The Rules of Engineer waving:
2. If you are a kid (under 10 or so) I will wave to you.
LC
Does 14 qualify? I doubt you would call the cops on a 13 or 14 year old.
It appeard our engineer friends here enjoy pressing them 3 digits......... And for the one who said: "Be gratefull I dont call the cops on you" Would a 18 wheeler driver call the cops on me for watching that truck on the side of the road? Does watching a intermodel train carring around an extra 100 semi trailers make it so I cant watch a train without the engineer calling the cops? Sounds a bit ridiculous to me..... What has happened since 9/11?
wrong the last time i called the cops was on a 14 year old also 2-10 year old several adult type foamers several riders . I dont have a age group. and 911 has nothing to do with it, i reported more people before 911 than now, you just dont get it, the main thing is i dont care what you think you have rights to or what you want, the main thing is your saftey and my job, It says in the rule book if you are on company property ask you to leave if you wont leave call the cops. if you think of taking a picture better not i hate defending my actions caught on camera, the people i do wave at earned the respect and i have let some of them on board play with the controll stand blowing the horn release brakes even rev the engine, they was not your typical whinny teenager thinking we are not doing what they want,they was well manered teens and they got the respect they deserved. think about what you may have done in the past that may have cause this response from the crews, but also remember that this is the real world and that the actions of others may be causing your problem, this means if you want respect it may take a little longer for you to earn.
When I was in Calgary, Alberta I had one engineer give me the middle finger salute after I waved to him. I was not impressed in the least. Most of the front engine number had peeled off, so I couldn't take it down and report it. Would it have made a difference?
SWChicagoRailfan wrote:Does it really bother you when they don't wave?
No, its dosent bother me, and Im kinda like you, I do the "I dont really care" wave, were you just raise your hand up, and let it down. Its just that it seams like they dont wave as much as they used to.
"Lionel trains are the standard of the world" - Jousha Lionel Cowen
SFbrkmn wrote: Heard once about a company official who observed a crewman waving at someone and received a ops failure for not being alert & attentive. Now thats nuts. If people are going to be hounded for something like waving, why bother then.
Heard once about a company official who observed a crewman waving at someone and received a ops failure for not being alert & attentive. Now thats nuts. If people are going to be hounded for something like waving, why bother then.
I totally agree with you. Maybe its just me, or is doing the following just as prone to making you un-alert and unattentive that waving at somebody:
1. Looking at the brake gauges, takes your eyes off the track.
2. Reseting the alerter, makes you annoyed and you have to take your eyes off the track to press the reset button.
3. Turning on the air conditoner/heater.
4. Talking to your other conducter/brakeman/engineer or conducter trainee.
5. Talking on the radio.
6. Souding the horn, the loud sound distracts you.
7. Looking at the speedometer.
8. Waving at a railfan.
Now, correct me if i'm wrong engineers, but all of these seam to be likely to distract you.
It depends. See Rule 3. I never wave at groups of teens. I'm generally looking for rocks, bricks or paintball guns. I've had all three used on me and endured more than one broken cab window. Oh, and in my legal career I have prosecuted and defended 14 year olds for A-1 and A-2 Felonies (Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Drug possession and distribution, and even Manslaughter) so I have no problem with calling the cops if I feel threatened. In any event Company rules require it.
I don't know....it seems I can always get a wave from an engineer or conductor. But then, I'm always where I am supposed to be, when I wave. If I have our two younger boys with me, they can usually elicit a toot as well.
On a related note: We were driving along a highway that runs parallel to a BNSF line that carries some coal. My wife, was trying to get "the train people" to wave at her. This particular train had a DPU unit on the back. That, is what she was waving at. I explained about DPU's...remote control...etc. She acted like she understood. Then, she rolled down the window, and began to wave vigorously. Darned "railroad people" still didn't wave.
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
1. If you are a pretty girl I will wave. (especially if you flash me...lol...)
3. If you look ok and are staying back from the ROW I may wave to you.
4. If I am busy running the train chances are pretty good that I have my hands on the control stand and I won't wave to you no matter who you are.
5. If you look questionable, I will call the cops.
6. If you look like a trespasser or a security risk I will call the cops.
7. If you point anything at me I will close the window and call the cops.
8. If it is a hot day and the A/C on the locomotive is actually working I won't open the window.
9. If I am on the radio or watching a hand signal from my crew I won't wave or pay attention to you.
10. If I'm not too busy I may even have time to chat with you.
to get me to wave you haft to be another crew or railroad worker the only other time i might wave is when i have seen you several times and you are not 5 ft from my train and act like you have common sense. other wise be greatfull i am not calling in on you. i have hit and killed to many nice people.
Depends on the crew and the mood they are in. I have encountered the type who (1) keep their eyes foward on the tracks ahead (2) just look at you like your crazy and keep on truckin' (3) go out of their way (i.e. if the window is closed they will open it just to wave and give a big grin and then close it back). It just depends.
Hello,
I always wave even if the crew is hidden behind the tinted windows, it just seems to be the right thing to do. A few times I have had the engineer open his side window and wave, this always impresses me and I appreciate the gesture. Sometimes a small action such as a wave and smile can go a long way in affecting someone else. Even if you don't see it, it may make the other person more likely to wave and be friendly to the next person they see trackside. I feel that as a railfan I should always appear friendly to the railroaders I meet.
Speaking of the tinted windows that you see on the locomotives now, they seem to be extremely dark. I would assume that they are clear enough to see through at night, but they sure do look like they have a heavy tint to them.
Be safe...and friendly!
Gregory
I've watch trains for 30+ Years and never expected a crew to respond
most will wave, nod, thumbs up, or some jesture. when there near a crossing most are looking
out for "idiots" , note I use the term generaly, and cannot wave. what would you have them do? wave or do thier job
railroadjj wrote:After all the idiots that are out at the crossing and anywhere inbetween them, there are a lot of peopl that throw rocks, bricks and everything else at us train crews. I personally do not wave for that reason. If we are stopped, or something I might come down and talk with you until we are ready to go. Even the videos shown in class, say not to wave and keep your mind on your work.
That seems a little harsh, if you ask me. There are just as many (if not more) good people trackside as there are bad people. Is there always work you're doing that would make it unsafe to look up for three seconds and wave?
I always wave and I almost always get a wave back if the engineer or conductor is looking. I figure that seeing someone smiling and waving might brighten the crews' day a bit.
Willy
http://www.youtube.com/user/pavabo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulvbox
some do some don't.but Matt and I always get an extra toot when we wave.
stay safe
Joe
Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").
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