Guess where I went today.....
Watching the KCPL do a BO set out - I will try to tell you what I "think" I know and maybe someone can fill in the details. One BO car and 2 tracks.
Full coal train pulls out of yard into throat and partially down the main line. (my thinking is the train has pulled close to a switch and while still moving slowly, someone in the yard has pulled the pin just after the BO car and before said switch. This leaves the BO car as the last car on the train and it is pulled just beyond the switch on track 1.)
Train stops and then backs up. (Switch was realigned and train now backs down track 2 which puts BO car on possibly a rip track (#2) and comes to a complete stop. Yard person cuts off BO car and train pulls back up track #2 onto track #1. Switch realigned for #1)
Train then backs again down Track #1 and recouples to cars that were cut from original train. Train takes about 15 min to get air all put back where it belongs and then heads off to KCPL.
My questions (beside if this is even close to right) are - can and do they cut off cars while they are moving slowly? Do they need to come to a complete stop before they can be uncoupled? (Years ago, I used to watch hump cars and they never stopped while the pin was pulled. Is that still done today?)
This was an operation of two aheads and two backups. If there is more BO's than just the one and they are spread out in the train, does all the above applies? (I have seen them block our crossing for about an hour and move sometimes 6 to 8 times back and forth. )
I am sure this has been discussed before, but since I only see the head end and maybe first 1/4 to 1/2 of train - can only imagine what happens out of my line of sight. And since I don't work with it and see it day in and day out - well, memory fails....so KIS and thank you!
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
Two ways to go about what you described.
First one breaks a rule or two.
If the cars had not had the air bled off and the anglecock closed between the BO car and the rear of the train, then someone stepped in between moving cars, breaking the red zone with out three step protection to close the anglecock while the train was moving.
If they did this, then when they pulled the pin and the head end pulled away, the rear portion would go into emergency...not a bad thing per say, but not the best thing to do either.
Second way, the anglecock was already closed and the air on the rear cars bled off before the train started to move, which would be my way of doing it.
This way, no rules violation, and all you have to do is set the BO out, bust away, tie a brake and get back against your train.
If there were multiple bad orders, you just keep cutting them out till they are all out of the train, then lace the hoses back up, get your air and air test, and get out of town,
23 17 46 11
Presuming that what you saw was a road train, the train had air on the trainline. Train pulled to a stop with the B/O near the switch. Brakeman after establishing 3 point protection, closes the anglecock behind the B/O and pulls the pin behind the B/O and then has the Engineer release 3 point protection and pull ahead with the B/O being the rear car of the movement. Movement clears the switch and stops, reverses direction after the switch has been operated and shoves the movement into the set off track. When the B/O car is clear of the clearance point the movement is stopped. 3 point protection established while the anglecock is turned ahead of the B/O and the pin is pulled ahead of the B/O, a hand brake is securely applied to the B/O (if the car is bad ordered account a braking problem..and additional car with an operative hand brake will be set off to secure the B/O). 3 point protection is released and the movement pulls ahead to clear the switch and stopped. The switch is thrown and the movement reverses to a coupling with the rear of the train. 3 point protection is established after the coupling is tested and the air is coupled between the head and rear portions of the train. 3 point protection is released as the brakemen returns to the engines and the train proceeds after the proper air pressure is established on the rear of the train.
Kicking of cars is only done in switching and only when switching without air being on the track being switched.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Well, the light dawns. My biggest problem in this whole thing was not taking into account that by the time I saw the headend, the 3 point had already been done with the BO car! I was seeing the actual set out after the switch point!
Anyway, both of you have finally confirmed what I can't see in the yard and I appreciate your help!
Mook
While you'd be severly reprimanded (probably time off) for doing it this way now...
Any newbies outthere DON'T DO THIS! Ahh the good old days.
Nick
Take a Ride on the Reading with the: Reading Company Technical & Historical Society http://www.readingrailroad.org/
nbrodar wrote:While you'd be severly reprimanded (probably time off) for doing it this way now..(SNIP) Any newbies outthere DON'T DO THIS! Ahh the good old days.Nick
While you'd be severly reprimanded (probably time off) for doing it this way now..
(SNIP)
Only if you get caught....
This space reserved for SpaceMouse's future presidential candidacy advertisements
zardoz wrote:Remeber also that when you hear on the radio that someone is "setting out a bad order", they might not be refering to a railroad operation........think #2.
Stay away from that diner chili?
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