Have you ever driven a train?

[Anonymous]

you guys probably wont beleave me, but i have driven a real steam engine.

you guys wana talk about power try a huge pacific. that thing is amazing.

[Anonymous]

How and the hell can you drive a train?,It like sounds so stupid......Drive a train.DUU.

[trainfan1221]

Never operated, but ridden in both steam and diesel. The power you feel going through
the cab is amazing. My favorite was an f-unit cab, the sound of first generation power is
teriffic.

[XG01X]

I got behind th controls of a MILW. Road NW2 with a 5 car consist

[Anonymous]

wabash1,

First of all I didn't just "show up" as you put it at the train yard. I was invited to come there on that particular day by the employee who works there who completely knew the risks of letting me come to the yard. This event was not planned around the "trainmaster" (he called him his boss*, so that's why I decided to refer to him as the boss and used it more as a figure of speech, but since you are the expert and want to be technical about it...) not being there on that particular day. I only learned once I had arrived there that the boss' wife had passed away earlier that week and he hadn't been there for the past few days. The employee said that he might possibly show up later that day. I questioned him about his boss coming and if the both of us wouldn't get in trouble for my being there, but he wasn't concerned about it. The man was still nice enough to walk me out and let me take a look at the engines idling in the yard. He climbed the steps up onto the front of a Dash 9 while I stood below watching what he was doing when he said, "what are you waiting for, come on up here." I was taken aback by not only getting into the yard to start with, but being allowed into the cab. I was even more surprised after that when he even let me take control and getting to run the locomotive back a few yards and then back forward.

I also don't sit around and ponder why railroad employees won't let people onto railroad property or into the cabs. I understand why most don't let you do it is because of the risk involved, not only to everyone's safety, but for the risk of losing them losing their job. I've never just shown up at a yard and demanded to be let onto private property to look at the trains or asked for a cab ride while I was there. I would have never even been there on that day if the employee hadn't asked me to come so he could show me around. I questioned him about me being there after seeing all of the "No Trespassing" signs (before there was even mention of his boss) as I came in and if it would be okay, but he said not to worry about it and that it would be alright for me to be there. This was before I had even crossed a single track.

So, before you start preaching to me about railroad operations and regulations get the facts straight about what happened. I only wish you had been there wabash1 to tell me that I might have lost him his job since I was forcing him to allow me to stay on the property and for me to get in the cab, and since he had absolutely nothing to do with it at all. And by all means, don't let me onto your engine; I'm sure I would lose you your job somehow, and we can't have that now, can we?


*boss - [ bawss, boss ]

noun (plural boss·es)

1. somebody in charge: somebody who is in charge of others, especially in a work environment

[joseph2]

I have operated a Plymouth and a 35 Ton GE at a grain elevator.My longest train was 27 mtys.Engineer runs the throttle and airbrakes,brakeman does most of the work. Joe G.

[Anonymous]

in response to running a wide body backward IT IS UNSAFE and i have refused to do so 2 or 3 times in the last year. they were not happy but made other arangements.as long as no one complaims it will happen again. i am now retired now so i do not have to worry about it any more.

[Anonymous]

yes. i ran sw. engs. m.l.frgs.&pass.trains ins.c. ga. & n.fla.over a peroid of 45years for sal scl'sbd.and csx

[daveklepper]

When I was a kid I used to dream about running subway trains and streetcars, but not about locomotives . Well one day when I was about 14 or 15 and photographing the Bailey Avenue trolley line in The Bronx (one car every 45 minutes), the motorman saw we had only one passenger, a friend, and suggested I give it a try. Which I did, and with his kindly Irish accented instruction I did pretty well . Fast forward to age 25 when I joined the Branford Trolley Museum and had the refresher instruction from Bill Ritchitelli, and passed my first test and then regularly operated streetcars, and then rapid transit cars, and finally the one freight electric trolley locomotive. But backtrack to age 20-21, when I was doing my thesis work at MIT on diesel locomotive load regulator controls and regularly rode GP-7's 1567 and 1568 on the Boston and Main, leaving North Station at 4PM on the Portsmouth, NH, Passenger, and returning on the frieght to Sommerville Yard. One night, leaving Newburyport, the hogger said: "Dave, you've watched me often enough, how would you like to run for awhile?" I jumped at the opportunity and did fine except for one thing: At the top of the first grade I began to notch back on the throttle, but the hogger was right there with his hand around mine saying, "We may be going downhill but most of the train is still going uphill." I never forgot that lesson. About age 44 I was in charge of an Electric Railroaders' Assocation fan trip and on the No. 6 Pelham Bay line the "Motor Instructor" had me run the train, five car IRT, four low-voltage motors and a "Steinway" trailer in the middle, from Hunts Pont Avenue Subway Station up the grade to the Elders Lane (Elberts Lane?) elevated station in the Bronx. I made two station stops on the way just for the show and at all three stops made smooth stops at the "6 cars" markers, so I got better than a passing grade.
On a busines trip to South Africa in the 1980's my host gave me tour of the "steam sheds" at Capitol Park, Praetoria, and the forman let me operate a 4-8-0, "the engine that switches the Blue Train", from the shed to the sanding and coaling docks. So I can say I ran a streetcar before I learned to drive an auto.

[Anonymous]

clear to stop to a restricting,in the hole again dangit!!!!....yes many times prefer the sd 70

[Randy Stahl]

Running a freight train is alot of fun. I gave up my job as an engineer several years ago. I was tired of being treated like a second class citizen. I wanted to have a little bit of a life away from the RR but working 6+1 made that all but impossible. The managers would try real hard to fire you, I have crohns disease and the stress of putting up with idiot managers didn't do me any good so I went back to the shopcrafts, for me it was a good choice. I still get to hostle alot of power around and the job is much more rewarding.

[rrnut282]

I got to operate an Alco S-2 back and forth on a yard track that had a grade crossing in it. I also rode in the cab of an SD-10. Someday, I would like to do that again.

[CShaveRR]

I didn't know the first thing about the various brake schedules when I was operating these things...and never had more than one unit to worry about. I do know that some of the brake stands (separate from the rest of the controls) looked and sounded different from others.

That FM throttle/reverser sounds fascinating. I remember CNW's FMs being used out of Proviso on occasion (and a yard crew having to give their train a pu***o get it out of town!), but was never in a cab or close enough to enjoy the FMs' peculiar sound (which I've heard only on recordings).

[ClinchValleySD40]

Retired engineer. I've run everything from F7's up to SD40-2.

[zardoz]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR

Ed, you're calling the SD40-2's control stand "old"?

But your "old" control stand is the newest I've actually operated...I think they called the EMD's "oil drum" stands until an early version of the standardized stand came into use during the late 1950s. And I loved the wrench-style reverse lever and loooong throttle handles on Alcos!

Carl-do you remember the 24RL brale valve? How about a 6BL? Not to metion the complications when trying to MU units with multiple brake valve types.

And how about the unique reverser of a FM-H switcher (throttle and reverser were all-in-one: a "U" shaped [laying on it's'side with the legs pointing to the left] path for the throttle-reverser; throttle advanced in the "up" position made the loco go back, throttle advanced in the "low" position caused the loco to go forward).

Now I feel old.

[eolafan]

As the oldies song goes (Everly Brothers, I believe)..."All I have to do is dream...dream, dream, dream".

[wabash1]

cherokee woman

not only would you reach the horn you wont haft to move out of the seat. you take your left hand off the throttle move it to the left about 18 inches and pull down on the little silver handle and make all the noise you want. and if it is a desk top then move your left hand to the left 7inches and pu***he button.

mookie
I only use the mirror on desk tops for looking for the conductor brake man on shove moves. otherwise the conductor uses the mirror all the time hair doo or what ever.

will in tyron
and its a attitude like your after being told what will and can happen that you wonder why most railroad employees wont give a person a look in the cab a ride or even let them stay on the property. its guys like you i turn in so i can keep my job. If mookie showed up i would carry her on to my engine i know she wouldnt do anything to lose my job. or cherokee woman. you have a lot to learn about railroading and the way they operate. that is the reason you was on the property is the trainmaster ( not the boss) wasnt there,

[Anonymous]

When I was a boy 8-10 I got rides on the wey freight that ran from Saint
John to Sussex.I lived in Brookville where my dad worked at Brookville lime.
one day the engineer gave me a shot at the controls of the RS-10.I was kindly
told what to do ..even blew the whistle at the crossing.

Lives are so lost
when safety is last.

david brown

[cherokee woman]

No, I've never driven a train. I think it would be nice to try, though. (As long as the engineer doesn't leave me alone at the controls. Hmm, would I be tall enough to
reach the cord for the horn?!?!

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Well, there you go with the mirror thing again...
Whats with you engineers and your mirrors?

You guys never meet a mirror you dont like!

Ed

QUOTE: Originally posted by wabash1

I have never diven a train. dont think i would like to.

Ed
The gages are nice but the display screen is nice on the dash 9s if done right. all the right info is there just read it. the desk tops are not bad running backwards just use the mirror ( not this again) its no differant than backing a car only you aint steering.

See!!!!!!!! You guys are finally admitting it!!!!! That wasn't such a silly question was it!!!!! You do use mirrors on engines if nothing more than to check your hair-do!
I still think you use them to back down the rails!

Mook

[Anonymous]

A friend of mine is a teacher for train engineer´s.

So I´m in a good position!

I driven a few trains with him in the last years.

For example:

- freighttrain with a Type 140 electro from Heidelberg to Frankfurt
- regional dieseltrain type 628 from Limburg to Kassel and back via Frankfurt
- push Pull IC from Frankfurt to Dortmund and back. along the Rhine river. Powered with a type 101 electro

The best trips were:
- ICE 1 train from Frankfurt to Nuernberg and back, max speed 250 km/h (155 mph)
- ICE 1 train from Frankfurt to Hamburg and back, maximum also 250 km/h
- ICE 3 train from Frankfurt to Muenster and back, max speed 302.4 km/h (188 mph) YEAH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

True, but you can't even tell where I'm at (though I said) or see the employee, just me with my head out the window. Only real identification you can see is the number on the locomotive. The boss wasn't there that day, probably the only reason I got in the yard and in the locomotive. I'm not going to post his picture on here and say, "look, fire him, fire him - I know that's exactly what you're evil scheme for the day is!"

[edblysard]

Well, there you go with the mirror thing again...
Whats with you engineers and your mirrors?

You guys never meet a mirror you dont like!

Ed

QUOTE: Originally posted by wabash1

I have never diven a train. dont think i would like to.

Ed
The gages are nice but the display screen is nice on the dash 9s if done right. all the right info is there just read it. the desk tops are not bad running backwards just use the mirror ( not this again) its no differant than backing a car only you aint steering.

[espeefoamer]

The Portola(CA) Railroad Museum has a program called Rent A Loco.For one hour you are the engineer,with someone guiding you all the way.More than one person can buy an hour together,each operating the loco for a portion of that time.

[mloik]

Yup. Engineer for a Day on an 1898 Heisler (the oldest operating in the world) at Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton, CA. The most exhilirating thing was stopping the train (with passengers) before a dead-end, complete with rock wall due ahead.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Yes, once, with 3 loaded passenger cars in tow. I had volunteered to be fireman for a day on the local excursion line, and knew the engineer. He let me do the final trip of the day, 20 miles roundtrip, uphill out, and downhill back.

Uphill was fairly easy with the old SW pushing the cars. The only trick was that the conductor was on the back platform acting as the eyes at all of the grade crossings, and was giving instructions on the radio. Not much braking involved uphill, just keep it moving, and slow for the crossings.

Downhill was a different story, lots of things to remember and think about. The conductor got a free ride, and all of the responsibility was in the cab. The engineer was there coaching me, and I had been watching on the previous trips, but that was a very stressfull half hour. Just as we were coming into the station, a car cut in front of the train at an unprotected crossing. We were only doing about 5 MPH, but that was way too close for my taste. My knees were knocking after that.

Also, when I was 16, I operated the local streetcar on a regular basis. The same organization owned both the train and the streetcar. That's how I knew the engineer, he had trained me on the streetcar, 12 years earlier.

[wabash1]

I have never diven a train. dont think i would like to.

Ed
The gages are nice but the display screen is nice on the dash 9s if done right. all the right info is there just read it. the desk tops are not bad running backwards just use the mirror ( not this again) its no differant than backing a car only you aint steering.

Carl
I am fond of the ole aar control stand also it is much easier on the body. dont haft to sit with your arms up all the time.

Will in tryon
If he is a friend why are you interested in getting him fired? you scan that pic then post it the next thing that will happen is he will be fired for letting unauthorized person in the cab run a loco and for letting a treasspasser stay on the property. The shake up of these new collage educated non transportation trainmasters looking for a way to progress thru the company will get him fired they dont even haft to be on that division to do it. your best bet is to keep your pic to yourself enjoy your memories but provide no evidance of what happened.

[Anonymous]

A few times - narrow gauge switchers and industrial locos in the UK. Its one of those things that is just great fun but I guess doing it for a living is somewhat different.

The critter drove has a clutch and stick shift just like a car

Kev

[csxengineer98]

yes..i have... many many many times.... thats what i get payed to do..lol
csx engineer

[edblysard]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR

Ed, you're calling the SD40-2's control stand "old"?

Sorry Carl,
What I meant was older style, left side stand, with guages instead of monitors.
And I didnt like the Nintendo, or desk top controls, they make running backwards a pain in the neck!!!

I perfer the old analog guage instead of the computer screen, I had to figure out what the screen was saying, but with the guages, all it took was glancing at them for it to make sense.
Thats what I liked about the SD70M, even though it had desktop controls, it still had guages, not screens.

Whoever decided the Dash 9s radiators should hang out that far and that low should be made to run the silly thing long hood forward for a few hours, you cant see out of the read door past them, unless you kinda crouch down in the chair, or sit sideways leaning back, trying to look out the side window.
Not designed very well.

Ed