Flying Switch moves

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info.

Larry

[tree68]

I saw the move done years ago on the C&O, and successfully. I almost think they coasted the car to a spot without having to push it.

IIRC, we've talked about this before, and the consensus was that you shouldn't be doing it any more.

[richardy]

A short line was still using a drop at one customer about six months ago. I am by there once a week but my timing and theirs is not always the same so I have not seen them switch that customer for several months. They are very good at performing the move.

[jimrice4449]

The BN bad-ordered me after I failed my physical in 1988 so I can't give you any current info, but, at the time I left it was SOP. Cars were dropped into facing point spurs as a regular thing. The hairiest drops I saw regularly were before I transered into train service and was working the third trick towerman job at Burbank Jct on the SP. The Coast line diverged there from the Valley line and the tower controlled both the main line and Coast siding switches. The LA Yard yard limits ended about half way up the siding and after a short span the Gemco Yard limits started. If it was necessary to deliver some hot cars to the GM assembly plant at Gemco (Van Nuys) a LA Yard crew would take them to hand over to a Gemco crew. The problem was that if either crew crossed the gap and entered the other yard limit it was an extra hundred miles of pay.
In order to make the transfer the LA Yard crew headed up the grade on the Coast siding, cut off from the cars and pulled ahead past a TRAILING POINT switch, a switchman threw the switch and the engine then backed into the spur in the face of the approaching cars and the switchman lined the switch behind. After the cars cleared the switch the engine then came out and shoved the cars to where the west end of the cut was in the Gemco yard limits. Delivery accomplished. I watched them peform this ballet any number of times and they never cornered a car or got the engine trapped in the spur but the potential for disaster was always there.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

A drop is the move also referred to as a flying switch, I have only seen the move executed twice, both times successfully. With the maneuvering and timing involved, there are plenty of opportunities for screw-ups, so management definitely frowns on the practice.

There was an article in TRAINS a few years back about poling, I am almost positive that poling is now illegal.

[Anonymous]

ndbprr's post is talking about kicking cars and also what is known as a "drop." Kicking is a great switch move when it is practicle and a drop is scary.......banned on the BNSF unless specified acceptable in a subdivisions special instructions.

[ndbprr]

Depends. I've seen crews with a string of cars at the B&OCT yard in Chicago do it where the trains stops after the pin is pulled so cars can drift into a siding and eliminate the back up move for the next car. If you are talking the version that involves the engine and car being separated on the fly with the engine between the car and the switch and then the engine speeding into the clear so the person on the ground can throw the switch and allow the car to drift on into the siding. Haven't seen that one and suspect that most railroads frown heavily upon it to the point of firing someone if they did. Railroads also used to use pole cars so an engine could be on an adjacent track and move a car with a large wood pole. In fact the PRR had special pole cars for that purpose. That is what that little dimple is for on the corner of older cars. I believe that was outlawed by the AAR or FRA.

[CopCarSS]

When I used to hang around Sterling, IL around Northwestern Steel and Wire, the CNW crews used to kick cars quite a bit. It's been awhile since I've seen it though. Of course, I don't hang around major switch jobs like that too much anymore, so it very well could still be in use. I'm sure some of the railroaders in here will be able to answer this better than I ever could.

[Anonymous]

Do any of the railroads still use this method of switching cars? Saw some tapes of this type of action and it seems dangerous to me.

Larry