samfp1943 To address the post of chutton01: I seem to recal an article in a much older TRAINS that had an article by one of the current editors (possibly, another writer(?). They were taking a long distance trip, as guests, on board a freight train ( No accomodations,IIRC, other than 'jump seats'.) After a number of hours being up, and through crew changes; they elected to go back to an unoccupied unit, and tried to sleep on that unit(?). Makes one wonder, If J.B. Hunt, as a guest with Mike Haverty, had had to sleep in a locomotive, on their 'Super C' Journey; would the Santa Fe's collaboration with JBH have ever gotten 'off the ground'?? Another story mentioned that a ' Locomotive Company Delivery Courier' had to stay with the engines in his charge, and constantly be available, to make sure the engine('s), in his charge, were handled properly, enroute to their new receiving owner railroad from the builder. The article mentioned that the Courier, mentioned in the article, made use of a hammock, swung in the new locomotive's cab; until the new locomotive(s) were turned over to their new owner. There was a more recent story, about a courier, whose job was to oversee the transportation of private owner cars while those cars were being tansported to another location, for their owner... Apparently, there are "Rules" that govern the occupation of a car being moved empty, in freight trains(?). Only a qualified, designated, individual [Courier?] may occupy the car being moved(?) Around 1999 or 2000 The BNSF was publishing some articles on their webpage about trying different protocols to help road crews 'get rested' while 'stopped or waiting' enroute. One proposal, I recall was the eventuality of putting a 'cot(?)/bed' in locomotive cabs; there would be an agreement with the locomotive crew for one to rest while the other stayed awake, for communications. It was apparently, an 'idea' that, for whatever reason, went nowhere.
To address the post of chutton01: I seem to recal an article in a much older TRAINS that had an article by one of the current editors (possibly, another writer(?). They were taking a long distance trip, as guests, on board a freight train ( No accomodations,IIRC, other than 'jump seats'.)
After a number of hours being up, and through crew changes; they elected to go back to an unoccupied unit, and tried to sleep on that unit(?). Makes one wonder, If J.B. Hunt, as a guest with Mike Haverty, had had to sleep in a locomotive, on their 'Super C' Journey; would the Santa Fe's collaboration with JBH have ever gotten 'off the ground'??
Another story mentioned that a ' Locomotive Company Delivery Courier' had to stay with the engines in his charge, and constantly be available, to make sure the engine('s), in his charge, were handled properly, enroute to their new receiving owner railroad from the builder. The article mentioned that the Courier, mentioned in the article, made use of a hammock, swung in the new locomotive's cab; until the new locomotive(s) were turned over to their new owner.
There was a more recent story, about a courier, whose job was to oversee the transportation of private owner cars while those cars were being tansported to another location, for their owner...
Apparently, there are "Rules" that govern the occupation of a car being moved empty, in freight trains(?). Only a qualified, designated, individual [Courier?] may occupy the car being moved(?)
Around 1999 or 2000 The BNSF was publishing some articles on their webpage about trying different protocols to help road crews 'get rested' while 'stopped or waiting' enroute. One proposal, I recall was the eventuality of putting a 'cot(?)/bed' in locomotive cabs; there would be an agreement with the locomotive crew for one to rest while the other stayed awake, for communications. It was apparently, an 'idea' that, for whatever reason, went nowhere.
1.11.1 Napping Napping is permitted by train crews, except crews in passenger, commuter or yard service, under the following conditions: • The crew is waiting for departure of their train. or • The train is stopped enroute waiting to be met or passed by a train, waiting for track work, waiting for helper locomotive, or similar conditions. Restrictions are as follows: • A job briefing must be conducted, with agreement reached as to who will nap and who must remain awake. Each crew member has the right and responsibility to refuse to allow another crew member to take a nap if doing so could jeopardize the personal safety of employees, the train, or the public. • One crew member must remain awake at all times. • The nap period must not exceed 45 minutes, which includes the time needed to fall asleep. The napping employee is relieved of all duties. • Train must not be delayed for an employee to take a nap. When conditions allow the train to move, the employee who is to remain awake must immediately waken the napping employee. • Before napping, while waiting for the arrival of their train, employees must ensure all duties have been completed. These duties include reviewing general orders and notices; securing and reviewing track warrants, track bulletins, and other paperwork, if available. • Before napping is allowed enroute, the employee in charge of the locomotive controls must: 1. Make at least a 10-lb. brake pipe reduction. 2. Place generator field switch in the “OFF” position. 3. Center the reverser and remove, if removable. • The employee who is to remain awake must remain on the locomotive while others on the locomotive are napping, except when inspecting passing trains. • If waiting for the arrival of or make-up of train, one crew member must remain awake while waiting for their train’s arrival or make-up at their initial terminal unless arrangements have been made with a third party to wake up all crew members. All crew members that are deadheading or otherwise relieved of duties may nap.1.11.1 Napping Napping is permitted by train crews, except crews in passenger, commuter or yard service, under the following conditions: • The crew is waiting for departure of their train. or • The train is stopped enroute waiting to be met or passed by a train, waiting for track work, waiting for helper locomotive, or similar conditions. Restrictions are as follows: • A job briefing must be conducted, with agreement reached as to who will nap and who must remain awake. Each crew member has the right and responsibility to refuse to allow another crew member to take a nap if doing so could jeopardize the personal safety of employees, the train, or the public. • One crew member must remain awake at all times. • The nap period must not exceed 45 minutes, which includes the time needed to fall asleep. The napping employee is relieved of all duties. • Train must not be delayed for an employee to take a nap. When conditions allow the train to move, the employee who is to remain awake must immediately waken the napping employee. • Before napping, while waiting for the arrival of their train, employees must ensure all duties have been completed. These duties include reviewing general orders and notices; securing and reviewing track warrants, track bulletins, and other paperwork, if available. • Before napping is allowed enroute, the employee in charge of the locomotive controls must: 1. Make at least a 10-lb. brake pipe reduction. 2. Place generator field switch in the “OFF” position. 3. Center the reverser and remove, if removable. • The employee who is to remain awake must remain on the locomotive while others on the locomotive are napping, except when inspecting passing trains. • If waiting for the arrival of or make-up of train, one crew member must remain awake while waiting for their train’s arrival or make-up at their initial terminal unless arrangements have been made with a third party to wake up all crew members. All crew members that are deadheading or otherwise relieved of duties may nap.
Johnny
One of my memories is of being on a PRR E-8 and needing to use the porcelian facility at 90+ mph. Main line East of Indianapolis had cab signals. PRR ran a great fast system. The toilet was located on the engineers side of the engine beside the rear of the #2 (no pun intended) V-12 and in front of the right side steam generator (PRR's E's had two). The toilet discharged on the tracks just as the passenger cars did back then. No sound deading and no compartment, just another engine appliance. A V-12 567 is loud.
There's a scene in the film "The Train" with Burt Lancaster. There's a German soldier stationed in the cab. The train is in a station and the fireman's got to go to the can and starts to descend the ladder. The guard says, "use the coal pile." He should have grabbed an oil can, what the guard have said then?
shawn91481I had an old train book as a kid. I think it was printed in the 50s or 60s. If I remeber correctly they had a cut away view of a F unit which depicted the toilet and a cot in the back of the locomotive.
I had an old train book as a kid. I think it was printed in the 50s or 60s. If I remeber correctly they had a cut away view of a F unit which depicted the toilet and a cot in the back of the locomotive... that said I could be remembering incorrectly.
The GP7/GP9 two-unit consist the St. Croix Valley RR ran between Hinckley and Rush City, MN a few years back sure didn't have a can. By the time our job got back to Hinckley it felt like my bladder was the size of a basketball. Martin the engineer had to stop the train about 300 ft. short of their usual tie-up spot so I could get out and hose-down the ROW.
I think all those bladder-buster parties I attended in college gave me the capacity to make it that far, thank God. Otherwise I think I'd have been whizzin'-off the long-hood end of the lead Geep (one hand on the grab bar and one on the hose).
In steam days, generally when 'cooking on the shovel' you didn't literally put your food directly on the shovel, it would be in some sort of pot or container. You'd be using the shovel to get it in or near the fire to heat up. You probably wouldn't need to get it directly in the fire, I think you'd normally only be warming things up, not really cooking them.
Engine service crews might carry a lunch with them, but generally "got beans" at a diner; they also slept at a hotel, boarding house or YMCA. The caboose crew generally ate and slept in the caboose, sometimes for days on end. It was generally assigned to a conductor, and he and his brakemen might add curtains, pictures, extra bedding, etc. to make it more liveable. BTW, a brakeman who was a good cook was more likely to be chosen by the conductor who "owned" the caboose to be assigned to him over one who wasn't a cook.
Cabooses had toilets of a sort, but crews often avoided using them so it didn't create a smell. Warren McGee (NP conductor) said he stored the fusees there. It's not unheard of for a railfan to take a pic of a crewman hanging his posterior off the end of the caboose out in the middle of nowhere where no one would be (or so the crewman thought!)
If a train was stranded in a blizzard the caboose crew might allow the engineer and fireman to come back to the caboose and share their food and warmth.
Simply because railroads do not like to play by the rules ;-)
TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION CHAPTER II--FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONPART 229_RAILROAD LOCOMOTIVE SAFETY STANDARDS--Table of Contents Subpart C_Safety RequirementsSec. 229.137 Sanitation, general requirements. (a) Sanitation compartment. Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, all lead locomotives in use shall be equipped with a sanitation compartment. Each sanitation compartment shall be: (1) Adequately ventilated; (2) Equipped with a door that: (i) Closes, and (ii) Possesses a modesty lock by [18 months after publication of the final rule]; (3) Equipped with a toilet facility, as defined in this part; (4) Equipped with a washing system, as defined in this part, unless the railroad otherwise provides the washing system to employees upon reporting for duty or occupying the cab for duty, or where the locomotive is equipped with a stationary sink that is located outside of the sanitation compartment; (5) Equipped with toilet paper in sufficient quantity to meet employee needs, unless the railroad otherwise provides toilet paper to employees upon reporting for duty or occupying the cab for duty; and (6) Equipped with a trash receptacle, unless the railroad otherwise provides portable trash receptacles to employees upon reporting for duty or occupying the cab for duty. (b) Exceptions. (1) Paragraph (a) of this section shall not apply to: (i) Locomotives engaged in commuter service or other short-haul passenger service and commuter work trains on which employees have ready access to railroad-provided sanitation facilities outside of the locomotive or elsewhere on the train, that meet otherwise applicable sanitation standards, at frequent intervals during the course of their work shift; (ii) Locomotives engaged in switching service on which employees have ready access to railroad-provided sanitation facilities outside of the locomotive, that meet otherwise applicable sanitation standards, at frequent intervals during the course of their work shift; (iii) Locomotives engaged in transfer service on which employees have ready access to railroad-provided sanitation facilities outside of the locomotive, that meet otherwise applicable sanitation standards, at frequent intervals during the course of their work shift; (iv) Locomotives of Class III railroads engaged in operations other than switching service or transfer service, that are not equipped with a sanitation compartment as of June 3, 2002. Where an unequipped locomotive of a Class III railroad is engaged in operations other than switching or transfer service, employees shall have ready access to railroad-provided sanitation facilities outside of the locomotive that meet otherwise applicable sanitation standards, at frequent intervals during the course of their work shift, or the railroad shall arrange for enroute access to such facilities; (v) Locomotives of tourist, scenic, historic, or excursion railroad operations, which are otherwise covered by this part because they are not propelled by steam power and operate on the general railroad system of transportation, but on which employees have ready access to railroad-provided sanitation facilities outside of the locomotive, that meet otherwise applicable sanitation standards, at frequent intervals during the course of their work shift; and[[Page 447]] (vi) Except as provided in Sec. 229.14 of this part, DMU, MU, and control cab locomotives designed for passenger occupancy and used in intercity push-pull service that are not equipped with sanitation facilities, where employees have ready access to railroad-provided sanitation in other passenger cars on the train at frequent intervals during the course of their work shift. (2) Paragraph (a)(3) of this section shall not apply to: (i) Locomotives of a Class I railroad which, prior to [the effective date of this section], were equipped with a toilet facility in which human waste falls via gravity to a holding tank where it is stored and periodically emptied, which does not conform to the definition of toilet facility set forth in this section. For these locomotives, the requirements of this section pertaining to the type of toilet facilities required shall be effective as these toilets become defective or are replaced with conforming units, whichever occurs first. All other requirements set forth in this section shall apply to these locomotives as of June 3, 2002; and (ii) With respect to the locomotives of a Class I railroad which, prior to June 3, 2002, were equipped with a sanitation system other than the units addressed by paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section, that contains and removes human waste by a method that does not conform with the definition of toilet facility as set forth in this section, the requirements of this section pertaining to the type of toilet facilities shall apply on locomotives in use on July 1, 2003. However, the Class I railroad subject to this exception shall not deliver locomotives with such sanitation systems to other railroads for use, in the lead position, during the time between June 3, 2002, and July 1, 2003. All other requirements set forth in this section shall apply to the locomotives of this Class I railroad as of June 3, 2002. (c) Defective, unsanitary toilet facility; prohibition in lead position. Except as provided in paragraphs (c)(1) through (5) of this section, if the railroad determines during the daily inspection required by Sec. 229.21 that a locomotive toilet facility is defective or is unsanitary, or both, the railroad shall not use the locomotive in the lead position. The railroad may continue to use a lead locomotive with a toilet facility that is defective or unsanitary as of the daily inspection only where all of the following conditions are met: (1) The unsanitary or defective condition is discovered at a location where there are no other suitable locomotives available for use, ie., where it is not possible to switch another locomotive into the lead position, or the location is not equipped to clean the sanitation compartment if unsanitary or repair the toilet facility if defective; (2) The locomotive, while noncompliant, did not pass through a location where it could have been cleaned if unsanitary, repaired if defective, or switched with another compliant locomotive, since its last daily inspection required by this part; (3) Upon reasonable request of a locomotive crewmember operating a locomotive with a defective or unsanitary toilet facility, the railroad arranges for access to a toilet facility outside the locomotive that meets otherwise applicable sanitation standards; (4) If the sanitation compartment is unsanitary, the sanitation compartment door shall be closed and adequate ventilation shall be provided in the cab so that it is habitable; and (5) The locomotive shall not continue in service in the lead position beyond a location where the defective or unsanitary condition can be corrected or replaced with another compliant locomotive, or the next daily inspection required by this part, whichever occurs first. (d) Defective, unsanitary toilet facility; use in trailing position. If the railroad determines during the daily inspection required by Sec. 229.21 that a locomotive toilet facility is defective or is unsanitary, or both, the railroad may use the locomotive in trailing position. If the railroad places the locomotive in trailing position, they shall not haul employees in the unit unless the sanitation compartment is made sanitary prior to occupancy. If the toilet facility is defective and the unit becomes occupied, the railroad shall clearly mark the defective toilet facility as unavailable for use.[[Page 448]] (e) Defective, sanitary toilet facility; use in switching, transfer service. If the railroad determines during the daily inspection required by Sec. 229.21 that a locomotive toilet facility is defective, but sanitary, the railroad may use the locomotive in switching service, as set forth in paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section, or in transfer service, as set forth in paragraph (b)(1)(iii) of this section for a period not to exceed 10 days. In this instance, the railroad shall clearly mark the defective toilet facility as unavailable for use. After expiration of the 10-day period, the locomotive shall be repaired or used in the trailing position. (f) Lack of toilet paper, washing system, trash receptacle. If the railroad determines during the daily inspection required by Sec. 229.21 that the lead locomotive is not equipped with toilet paper in sufficient quantity to meet employee needs, or a washing system as required by paragraph (a)(4) of this section, or a trash receptacle as required by paragraph (a)(6) of this section, the locomotive shall be equipped with these items prior to departure. (g) Inadequate ventilation. If the railroad determines during the daily inspection required by Sec. 229.21 that the sanitation compartment of the lead locomotive in use is not adequately ventilated as required by paragraph (a)(1) of this section, the railroad shall repair the ventilation prior to departure, or place the locomotive in trailing position, in switching service as set forth in paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section, or in transfer service as set forth in paragraph (b)(1)(iii) of this section. (h) Door closure and modesty lock. If the railroad determines during the daily inspection required by Sec. 229.21 that the sanitation compartment on the lead locomotive is not equipped with a door that closes, as required by paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section, the railroad shall repair the door prior to departure, or place the locomotive in trailing position, in switching service as set forth in paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section, or in transfer service as set forth in paragraph (b)(1)(iii) of this section. If the railroad determines during the daily inspection required by Sec. 229.21 that the modesty lock required by paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of this section is defective, the modesty lock shall be repaired pursuant to the requirements of Sec. 229.139(e). (i) Equipped units; retention and maintenance. Except where a railroad downgrades a locomotive to service in which it will never be occupied, where a locomotive is equipped with a toilet facility as of [the effective date of the final rule], the railroad shall retain and maintain the toilet facility in the locomotive consistent with the requirements of this part, including locomotives used in switching service pursuant to paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of this section, and in transfer service pursuant to paragraph (b)(1)(iii) of this section. (j) Newly manufactured units; in-cab facilities. All locomotives manufactured after June 3, 2002, except switching units built exclusively for switching service and locomotives built exclusively for commuter service, shall be equipped with a sanitation compartment accessible to cab employees without exiting to the out-of-doors for use. No railroad may use a locomotive built after June 3, 2002, that does not comply with this subsection. (k) Potable water. The railroad shall utilize potable water where the washing system includes the use of water.
I am dismayed to learn from Mudchicken that the FRA, the railroads and the rail unions require five pages of regulations on the subject of bathroom facilities. I can only guess the amount of time it took all parties to reach consenus on this subject and reduce that to (federal bureaucracy) English.
the feedbut i remeber like a bunk and like a light and then a toliet
The only bunks are in the bunkhouse at the end of the run. The only thing close to a bunk is the emergency stretcher.
dirtyd79Even assuming that the shovel really did get sterilized I'd imagine that whatever you cook on there would still taste like you cooked it in an ashtray. Plus wouldn't eating off rusty metal result in ptoemaine poisoning?
A well-used coal shovel will have pretty much all of the rust and other crud scraped off it - shoveling coal is about like shoveling rocks or stones - so it would be about down to the "bare metal" condition (dull shine).
I don't know about the ptomaine poisoning question - doubt it, though. Really wouldn't be all that different from cooking on a cast iron skillet over a wood campfire or on the top of a coal stove, though. Especially if the coal fire had a few minutes to simmer down to a low-smoke "glowing coals" condition, as opposed to a roaring draft and a lot of smoke. The bottom of the "pan" / scoop shields the food from the worst of the smoke odors - plus, I think it's the saltpeter in the tobacco or cigarettes that produces the worst of the "ashtray" smell. With just a waste rag and a little water to wipe the shovel clean, I think I could do eggs 'n' bacon as good as any diner griddle, and still clear any bacteria tests the public health inspector would care to make.
- Paul North.
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
Alright...Who's been digging around in the basement for old threads?
gardendanceWe were watching a film of a steam locomotive crew cracking eggs and putting bacon on the coal shovel, and cooking their breakfast on it in the firebox. If cooking on a coal shovel isn't bad enough a thought, one of my buddies watching the film mentioned he remembered crews using the shovel for toilet purposes, and tossing it into the fire.
Hmmmm...hopefully the poop shovel and the breakfast shovel aren't one and the same?
Welcome to the forum Sam.
From a simple question, what a wealth of information you can receive
Even I have learned a lot.
I pick up litter around my favorite fanning sites and it seems the company-provided water bottles have a second life, literally whipped out the window.
Ed
I once saw a Wisconsin Central train sitting at a signal just north of Schiller Park yard and very near a street crossing where lots of citizens could see what was going on...and one of the crew members was standing along the long hood urinating onto the roadbed...not too classy a move but also a sort of editorial comment on the likely state of the toilet facilities on his SD45.
Well I know this is a OLD topic, but here you go........
"Rust, whats not to love?"
Patrick Boylan
Free yacht rides, 27' sailboat, zip code 19114 Delaware River, get great Delair bridge photos from the river. Send me a private message
QUOTE: Originally posted by locomutt QUOTE: Originally posted by Modelcar ....I seem to remember chatter of 5 man crews....Was this a reality in the past....? If so I suppose: Engineer...Fireman....Conductor....2 Brakemen.... Quentin,to the best of my knowledge you would be very correct. The first three as you stated,and a "head end" and "rear end" brakeman.
QUOTE: Originally posted by Modelcar ....I seem to remember chatter of 5 man crews....Was this a reality in the past....? If so I suppose: Engineer...Fireman....Conductor....2 Brakemen....
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