Every conductor that I’ve had in training has said the exact same thing: Look at the gaps, forget the target on the switch stand until you get familiar with your territory. Even then, double check your gaps.
ABSOLUTELY! Had a situation 3 weeks ago, the day guys reported a switch (a locked crossover switch that goes from our yard to the main (CTC)) that couldn't get it's points tight to the rail, engineering pulled it out of service, fixed it, then accidentally reinstalled the switch target backwards! The next crew to go over the switch ran it because they had the correct target but the switch was reversed. Luckily it was a trailing point switch so they just broke the switch without fouling the main, but engineering makes mistakes! Crew still got investigated and demerits though...
I have worked on the railway as Traffic controller (called Train Dispatcher in Ethiopia) and am very familiar with the switch and frog (😂😂it never jump but the train jump it). I am very interested in being train conductor and your channel given me lot of information. Thanks
Great video and tutorial of learning switches! Its funny to see this bcuz since I've been living in Delaware and following the local trains more often. Ive caught myself studying the switches of the open and closed gaps. This ironically told me what track they were going to take without really noticing the red or green indicator on the switch itself! So its kinda neat how i taught myself exactly what you explained and not even a conductor. I will say this though, if i was disabled with this nerve disease I honesty believe I'd be working for a railroad. Also wanted to let you know ive got my shelf switching layout tables built in my railroad room. I've got the top painted with an earth tone color and my track laid and tacked down. Now I've been figuring out where i want my buildings etc. Things are moving right along and very excited about it! Thanks again for sharing another informative video with us along with your PRICELESS time and effort my friend! Cheers from Laurel, Delaware USA.
So I’m looking at becoming a conductor, and I have two company’s I can go to, BNSF or CP. I’m in Minnesota so CP is hiring out of St. Paul and BNSF is hiring out of northtown. I know two people who work on the railroad, ones at BNSF and the other is at CP. neither of them are conductors however, one is in dispatch and the other is a machinist. I don’t mind the lifestyle or schedule as I never had a life in the first place 😆
Nice video for new hires. You should also include why Carmen Division is needed to inspect and gauge wheel flanges to make sure a thin flange doesn't cut a switch taking the wheel set into another track all by itself creating a possible derail. Built up tread, thin flange, thin rim, high flange , shell outs are just some of the many things wheels need to be properly inspected for. Just saying.
I've changed so many wheels its useless to count. All I ask is that each craft does its job and not another crafts job. Or at least give the other craft the information they need to protect themselves. @@Railroad_Talk
On the UP, this was the mandatory test in order to advance out of classroom training. But, yeah. Always follow the gap. The way how i like to picture this is imagining myself as if i was that railcar or locomotive.
At UP we all spent the night before in our hotel lobby doing this switch quiz that was like 50 questions and I must've done that quiz 20 times before I got a 100% because they also included switches that weren't lined either way. Pretty sure our instructor told us this was how the test was gonna be too but it was 20 questions and way easier so everyone passed after looking at switches for like 5 hours the day before lmao.
I work in Canada, never heard something referred to as "red zone" before (though, I can definitely think of a few red zones myself!). Is that when you're going between or something?
What kind of gloves do you recommend bro? They said I need some for school but wasn't sure which ones to get? Also they didn't really explain what the dress code is? Do we just wear long sleeve shirts or what? I could show you the email. Thanks buddy
We’ve had people on my road that however many pictures you drew, stood them at a switch and moved cars slowly back and forth, they just didn’t get it. Needless to say those poor chaps could not keep their job. It just ain’t safe to have one those people directing you as the engineer into what would certainly be a busted switch that he pulled you back through and couldn’t figure why his cut was going two directions at once!
Great question, I’ll make that video tonight and I’ll give me theory but thankfully we have a lot of track guys on here as well as carman and diesel shop guys. I would like to hear peoples theories on that topic as well.
@@Railroad_TalkThere is a OWLS crossing in Flatonia on the UP. How can a locomotive wheel climb that on the Low Speed side and not crack the flange or wheel?😊
Nice! Usually by the time our trainees are in the field with us 90% of them know which way the switch is lined (they may not know where the track GOES lol, but they can at least point to the track we're lined for or line us for the track I tell them to as long as I've done a good enough job explaining the plan), but I'm going to start using that for the occasional ones who have trouble!
Did you guys catch the joke?? LOL. I have a weird sense of humor..
Yep. Easily got it 👍
I typically always throw it up in the gap, only come across a couple that had a flange tho.
Every conductor that I’ve had in training has said the exact same thing: Look at the gaps, forget the target on the switch stand until you get familiar with your territory. Even then, double check your gaps.
Double checks have saved me a few times.. it's easy to get complacent.
ABSOLUTELY! Had a situation 3 weeks ago, the day guys reported a switch (a locked crossover switch that goes from our yard to the main (CTC)) that couldn't get it's points tight to the rail, engineering pulled it out of service, fixed it, then accidentally reinstalled the switch target backwards! The next crew to go over the switch ran it because they had the correct target but the switch was reversed. Luckily it was a trailing point switch so they just broke the switch without fouling the main, but engineering makes mistakes! Crew still got investigated and demerits though...
I have worked on the railway as Traffic controller (called Train Dispatcher in Ethiopia) and am very familiar with the switch and frog (😂😂it never jump but the train jump it).
I am very interested in being train conductor and your channel given me lot of information. Thanks
Great video and tutorial of learning switches! Its funny to see this bcuz since I've been living in Delaware and following the local trains more often. Ive caught myself studying the switches of the open and closed gaps. This ironically told me what track they were going to take without really noticing the red or green indicator on the switch itself! So its kinda neat how i taught myself exactly what you explained and not even a conductor. I will say this though, if i was disabled with this nerve disease I honesty believe I'd be working for a railroad. Also wanted to let you know ive got my shelf switching layout tables built in my railroad room. I've got the top painted with an earth tone color and my track laid and tacked down. Now I've been figuring out where i want my buildings etc. Things are moving right along and very excited about it! Thanks again for sharing another informative video with us along with your PRICELESS time and effort my friend! Cheers from Laurel, Delaware USA.
So I’m looking at becoming a conductor, and I have two company’s I can go to, BNSF or CP.
I’m in Minnesota so CP is hiring out of St. Paul and BNSF is hiring out of northtown. I know two people who work on the railroad, ones at BNSF and the other is at CP. neither of them are conductors however, one is in dispatch and the other is a machinist.
I don’t mind the lifestyle or schedule as I never had a life in the first place 😆
Nice video for new hires. You should also include why Carmen Division is needed to inspect and gauge wheel flanges to make sure a thin flange doesn't cut a switch taking the wheel set into another track all by itself creating a possible derail. Built up tread, thin flange, thin rim, high flange , shell outs are just some of the many things wheels need to be properly inspected for. Just saying.
I plan on making a video about thin and high flange and how they can lead to a switch being picked. We changed a lot of thin flanges back in the day
I've changed so many wheels its useless to count. All I ask is that each craft does its job and not another crafts job. Or at least give the other craft the information they need to protect themselves. @@Railroad_Talk
On the UP, this was the mandatory test in order to advance out of classroom training. But, yeah. Always follow the gap. The way how i like to picture this is imagining myself as if i was that railcar or locomotive.
good informative vid for those who may have had a murky view of switches
At UP we all spent the night before in our hotel lobby doing this switch quiz that was like 50 questions and I must've done that quiz 20 times before I got a 100% because they also included switches that weren't lined either way. Pretty sure our instructor told us this was how the test was gonna be too but it was 20 questions and way easier so everyone passed after looking at switches for like 5 hours the day before lmao.
What’s the name of the quiz??
Can you try and do a video of how to lace up air hoses easily
Doesn’t exist It’s just practice
So the gap is basically the opening until it reaches a closed rail and it switches in that direction?
Nailed it!
Please do a video on RED ZONE!!! And protection of shoves for the new hires
I work in Canada, never heard something referred to as "red zone" before (though, I can definitely think of a few red zones myself!). Is that when you're going between or something?
I loved trains when I was a kid and too now so how would I able to work on the railroad
What kind of gloves do you recommend bro? They said I need some for school but wasn't sure which ones to get? Also they didn't really explain what the dress code is? Do we just wear long sleeve shirts or what? I could show you the email. Thanks buddy
Long pants and a t shirt or jacket, colder here some days. As far as gloves you can’t go wrong with the ole mechanix - amzn.to/3RBCPx1
@@Railroad_Talk you're the best!
We’ve had people on my road that however many pictures you drew, stood them at a switch and moved cars slowly back and forth, they just didn’t get it. Needless to say those poor chaps could not keep their job. It just ain’t safe to have one those people directing you as the engineer into what would certainly be a busted switch that he pulled you back through and couldn’t figure why his cut was going two directions at once!
Yeah I understand some peoples brains have a hard time understanding what’s going on lol.
Now, how does a locomotive or rail car keep on the rails with a jump frog.
Or a One Way Low Speed rail to rail crossing?
Great question, I’ll make that video tonight and I’ll give me theory but thankfully we have a lot of track guys on here as well as carman and diesel shop guys. I would like to hear peoples theories on that topic as well.
@@Railroad_TalkThere is a OWLS crossing in Flatonia on the UP. How can a locomotive wheel climb that on the Low Speed side and not crack the flange or wheel?😊
GAP AND GO
GAP IS THE MAP
I use the open gate method when teaching new hires. If the gate is open the wheel goes there.
That’s a great way to teach it. Never looked at it that way.
Nice! Usually by the time our trainees are in the field with us 90% of them know which way the switch is lined (they may not know where the track GOES lol, but they can at least point to the track we're lined for or line us for the track I tell them to as long as I've done a good enough job explaining the plan), but I'm going to start using that for the occasional ones who have trouble!
I’m sick of looking at switches
🤣 there were days where I did as well lol.
It might be time for a switch