Many of you know that I was recently hired as a conductor/switchman by Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. I am going to tell you about my job, using MSPAINT to illustrate some of the finer points.

Most of the time when I am called in to work, I am a switchman. This means I'm switching out cars and building trains in the rail yard. On average you'll build 1-2 trains per shift, but sometimes as many as 3 or 4. One of the problems with Birmingham yard is that many of the tracks are on a slight gradient, which gives the cars on it a tendency to roll out onto the main line if you don't watch out.

When switching cars we usualy "kick" them into the track they need to go in. That is, we pull a cut of perhaps 15 or 20 cars out of one track, then line the tracks in the yard so that it will go where indicated by our list. Then we pull the pin lifter to uncouple the car on the end from the rest of the train and tell the engineer "kick em" and he floors it and then stops. The car drifts down the track into a track, and the process is repeated until you've kicked all your cars away.

Usually this works fine, but sometimes kicking them can cause problems. If you kick cars into a standing cut of cars that doesn't have a handbrake on it, it will roll out of the yard. This is when the fun begins--someone has to run up to it, jump on, and tie a handbrake on it. If it's a good sized cut that's rolling out, you may have to jump back off and tie a few more on to make it stop. It's not fun at all, and getting on/off moving equipment is a good way to get hurt.

[center][URL=http://img20.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img20&image=rollout.png][IMG]http://img20.exs.cx/img20/194/rollout.th.png[/IMG][/URL][/center]

Yard jobs are pretty monotonous, but every so often you'll inevitably get called on to take a train out to Memphis, TN or Amory, MS (Amory is halfway between Memphis and Bham). Being on the main line is where the fun begins.

I always pack a change of clothes (or two) and a small meal to eat along the way. You never know when something will tie up the mainline for a few minutes, hours, or days (such as a derailment). Federal law states that railroad crews cannot be on duty for more than 12 hours before being relieved to rest. If you are driving your train and hit 12 hours on duty, you must stop immediately and wait for a relief crew. This is known as "dying on the law." Usually the dispatcher will put you in a siding before this happens, so you don't block other movements. As a sidenote, the relief crew is commonly referred to as "dogcatchers."

The conductor is responsible for the safe operation of the train. They're sort of an "administrator." The engineer actually operates the locomotive. The engineer must follow the conductor's command. If he or she doesn't the conductor is required to [i]big hole[/i] the train--that is, put the train into emergency stop. Every engine has an emergency brake valve on the conductor's side just for this reason.

You rarely have to resort to that, however. Crews usually work well together and like to talk and carry on as a means of keeping each other alert. They also work in tandem to look for signals every 2-4 miles. Trains use a block system to space themselves apart safely (coasters copied and use this system today). Each block is roughly 2 miles long and is governed by a signal on either end of the block. The block system is automatic--hence, it's often called ABS, or Automatic Block System. In most places, though, signalled track uses Centralized Traffic Control, or CTC, to authorize movements. The only difference between ABS and CTC is that CTC is controlled by a dispatcher. On lightly used lines, there may be no signals at all--movements are done by a track warrant wich authorizes a train to operate within designated limits.

There over a dozen signals used on the railroad. I won't give all of them, but here are the major ones:

[COLOR=Green]GREEN[/COLOR] or [COLOR=Green]GREEN[/COLOR] over [COLOR=Red]RED[/COLOR] [B]Proceed.[/B] [i]Proceed at track speed.[/i]

[COLOR=Red]RED[/COLOR] over [COLOR=Green]GREEN[/COLOR] [B]Diverging Clear.[/B] [i]Be prepared to enter diverging route at prescriped turnout speed.[/i]

[COLOR=Red]RED[/COLOR] over [COLOR=Yellow]YELLOW[/COLOR] [B]Diverging Approach.[/B] [i]Advance on diverging route, prepared to stop at next signal. If exceeding 30 MPH immediately reduce to that speed.[/i]

[COLOR=Yellow]YELLOW[/COLOR] or [COLOR=Yellow]YELLOW[/COLOR] over [COLOR=Red]RED [/COLOR] [B]Approach.[/B] [i]Be prepared to stop at next signal. If exceeding 30 MPH, immediately reduce to that speed.[/i]

[COLOR=Yellow]YELLOW[/COLOR] over [COLOR=DimGray]LUNAR[/COLOR] [B]Approach Restricting.[/B] [i]Be prepared to pass next signal at restricted speed.[/i]

[COLOR=DimGray]LUNAR[/COLOR] or [COLOR=Red]RED[/COLOR] over [COLOR=DimGray]LUNAR[/COLOR] or [COLOR=Red]FLASHING RED[/COLOR] [B]Restricting.[/B] [i]Proceed at a speed permitting the consist to be stopped within half the range of vision short of other trains, engines, men or equipment on the tracks, railcars, misaligned switches, or broken rail. Do not exceed 20 MPH.[/i]

[COLOR=Red]RED[/COLOR] [B] Stop.[/B]


There are more, but the rest are seldom used anywhere with less than 3 main tracks. The main thing is, DON'T run through a stop signal. Bad things will happen. [i]Very[/i] bad things.

Statisically speaking, every railroader is going to be involved in a grade crossing incident at some point in their career. Many of the guys who have been out there for 20 and 30 years have hit several vehicles at crossings. It's something you don't look forward to, but there is nothing you can do to prevent it. You have to big hole the train and pray for the best. Hopefully you won't hit a school bus bull of third world orphans with kittens, or a gasoline tanker.

[center][URL=http://img20.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img20&image=BNSFLOL4.png][IMG]http://img20.exs.cx/img20/5010/BNSFLOL4.th.png[/IMG][/URL][/center]

You'll also hit a lot of other crap on the rails. We've hit turkeys, opossums, SNAEKS!!!, birds, wild boars, deer, and cows. Yes, cows. Somehow they got out of their pasture and onto the tracks. Let's just say the outcome was a [i]crappy[/i] situation. There was literally cow dung (and giblets) all over the front of the engine. The enginemen dealt with the situation as best they knew how: they sent it out in another train (lol). Just about a week ago, I was taking a train from Amory back to Birmingham. At around 2:30AM, we see a deer in the middle of the tracks. No chance of it moving, it was "lost in the headlights." We hit it at about 52 MPH. I figured the engine would shake and bounce, but actually it didn't do anything. We heard the soft thuds of the animal's body cavities caving in. Then it went airborne to the side about 75 feet into the dark woods next to the tracks.

There's something awe inspiring about seeing Bambi's lifeless body careening off the engine and into the air.

[center][URL=http://img20.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img20&image=deerstrike2.png][IMG]http://img20.exs.cx/img20/2703/deerstrike2.th.png[/IMG][/URL][/center]

If there aren't many trains on the line, you can make it hope quickly and never have to take siding--or, go [i]in the hole[/i]-- on your way. The dispatcher will give hot shot trains, such as intermodal or coal trains, priority over the others. If you're on the lower priority train, you'll be put in the hole so the fast freight can get through on time.

Usually the opposing movement will appear within 30 minutes. Sometimes, though, it may take them hours to show up. During that time, the crew usually catched up on some sleep. When I was cubbing on the Memphis run back in April, we were waiting on a proceed signal somewhere in the ghetto of Memphis. At night. We had our doors locked, needless to say, but when crackheads show up, hilarity always ensues. We happened to be on an intermodal train carrying all kinds of good stuff in easy-to-open containers, and we learned upon arrival in Birmingham several of them had been completely emptied back in Memphis.

[center][URL=http://img20.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img20&image=ghetto.png][IMG]http://img20.exs.cx/img20/1530/ghetto.th.png[/IMG][/URL][/center]

Another problem that happens with surprisng frequency is a derailment. This can be caused by hitting a car or truck at a crossing, broken rail, sun-kinked rail, washouts at culverts and bridges, and poor track conditions (loose/missing ties, soft roadbed). There are many more causes, but what I just named are the big ones. I was involved in a minor derailment in July. We were switching out an industry on the main line and the roadbed had been softened by recent rain. The rail just spread apart and onto the ground we went. I happened to be riding out on the side of the car that got on the ground. It was exciting to say the very least. And rough. And scary.

[center][URL=http://img20.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img20&image=derailment.png][IMG]http://img20.exs.cx/img20/6435/derailment.th.png[/IMG][/URL][/center]

The job isn't bad--the pay is good (starting pay is a lot more on the RR than if I got a job doing something related to my major), benefits are good, and you can really make a career out of it, especially if you have a college diploma (that's the route I am taking). The downside is that you don't have set hours, everything is based on seniority rather than merit (the guy with the most seniority could be a total bum, but he still gets first dibs on any job), and you work year round whether its 120F in Needles, CA or -10F in Butte, MT. The trains still have to run.

So those are the highlights of my job thus far. Hope you enjoyed and feel free to ask questions! I'll try my best to explain them.

tl;dr


I'm suprised they put you in charge of something like this.

__________________

Let's Go! HOKIES!

[QUOTE=RaptorXLC]tl;dr[/quote]

Yes, but did you like the MSPAINTS?

Damn, Gp running trains. Just give us ample warning when you carry a toxic load. The original Bambi story was good though.

__________________
Thrillnetwork Moderator - finding a way to piss you off every day.
Be a REAL American, bend over, grab your ankles and let this country have its way with you.

You sir, are an idiot.

do u blow teh whistle?

[QUOTE=Dukeis#1]do u blow teh whistle?[/QUOTE]

I could make a hilarious remark about blowing, but I'm not going to.

You lose.

PS: sometimes

Awesome. Your job sounds really cool. Thanks for sharing. The MSPAINT pictures rule.

P.S. Voted 5.

__________________
ThrillNetwork Editor Emeritus
Voyage is the best roller coaster ever.
2008 Raptor ride count - 126. Lifetime - 1,143.

Nice job including Memphis.

__________________
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS
BIG ORANGE COUNTRY

[QUOTE=General Public]Yes, but did you like the MSPAINTS?[/QUOTE]


eh. . . not bad.



the bambi one was pretty good.

__________________

Let's Go! HOKIES!

Awesome job. I wouldn't mind it, considering i've always been into trains.

I can't believe I actually read all of that crap about your stupid train riding. The MSPaints made up for it though, voted 5.

__________________
TV/Event Guide Editor

You are quite the MSPAINT artist.

I think it's surprising just how many people are dumb enough to get hit by trains.

__________________

Very interesting and entertaining, too. Gotta watch out for those snaeks, they'll derail you every time. It sounds like you also need to pack some heat on some of those trips.

If I had that job I would spend about ten minutes blowing the horn.

*insert another joke about blowing*

__________________