In Maumee Ohio I notice now they have one guy on the ground and the engineer. They perform flat switching and industrial work. I am sure the carriers save money on the blanked job but does it take longer to perform the work with the smaller crew? Thanx
Depending on the location, switching with only one gropo can take slightly (25%) longer to extremely longer (100%).
The switching time will also depend on how thrilled the single gropo is to be doing all of the work, and how ambitious the engineer is (for lining switches ahead of the locomotive while the gropo works the cuts).
Thanks for the response!
I know it takes longer for the Y101 here in defiance to get the maw done with a 2 man crew.
stay safe
joe
A motivated 4 person crew can switch rings around a 2 person crew. On the other hand a lazy and un motivated 4 person crew can accompolish less than the 2 person crew. Generally, I would vote for the 4 person crew, though. RR productivity generally took a dive when the yard jobs went from 4 to 3 to 2. I have worked both so I know the output from the field.
It seems with 1 guy on the ground he has more switches to throw. Also more hand brakes to tie and lots more walking. I know back in the 70s and 80s yard crews got an “early quit” if they busted their donkey. I doubt anymore if that is the case.
For a yard crew, two people on the ground is sufficient for me. Riding a cut of cars and having to watch out not only for myself but for two more people is just bleh. One extra person is manageable, and usually isn’t too bad provided that they’re competant and not a total idiot.
Having one person to throw switches in anticipation of the next move while the other starts tieing up brakewheels makes the work go quicker. Having that person be able to make a cut for you while you ride the end on a long shove makes it even better. At that point, you’re just hopping on the ends of cuts, tieing up their handbrakes, and repeating the process over and over while the other person sends the train back to you.
Three people on the ground is beneficial during winter. The third person gets to keep the pick and broom handy to keep my switches clean. [:-^]
Here on the CVR, we only use 2 man crews. Very seldom, do we get 3 man crews. If we have a busy day, we can get alot done with just one man on the ground. We have a general order stating that with a 2 man crew, we cannot kick cars, but with a 3 man crew we can kick. That saves us tremendous amounts of time when we have alot to do. But with the 2 man crews, we go out kick a**, and get our stuff done, because like everybody that works in yards or any short lines that have alot of switching to do, we want to get it done and go home.
Later, Dru CVR Engineer/Conductor/Brakeman
Today we had a five person crew on our local job. Doesn’t happen often and rare if at all. This was due to some lower whisker condrs moving around the system so they can keep workin. TM is trying to get these guys all the student runs knocked out asap, so today we were given two students at a time. The full crew era was before my time but man when you have more folks to work w/it really makes a positive difference if you ask me.
Not only is it the number of members of the crew it is the quality of the members. I have observed that a wealty of information was not passed down through the generations or the lessons were not learned. I know I tried but ended up with too much seniority to make a real difference.
It really was a ballet in the yards 30+ years ago. All without radios. Members who spread themselves out in the yard instead of hanging together like they were afraid to leave each other. Now the foreman is all alone or running the box with the other crew member down the lead somewhere.
Speaking of switching cars try Youtube Gp 9 kicking cars and see a crew at work.