Might be, Zugman, might be, but I’ve watched things get dumbed down for several decades now and that holds in the railroad industry. Some of it is because there is no one watching out for anyone now, conductor gets off, he’s by himself, no one to watch for him. Part of it is because of the training, the companies train them for six months or so and then throw them out there (sometimes to the wolves). They sink or swim. When you come up like I and CShaverr did, it’s something one has to tolerate, if they wish to stay employed. With a big smile, if possible.
I understand that more than you think.
But of all the ideas (many idiotic) passed down over the last few years, I think the Brakestick falls into the “winner” category. There is no sense in climbing those bent ladders to tie a handbrake that probably couldn’t hold its own weight.
No, Zug–I appreciated not having to line up the links for the little slots. And air brakes made things a lot easier, as did the power hand brakes. I was also glad when they took the catwalks off the cars, gave us ABD brake valves, and even when they took off the cabooses (been thrown against the hot coal stoves a few times too many, and got the scars to show it!).
The truth is, any efficiences technology are giving the railroads are being lost to these senseless (though possibly well-intended) rules that are often being forced upon people who know better ways. Happily some of us will follow our traditions and the railroads will keep running (others will follow all of the rules to the letter, and do nothing when the rules conflict with each other–don’t think that doesn’t happen these days!). And when we retire, we will sit in our rockers and laugh at the rest of you!
You need not lecture me on the rules (or interperetation of the rules).
Some are good, I’ll admit - others leave me scratching my head. The rest are vague enough to be used against you no matter what. But that is the story with every industry these days and is a product of the sue-happy world we live in. (coffee is hot? really? )
I was and my comments were firmly tongue in cheek. Although I was way before brakestiks, I am sure I would happily use one whenever it reduced the work.
By the way, an uncle of mine, now deceased, designed most of the hand brakes produced by UNARCO in the 1960s and early '70s. I wish I could ask him, but I seem to recall that safety and the ease of use were among the objectives of his design work.
Nothing personal, but I like the old way. #1 I learned my lesson the hard way, just skip high hand brakes. #2, I just like getting up there and setting a binder. I knew a 60 year old that could set brakes that would make most young guys in this terminal blush (including two supposed body builders who set brakes like a couple of wusses). Of course, we are not allowed to set hand brakes from the ground anyway, brake stick or no.
I will not argue with Zug, no way anyone gets on a car with messed up ladders. Personally, I bad order everyone I find. And I got a good supply of tags and know how to use them. A lot of guys get kind of silly about a hogger bad ordering a car, but I look at it this way, My job will be safe, and we will all go home in one piece. As so far, no one has had issues with this. I double dare them.
Oh but remember we got “the start program” [censored] .
And I too didn’t know that some places required use of the brakestick.
ValleyX have you heard of people naming their brakesticks [D)] ?
I’ve heard people call’em Jr.,Martha,and little Buddy.
[:)]
I can see how it would improve safety, because most people will slip while climbing on a car sooner or later. And after the slip all the things you can hit on the way down are really bad for you.
And, it may be useful in dealing with trespassers.
But I don’t think use of the stick will be faster in most cases.
[:)] [:)]
I do admit, some low handbrakes are just as easy to get by hand. Some you ahve to get by hand (side ratchet types or some intermodal) And some are easier (i.e. ballast cars with those nifty porches). Yeah, you can skip the high handbrakes, but unfortunately, many times we have trains that are ALL high handbrakes, or at least the first big block of cars are (coal and certain ballast cars).
Yeah, we can try to bad-order cars, but no one will stand behind you if the car inspectors give their “OK”. Then you will get the customer, logistics dep’t, and then your supervisor mad at you for “delay of train”.
Now, now…no more “shoot boy, I have boots older then you” comments. [:D]
I like the brakestick. Is it faster? Is it slower? That’s up for debate. The biggest asset is that when used properly, you are completely clear of the car. If you don’t break the plane of the car, you can’t be hit by it.
If one is avalable we are required to use it. Practically, there aren’t enough to go around, and if you leave them unattended, they vanish. Rather then leave them lying around, each stick costs $350 or $400, those that show interest in using them are issued one and are responsible for it just like their radio.
Alot of people don’t like them, because…
- It’s something else to carry.
- It’s heavy.
- It’s ackward to carry on Amtrak.
- The company says we have to.
- We haven’t been trained on it.
Nick
I work for the NS in the Dearborn div they are required in yard limits but not along the main line I personally like them as it saves me from climbing on the ladders in wet weather to me they are like a heavy duty boat hook which I used frequently in the CG but they are bulky to carry on the road so I don’t but if I could figure a good way to carry one I probably would, the other thing not mentioned is they can be used to press the button on the EOTD
Nick, have you heard the one about “I’ve got more time in the office ****house than you have on the railroad!”
Might also apply.
Actually, I’ve only known one fellow in my terminal who carried a brakestick on a regular basis. He was a heavyset gentleman who loved his brakestick because he didn’t have to climb up on the cars. He didn’t look anything like I would picture Moses but everytime I would see him watching us by, leaning on his brakestick, I thought of Moses with his staff, leading his people out of Egypt.
Oh, and I’ve got a workcoat that I paid a lot of money for a long time ago that I know has not only more seniority but is older in age than a lot of people I work with. Not that it matters.[:-,]
With tongue firmly in cheek:
On another note, I’ve yet to meet an older engineer who complained about the push-button handbrakes locomotives have now…so no complaining about the brakestick…
[:D] [:D][^][^]
Two things that I never thought I’d see and really like . . . when they work, would be that and air conditioning! Sometimes, the air doesn’t seem to be well maintained, though.[;)]
Check out this new brake stick that comes in the three sizes. I really like the small and medium, as they are easy to handle and lightweight, but durable. Its a new and improved brake stick. I work for CSX. I’ve been selling this for about 1 year now.
Here’s the website www.railroadbrakestick.com
We’ve got rules here on the forum.