I was wondering what kind of checks and paperwork does and engineer and conductor do before getting a train underway?
Track warrants or general track bullitions, class 1 air test of the train, train lengith, train tonnage, end of train test and make sure it is armed and permission to leave the yard or from where the train stands from the yard master or dispatcher.
Rodney
Also to include any kinda work, Pick up’s or set out’s.
any HazMat loads
On UP’s trainlist it shows what locomtives by number,type,whether they have dynamic brakes,air conditioning,four or six axles.
We also recieve how much horsepower per ton,etc…
Everything you ever wanted to know about your train, and a bunch of crap that you didn’t!!
Not to mention a quick (?) walk around the units to see that they’re all there… and hooked up right…
Be lunch time by time y’all get to this point.
Conductor will talk with yardmaster or trainmaster…then gather up track bulletins, slow orders, track warrants if needed, haz mat printout and train sheet…reviews train sheet to insure placement in train of haz mat.
If the locomotives are already against the train, crewmembers either cab to, or walk to the consist…if they are in the tie up track, they board and get permission from yardmaster and round house/tie up track to come out and get against their train…conductor double checks the head 5 cars to make sure the train is in compliance with the haz mat rules, while the brakeman or conductor check for hand brakes on the head end…
Engineer does a walk around inspection of his power, checks the FRA inspection card, and if needed, does a FRA inspection…then every body gets all their junk set out, water cooler iced down, food on the engine manifold to heat up…you call the car department for an initial terminal air test, get the ok on the air brake test, then obtain permission from yard master or dispatcher/control operator to depart…somewhere in all of this, the conductor will review any set outs or pick up they have to make…clue the engineer in on the train length and car count, and any special high wide loads, slow orders…do a quick job briefing…set and arm the EOT and adjust the distance counter…call wife on cell phone to let her know you will not be back home tonight…tomorrow or the next day…
And away you go…
Ed
then you call your girl friend and tell her you will be around for a few days.
What about us women on the job??? [:D] lol.