Most valuable lessons learned working on the railroad

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

I was wondering what the most valuable lessons you have learned working on the railroad like rules and lessons to live by.

Thanks,
Marshall[8D]

2

Make sure to put on a hand brake very tight looking back and seeing the cut of cars you just spotted rolling away is not good.And always check and double check switchpoints and derails.Always expect a train or car movement on any track at any time.Be aware of what is going on around you at all times.

3

This wasnt me, but I witnessed it.
“Switching an executive buisness car”
“Ok, lets take the chalk out… hmmmm,hmmmm,hmmmmm ladeedee, CRAP”!!! (car starts rolling about 10 mph)…PSHOOOH!!! "DAM!! I left the power cord in!!!
The car is rolling 10 mph toward its train (which was supposed to back IN to get it) im walkin alongside and go “Thats gonna be a hard “BOOOOM” (car hits car, almost derails) then i say quietly, joint.”

4

Adding to what AlcoDave said:
Think before you act; just like your Mom taught you to look both ways before crossing the street. Far too many “accidents” occur in a split second when action precedes thought.

5

Always think safety first! There are no safe shortcuts…
and, if you ever feel rushed, uncertain, or just ‘fuzzy’, stop, back off, regroup.

6

Old age and guile, trumps youth and inexperience.

Every Time. [:D]

Kurt

7

Do it the right way - every time.

8

I had to learn that lesson of looking both ways before crossing the street on my own because, my mom figured that since I was born in the city, Philadelphia that I could figure the streets out. lol

9

  1. SAFETY FIRST

  2. Think Before ACTING.

  3. NEVER be in a hurry.

  4. Never listen to railfans about how to do your job.(lol)…

LC

10

You mean we don’t know all there is to know about railroading? Gee, now I am depressed. [:p]

11

Nope, learn something new everyday…

This is one day I’m sure glad I’m in the train running biz and not running tour boats…

LC

12

If you mean lessons learned that concern railroading…then the one that sticks in my mind most is the complacency we find working against us…the fact that we get so used to things being the same way, in the same place, lined the same way day after day, that the one time things are not exactly the way we left them the day before or things are not what we assumed they should be is what gets us killed.

Case in point would be the accident at Shepherd, Texas, were a conductor forgot to line and lock a siding switch, went off and left the switch lined for the siding, even left his switch keys in the lock, and the crew running down the main, fully expecting to find the switch lined for them, discovered the hard way that things sometimes are not what or where we expect them to be, in this case, a fatal lesson for an relief engineer on the train in the siding.

I expect the guy ahead of me to have followed the rules, but I can’t assume he did…because the one time I do assume everything is the way it is supposed to be is the one time nothing will be…

Ed

13

And never assume. Randy

14

Switching is an art.
Computers make poor engineers.
Plans seldom survive the first move.

Nick Brodar

15

  1. Watch where you are going (so you don’t fall into a drop pit)

  2. Don’t day dream (so you don’t fall into a drop pit)

-from someone who almost fell into a drop table pit.

16

I agree with everyone safety first cause once it happends you cant take it back…and please do watch out for that drop pit!!

17

Safety First

18

I never had the eyesight required to go to work for the railroad, so I went to work as the other sort of fireman. The rules for safety are remarkably similar for such disparate jobs! Yes, and you can find a “drop pit” in a house that has been on fire long enough.

19

Keep your wits about you. Go around, NEVER climb over. Expect a train on any track at any time, or even a very quietly rolling car. Think about where you are and what you are doing. If you are not sure of what you are doing, get the heck outa there and let someone know.
… And many other things, too…

20

Personal experience

Not being afraid to say anything to the engineer when you’re under an approach signal an he/she’s not slowing down. Came around curve at 25 mph and the (ABSOLUTE) signal was red. Slid past about 1/2 an engine.[censored][censored][banghead][censored]