They are valid definitions, but I would probably never use “lift” and “drop” in that context.
I would use pick up, set out, spot and cut. In my experience they are the most commonly used terms.
Judging by the responses that terms vary from area to area we should be able to I would think…
I still chuckle over lift since its alien to me but,what the hay…
As an Operations neophyte, I could accept that.
What would be a better term for the act of picking up or pulling cars?
Rich
I would use “picking up” or “pulling” cars as a term for picking up or pulling cars.
In another thread, someone suggested that “pick ups” are sometimes called “lifts”, and “drops” are sometimes called “set outs”.
Sounds right to me.
Rich
Pull would be the most common term.
Of course one conductor I worked with on the C&O liked the term “yank”.
We’ll yank those cars off the Solvey storage along with the Mannsbach empties and place 'em behind the engines…
You guys get all squared away on this, so you all know what your talking about. I own my railroad and will call these processes what ever in the heck I like.[:D]
The initial question was trying to figure out what the two guys in the video were meaning when they said: lifts, drops, spots and cuts. I felt they talked about what the meanings at the time the words were said; so, their definitions were pretty much explained. Might be helpful if some of you “Old Heads” watched the videos and gave us your “edumacated” best guess.
And let’s not forget that there were/are corporately-defined terminology and commonly-accepted slang. And that both also change over time.
I was Army in the 80’s, and when I talk to or read stuff from those currently serving, I definitely notice some the changes.
I heard pretty-well all of those terms, both the original ones listed and the alternatives offered later, when I worked in the steel industry. Depending on who was doing the talking, you might get any of the multiple choices offered for any single operation, so when one crew would bring a cut of ingot buggies, another might have a drag.
I didn’t need to know who used which term, though, as the context of what was being said left no doubt as to what was going to be done - a good thing, too, as railroading and steelmaking are both dangerous operations. The two together are doubly so.
Even when discussing operations with real railroaders in the U.S., the terminology is easily understood, regionalisms for the peripheral stuff notwithstanding.
Wayne
I was Army in the 80’s, and when I talk to or read stuff from those currently serving, I definitely notice some the changes.
I was in the Air Force in the 60’s. Apparently one of the terms we were familiar with back then has completely disappeared from the vocabulary - KP. I don’t know when KP was outsourced to civilians, but talking to the current crop of service people about it brings looks ranging from the merely quizzical to the “you’re s*****ing me”.
I believe “SOS” is still on the breakfast menu, however. You just can’t get rid of a classic like that.
Andre
I would guess SOS and powdered eggs! What, no pulling K.P. in basic? I suppose no P.T.; or, drill, either? How do they keep the troops busy and off their “Androids”? Is that another one, do we need to define “Pulling K.P.”?
Sounds like the Army is Micky Mouse…
Pulling K P.
Pulling a Kansas Pacific freight car? [:O][(-D]