Why is it that on many diesel electric locomotives (i would say all but I don’t know that for sure) the reverser is removed when the locomotive is parked or in helper duty? All pictures I’ve seen of the cabs of parked locomotives have the reverser out, and on the instruction panel on VIA Rail’s RDC’s, it says the reverser must be removed when moving in reverse (I presume to be used at the other end). The RDC makes a lot of sense, since passengers getting on and off pass by the controls, often while the RDC is running, and if the reverser were in there is potential for disaster. Any explanation for other locomotives?
It’s kinda like locking the doors, you can’t put the locomotive into gear unless you put the reverser in, so unless someone has their own reverser, the chances of them taking off with the locomotive are faily small.
Pretty much all engineers cary around their own reverser or a couple of reversers.
THay,
We can’t tell you the real reason; we’d have to detain you. 8^@
Next thing we know, you’ll want to know how to start one…
Besides , if you take the reverser out , if you MU it with another locomotive you won’t have your consist trying to go in two different directions. Also , on long consists if someone were to leave a generator field switch in the on position on one of the engines you have the conditions set for a disaster. Think about this scenario: 4 unit consist, rear unit reverser was “bumped” into the reverse position, third unit has the gen field up , second unit was left in notch 8 ( the unit is dead and drained). What happenes when you plug all the jumpers in ?
Randy
Don’t tell me…
A “Syracuse Sleighride”? (named after a runaway of 4 NYC Alcos from Dewitt yard in the 60s…)
Apparently, an accidental release of the independent allowed the units to enter the main track without an engineer…
LC
yea…that would be ugly…but for all that to go down like that…it must have been one realy slap head of a hostler or engineer… now i have heard of situations where the second unit had its reverser still in…and a conductor bumped and all hell broke lose on the power… i dont know exacty what hell it was…but i know that locomotives will bounce when you are still moving forward at say 5 or 6mph…and you put it in reverse and give it some gas…(sometimes you got to do what you got to do when switching…lol)…but moving along a nice clip would be nasty…
thayman
but as far as helpers… when you are on a helper… (maned helper) you still have to put the reverer in…and have to put it “in gear” to shove a train…
csx engineer
The reason for the reverser being removed is just what randy said in case of bumping it wont cause a problem. but on some newer dash 9s if the reverser is left in and bumped it takes the brakes out of trail and the computor sets it in lead position. problem is it does it at the settings the handle is in. i wont tell you what happens next.
Already did ask, but got no specifics. Guess I’ll have to wait a few years till I’m “in”.
Think of the reverser handle as an automobile ignition key.
Whem you go into a neighborhood store, you take your car key with you.
In fact, in TROLLEY CAR terminolgy, they refer to the reverse handle as the Revreer KEY.
Removing the reverser handle also LOCKS up the throttle handle.
You CANNOT develop traction power when teh reverser handle is removed
but the unit can when its MUed to another unit and that unit is the controlling unit…
csx engineer
csxengineer98:
“but the unit can when its MUed to another unit and that unit is the controlling unit…
csx engineer”
Yes, right, thats the way it works DUH !. What’s your point ?
whats your point?
csx engineer