Dear everyone,
Back in the days of the five-man crew, what would the head-end brakeman do on a through train out on the road? The rear brakeman would be up in the cupola and watching the timetable to drop flares, but the head-end guy would often not have a good view of the train. Also, I sometimes hear about six-man crews. Who would the sixth crewmember be?
Sincerely,
Daniel Parks
groundmonkey
The head man would run ahead of the train leaving a yard to line the switches. He would look back on either side of the train going around curves to watch for hot boxes or sticking brakes. He would try to be friends with the engine crew, but wound up getting yelled at anyway. On the Milwaukee, as related to me by an old head, the head man could receive a message telling him to help the fireman stoke the firbox. When making a pick-up or set-out, the head man would have to cut he power off, ride its hind end to the switch and line it for the reverse move, and grab the hind end again to make the joint. He also would be responsible for lining the derail. He would have to kick off the hand brakes on a pick up, and set them on a set-out.
In Indiana, a long time ago, there was a relly-full crew law. Trains over 69 cars, I believe, were required to have a third brakeman. I think he may have been referred to as the “swing brakeman.” The Monon had a special caboose for him that trailed the power on freight trains requiring his services. On some roads the third man merely acted as the flagman and rode the caboose.
Mitch
A late uncle of mine worked as a brkmn on the Frisco in KS from 1935-1970. I recall him saying that the senior brkmn had the choice of riding the HE or RE. When he had the seniority over the other brkmn, he chose to ride the caboose w/the condr. I asked what he did back there, when not having to do any specific job duties it was eating, playing cards and drinking beer. Those must have been the grand old days on the rr. He also said that on the HE there wasn’t as much card playing but crews did gulp down a Budwiser or two.
<<He also said that on the HE there wasn’t as much card playing but crews did gulp down a Budwiser or two.>>
Or 6… or 7…or…
Virlon
Save your ticket… the P.E. wil rise again.
No Bud no more, bud. Don’t even think about it on duty.
Head man did all the ground work on the point. Everything. Flagman for the head end.m Like MudChicken said, groundmonkey.
Rear man did all the ground work on the marker. Everything. Flagman for the rear. And no flares out the cupola window. “Drop Flagging” was done off the caboose rear platform.
Swing man worked where the work was going to be - usually on the point - and rode the end upon which he would be needed next.
The Conductor on a two man crew is the Conductor, Rear Brakeman, Swing Brakeman and Head Brakeman.