During a switching move, in general, what would be the hand signal for slack ahead or slack back? I would imagine each railroad has its own hand signal for this.
Terry
We just give the ‘ahead’ or ‘back’ signal, depending on which direction we want the engine to move. Then give a ‘stop’ signal once the slack has bunched, and finally signal the engine to move in the other direction to pull away.
I’m with SD.
As close as we come to “special” hand signals is hooking our hands over our heads to signify “stretch” after coupling. A “bump” on the pin (if the coupler is stretched and the cut lever can’t be lifted) may be signified by putting one’s fists together.
We usually do two run-arounds per trip, so if we’re using mostly hand signals, they get a workout.
You put both fists out in front of you about waist high, then lift one foot high and step forward moving your body between your fists, then lift the other foot high and forward to join the first one.
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Oh wait, you said 'Slack" not “Slacks”. Never mind.
Do you still say “dungarees”?
Any hand signal can be used as long as it is agreed upon and understood by the crew.
Same here.
Wasn’t that the Austrailian Outback character played by Paul Hogan?
We’d just give miniature versions of the directional hand signals.
One of my mentors on the railroad suggested something like that when bringing in the locomotive for a hitch - use whichever directional hand signal applied, just make it progressively smaller as you get closer to the hitch.
If you work with the same people enough, you get used to how they like to do things.
Most now use the radio. “I need a pin” or “Give me a pin” for needing some slack to uncouple.
“Pin back (or ahead depending on engine/train direction)” When needing to couple when the movement has stopped just short of coupling.
Once a coupling is made, to stretch the slack, “Stretch 'em” or "Stretch Ahead (or back, again depending on engine/train direction.
If hand signals are used, just small versions of hand/lantern signals are used.
Jeff
Not on CN. The only hand signals we are allowed to use are Forward, Back and Stop.
We can be disciplined for using any other signals.
Yeah, I remember that being quite the point of contention when we first started having to say “set and centred” a few years ago.
I still believe that is only in place to make it easier for supervisors to collect fails, so they can sit in the truck (or at home) and listen on the radio for something ‘wrong’, as opposed to actually having to go out and watch.
I still prefer working with hand signals when possible for that exact reason.
In NORAC territory, it’s “three step,” of course, but it’s the same thing.
We used to call for three step by pointing three fingers in the air. The engineer would do the same once it was accomplished. Dropping three step involved rolling one’s hand forward - ie, “three step down,” or some preferred to fold the three fingers over with the other hand.
Now they want us to call for, and acknowledge the procedure on the air, even if we are using hand signals for the rest of the move.
Same principle, slightly different. Set and Centred doesn’t involve the gen field switch.
We’re just the opposite. They started letting us use hand signals to establish a red zone, acknowledging either by radio or horn signal. We can even establish a red zone in person in the cab and no longer have to announce it to the world over the radio.
Makes it more about our safety, rather than management smoke and mirrors.
Jeff
We do that as well. Sometimes the engineer knows you’ll want three step and already has it in place, too…