What is the typical yard switching speed for diesels in MPH?
Typically trains operating at restricted speed cannot exceed 20 mph. Most speeds on track other than a main track is in the 10-15 mph range. Most switchers kicking cars won’t get above a fast walk, 5-7 mph. Switchers coupling cars will be in the 2-4 mph range.
I’d have to think a while to remember which video/DVD it’s on, but I have an old (c.1950’s) railroad training film that talks about the importance of not coupling at a speed above I think 3 MPH, since coupling at a speed above that was likely to damage the freight in boxcars and reefers. It’s funny sometimes to see how even some of the “great model railroad” operators bash cars together when switching.
Yard speed is a speed not exeeding 10 MPH
10mph…Anything above 5mph is a “crash” coupling-or was.We usually made a good coupling at 3 mph.
Usually we try to get up to 10 mph as fast as possible, coast for a bit, then 1-2 mph for the coupling. If the track is iffy, sharp curves, etc., a slower speed is prudent.
When kicking, some yards just need a little pin to roll cars out, other times 10 mph for the kick, and the car might stall out before it rolls into the clear.
Each yard is different, and working in them is the only way to know how the cars roll.