exactly ! Whoever made that train up at Moorman yard, should have known better. They didn't have a Tyco train set way back as a kid! LOL . Empty center beams, empty auto racks, and flats should always be near the rear of a train. Common sense physics. I seen that video where all those center beams flopped on their side at horseshoe curve at the front of a train. They always had issues with empty auto racks on the front of a loaded double stack train in Roanoke Virginia, with them splitting switches. It was NS also, they should have written a rule. Do Dahs.
I really enjoyed this video. The voice over makes it more than just about trains rolling by a camera and makes it also an educational learning experience.
We don't get as much activity here in Milwaukee but sometimes they'll set out cars 4 train is headed to a different yard in Chicago in westbound they sometimes will set out blocks of grain cars or cars for the paper industry if they start getting overbooked in St Paul or potash cars to get across the border back into Canada on CP. Over the last several years CN tries to have the smaller terminals prepare cars for the bigger terminals it seems to be paying off Nice compact video for the subject
So, it seems the conductor does a lot of walking, manhandling switches, and stepping in-between cars. Is it better to be the train driver and sit there out of the weather in the climate controlled engine?
I love that both opposing views are in the replies. Both positions have enormous responsibilities, but both are absolutely essential. Can you imagine a situation where the engineer has to do both jobs? I don’t know if a conductor could do both jobs, in the normal course of things, but I would think that a conductor learns a lot about operating the locomotive just by virtue of being in the cab. I would love to ride in a steam locomotive one day, but I know riding in a diesel engine would be absolutely great, too!
@TPW900GP35 but as a company they would be able to use you as a conductor or an engineer and I think they go by seniority with the crews the most seniority gets to be the engineer. It’s what I’ve been told.
Number one a diesel engineer doesn't drive the engine, he runs it. It depends on the individual as to being an engineer or conductor. Most railroads today are qualifying all trainman to be engineers. An engineer is also qualified to be a conductor as the railroad considers being an engineer the highest promotion in train service. The employee's seniority will distinguish whether he can be an engineer or conductor if qualified as both. As for brakes, a train has air brakes when uncoupled the air brakes are set on the portion of the train that is being left. As for handbrakes this is determined by tons and how many cars are being set out.The same applies if parking a train somewhere or leaving it unmanned. You go by tons again and the territory also applies flat ground or hilly. Territory also applies when setting out cars. There's an awful lot to consider when it comes to being a railroader. It's not just about getting on a train and riding.
Thank you for your comment. I just learned something new today. I thought the positions were inherently separate, and a person was one or the other. Now I know there is duel training, which only makes sense. I am 79 years old, and I love learning something I didn’t know about my favorite mechanical subject. Been a rail fan for 76 years, since I was 3 years old, and held my Grandmother’s hand and watched the Soo Line train slowly pass through Eau Claire, WI. I was at the bottom of the driveway so often, the crews in the cab recognized me, and would always wave back to the little girl. Great memories!
Beautifully shot video, but one constructive criticism; if you pose a question in the title, you might want to answer it the actual video. At no point is the information on why they break manifests down answered in any meaningful way, which is a disappointment because the reason I watched was to learn why. Just a suggestion though, otherwise it was great video
IAlways Interesting when you have a Norfolk Southern 15Q with two (2) Foreign Union Pacific Units pulling the Load. 🤔 I realize Railroads Move Foreign Power. 👍
Thoes locomotive engineers are a bunch of lazy asses...lol they NEVER get out and offer to help the poor conductor...I think they should switch up from time to time..let the conductor drive the train and the engineer do some manual work.
