Chris Walker Wrote:
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> I think it was the 2nd week in our loco trainee
> school back in '77 we were instructed in the
> correct way to safely mount or dismount while the
> loco was moving so I still continue to mount or
> dismount on my own tram, I have no problem with
> it. Once the guard's vans were taken off and the
> fireman doing that work as a train operator
> capacity which required the 2nd person on the loco
> to shunt trains at wayside stations and get on and
> off moving wagons as well. Your US also has some
> rule about not stepping on the railhead, again
> that is weird to me.
>
> I heard that the WC owned Tranzrail changed the
> rules and made the crewman piloting the loco to
> stand up on the running board directly in front of
> the enginedriver and use a radio to instruct the
> movements (ha,ha, block the field of vision of the
> driver, that makes sense!!) In the old days we
> loco staff used to check, turn and fuel the locos,
> a fireman and driver, on busy nights the driver
> would use the #1 road and the fireman used the #11
> road to get around quicker, the TT and fuel/sand
> shed being at the north end of the depot. Once
> the Electrics arrived, there was twice the work in
> changing out locos so an extra crew was put on,
> again one crew worked their separate sides to
> avoid getting tangled up. After the WC took over
> there was a collision on #11 road where some new
> guy ran around and into the path of the opposing
> move, since these new operators were required to
> ride the running board neither loco could stop in
> time to avoid the other, resulting in one crewman
> being thrown from the running board.
> If he'd been on the cowcatcher, he would have been
> able to get off way quicker, thus avoiding
> injury.
>
> When I was traveling around the US I noticed that
> it was commonplace for drivers to fail to indicate
> a turn or lane change, roll Stop signs (as if
> these were Yield signs), not wear seat belts, use
> their mobile phones while driving, tow trailers in
> excess of 55mph on the highway,and be completely
> bamboozled at roundabouts.
>
> Do you ignore any of those safety rules, RDA?
I believe the rule about not stepping on railheads is because a lot of places have automatic greasers on curves to resist rolling resistance of long freights - meaning the grease gets spread everywhere.
In the past, on US Class I's people in Train Service were also trained on how to mount and dismount cars. Then railroads realized that sooner or later, someone is going to slip - and often slip under the car, or land face-first in the gravel. So, they made the decision to end the practice.
I also believe it was in the 1970's that the railroads removed the roof walks from cars and shortened the ladders.
Actually, I always use my turn signal, I always stop at stop signs, I never move my car without seat belts on, using a mobile phone while driving isn't illegal in a personal vehicle, towing trailers in the US is allowed up to the Speed Limit (80mph in Wyoming, for instance), and Colorado has a LOT of roundabouts, as a matter of fact, I go through a couple of them on the way to work every day. Oh, and my biggest "pet peeve"? It's "right turn on red AFTER STOP". Another rule most US drivers tend to ignore...
My point is, times change. And people - and industries - have to change with them. One of the goals of any organization, be it corporation or privately owned or even volunteer, is to take steps to never reduce the quality of life of the individuals that they employ.
Or, as we were taught in the US Army, when I served several years after the Viet Nam war: "The seven last words of the Army: We never did it that way before..."
BTW, Robert is just fine, no need to be formal
Thanks,
Robert