Hi John:
I just got back from depositing our daughter in UP territory (Laramie, Wyo.)
for college, and saw your question. Putting your inside leg against the
hose on your side is a good plan. That way, you won't get hit by the hose
on your side if they come apart. You probably wouldn't be able to hold two
glad hands together when the air hits them anyway, and you'ld be down on one
knee trying it.
We had a brakeman killed in Gillette one night while they were switching out
368. It was in 1977 or '78, before portables were standard issue. He left
his lamp out in between the tracks while he was in between the cars lining
air. The brand new head brakeman (person) and the almost new Engineer, saw
the lamp and coupled into the track, figuring he was in the clear. He
wasn't...and the joint, with two comparatively inexperienced people working
by lamp signals in the dark, was harder than it should have been. The force
rolled him, and cut him just about in two. The moral of the story is: if
you are working with lamps, take it between the cars with you. They aren't
supposed to move if they don't know where you are.
Mike Decker, ex-Brakeman, now Engineer, Edgemont, SD
Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2000 22:25:14 -0400
From: John Knopp <jdknopp@g...>
Subject: Re: a dumb question about getting air
At 04:32 PM 8/21/2000 -0700, Tom K. wrote:
>If a trainman is coupling air between two cars the preferred method is
>to place your left or right foot, (depending on whether you are right or
>left handed, straddling the rail closest to you. You then hasve an escape
>route if something goes terribly wrong.
I'm OK with having one foot outside the gauge but as far as the two hoses
are concerned would you advocate bracing your inside leg against the hoses
or perhaps grasping the two glad hands in your free hand as the angle cock
is opened?
Also, have you ever had anything start rolling on you when you were "in
between"? (I'm just curious as to how often that sort of thing occurs.)
Thanks!
John Knopp
jdknopp@g...
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