"Steal the unlock" was the term used to perform a
function that violated all the operating rules and federal
regulations. It was also very dangerous. It was done
multiple times every day on some switch jobs.
If you were working a local switch job in CTC
territory, all the manual main line switches had
electronic locks on them to prevent operating a switch
under or in front of a train bearing down on it. So if
you're sitting on a side track waiting for a train to pass
on the main, before "opening up" and occupying the main,
you talk to the nearby operator or the dispatcher and ask
when you can "open up". He will tell you after such and
such train with engine number XXXX goes bye it is OK to
open up and occupy the main.
Now if you wait until this train goes past, it will be
5 or 10 minutes before the "time runs down" and you can
flip the unlock switch, which will then allow you to throw
the actual
Switch.
But..... if you risk, life and limb to go up to the
back of the locked unlock box, back off the lock
mechanism, open a door and push a button, all the time
while a train is bearing down on you. Keep in mind you are
literally inches away from the train passing at high
speed. Then when it is passed you can unlock the switch
control on the front of the control box and then throw the
switch immediately after the train passes.
If you happen to be on a job that uses the main(s) for
its entire tour of duty, are working to the limit of the
"hog law" each day, saving 5-10 minutes each time you
"come out"
Really starts to add up.
I believe this maneuver is impossible to perform today
because of new lock designs and soon because of PTC.
Leo Phillipp
Can you explain “steal unlocks” for those not
familiar with the term?
Ken Martin
> Seller shows this as a "lamp key". I strongly
suspect it is a modified switch Key used to "steal
unlocks". What say you ?
>
> Leo Phillipp