For my contemporaries who railroaded back in the stone age, try that when the knuckle breaks or the air hose bursts in the middle of nowhere at night and it's always in the middle of the train. NO communication like today. You lug that stuff back to the problem, repair it, and then use your lantern. Sometimes you had to get on top of a box car so the engineer could see you, especially on a curve, or, you relayed your signals to the conductor who had a radio, and he in turn relayed to the engineer. Broken knuckles or a burst air hose are still part of railroading, but at least the guy on the ground has communication with the engineer.
As a conductor on the Chicago Northwestern we had some really good engineers we had some bad ones I remember one night it was foggy you couldn't see in front of your hand we had a bad engineer we broke in three places we had to go out there and change out the knuckles took us almost 4 hours I felt like Bella Lugosi was going to tap me on the back of the neck when you're in deep fog like that your mind plays a lot of tricks on you
they suck to fix alone I do the pin last. I get the kuckle where I want it pull up on cut lever hoping the guts don't jump out and push the knuckle into place
ElfNet Gaming no, he got it. The battery was about to die on my camera so I turned it off so I wouldn’t loose my video. This was only the beginning of his problems for the night.
No he didn't. He asks for it right after he stretches the joint. The engineer says "drawing them down" they are likely on a hill im guessing. Once the brakes are set the engineer gives him the 3 step confirmation. He was fine here.
On a coal train on grade in middle of winter, goes into emergency,.Drop off knuckle off head end, walk train with air hose an a wrench to find break.Signal engineer to go ahead with a fusee or lightbulb RR lantern.Stop train and replace knuckle. Then backup train and recouple train. Signal to go ahead slow and hope on caboose , with a HI Ball signal. E
+jasfromoz Most important is that the engineer/conductor gives you the signal that the train is safe, ie he has the brakes on and is not going to move (reverser in neutral), in this case you could hear him giving clearance over the radio. When the train line pressure was dropped enough by the conductor (brake handle in emergency) nothing should move when opening the cocks, so opening the cock from underneath in the same way as he had to reach for the hose should not impair a danger, or is there some risk I overlook? I ask because on British passenger stock the same couplers (buckeye) are used and we normaly reach under the drawbars to open the cocks in case of air brake stock, in the case of vacuum brakes there are no cocks, the unused hoses are shut of by putting them on dummies (and there is even less space because of the buffers and gangway conections, so we have to squat down underneath)
@@etwncengineer you're a moron if you carry a knuckle more than 10 or 15 car lengths. The way to do it is drop it off the engine, walk back, get your air to come back on the train, ride the rear car of the separated portion up to where the engine was. Grab the new knuckle, shove back to the rear of your train, replace it, put the train together, walk up. Or shove the whole train back depending where you Are.
etwncengineer How many knuckles and so on are on the locomotive, as I remember American trains are long, so there are a lot of knuckles which can break.
@@CDRSpock03 There are two basic types of knuckles: E and F types. They are NOT interchangeable. So, most locomotives will carry 2 spares, an E and an F. There are a lot more cars with E knuckles compared to the F type. F's are only used in "tight lock" couplers.
Yes but mostly only on rotary coal gons. And the reason for that is the during the dumping process, obviously the pins fall out. But those cotter pins are a pain to remove. Best to not put them where they aren't needed.
Doing this is a lot easier than working with remote controlled locomotives. The rcl box doesn't weight much but, when you have to lug it around for long periods of time day after day, it truly hurts your back. I'm just waiting to see some lawsuits in the future.
@@thomasdupee1440 UK has recommendations on max weights but they are not legal so bosses can demand workers lift heavier things. I regularly used to lift 160 pound steel blanks into lathe when I was making pipeline parts.
For my contemporaries who railroaded back in the stone age, try that when the knuckle breaks or the air hose bursts in the middle of nowhere at night and it's always in the middle of the train. NO communication like today. You lug that stuff back to the problem, repair it, and then use your lantern. Sometimes you had to get on top of a box car so the engineer could see you, especially on a curve, or, you relayed your signals to the conductor who had a radio, and he in turn relayed to the engineer. Broken knuckles or a burst air hose are still part of railroading, but at least the guy on the ground has communication with the engineer.
Easy or not, that'd be a miserable job on some cold, snowy night out in the middle of nowhere!
True but they earn a good amount of money
+b3j8 I would still do it
Do you have to go to Knuckle school to know how to change them? And once you graduate, are you officially a Knuckle head.
Dang! I didn't go to Knuckle School but I've been called a Knucklehead(among other things) all my life...! I wanna go to Knuckle School...!
As a conductor on the Chicago Northwestern we had some really good engineers we had some bad ones I remember one night it was foggy you couldn't see in front of your hand we had a bad engineer we broke in three places we had to go out there and change out the knuckles took us almost 4 hours I felt like Bella Lugosi was going to tap me on the back of the neck when you're in deep fog like that your mind plays a lot of tricks on you
Mr. Davenport is a great guy. Always glad to see him
He forgot his light on the car.
they suck to fix alone I do the pin last. I get the kuckle where I want it pull up on cut lever hoping the guts don't jump out and push the knuckle into place
Pin last is a good way to go.
I hate when i Meet Conductors that are mean and jerks...Great Video!
... and I can imagine that Conductor Davenport provided a VERY colorful narrative as well...
I bet that its real fun to do in the pouring rain with lightning popping all around and your working around all that steel.
Conductor Davenport did a excellent job!! Working Safely!! Good Job!!
Maybe he came back to do this but he did leave the airline valve close after joining the hoses..
ElfNet Gaming no, he got it. The battery was about to die on my camera so I turned it off so I wouldn’t loose my video. This was only the beginning of his problems for the night.
The flat on the left is ancient; it has poling pockets!
Camera wasn’t on he would have reached across that drawbar to cut that air in
That's a good lift for an old hand. That steel is not light.
He asked for 3step protection alittle late.
No he didn't. He asks for it right after he stretches the joint. The engineer says "drawing them down" they are likely on a hill im guessing. Once the brakes are set the engineer gives him the 3 step confirmation. He was fine here.
That looked easier than I suspected... Great Video.
Steven Michael .....agree
Air Presure ?????? in the end???? bad work
On a coal train on grade in middle of winter, goes into emergency,.Drop off knuckle off head end, walk train with air hose an a wrench to find break.Signal engineer to go ahead with a fusee or lightbulb RR lantern.Stop train and replace knuckle. Then backup train and recouple train. Signal to go ahead slow and hope on caboose , with a HI Ball signal.
E
Left Lantern on car .
He left the angle cock closed too.
+Jamie Sterling You're not allowed to reach across the drawbars or cross through cars without brake platforms or hand holds/stirrups.
+jasfromoz
Most important is that the engineer/conductor gives you the signal that the train is safe, ie he has the brakes on and is not going to move (reverser in neutral), in this case you could hear him giving clearance over the radio.
When the train line pressure was dropped enough by the conductor (brake handle in emergency) nothing should move when opening the cocks, so opening the cock from underneath in the same way as he had to reach for the hose should not impair a danger, or is there some risk I overlook?
I ask because on British passenger stock the same couplers (buckeye) are used and we normaly reach under the drawbars to open the cocks in case of air brake stock, in the case of vacuum brakes there are no cocks, the unused hoses are shut of by putting them on dummies (and there is even less space because of the buffers and gangway conections, so we have to squat down underneath)
Eileen has trouble with the English language by JUST A LITTLE BIT !!!!
do trains carry extra knuckles? how does the conductor carry it all the way back if it is a long train ?
Brian Stokes they do. They carry it unless someone gives them a ride or a shop truck is around
@@etwncengineer you're a moron if you carry a knuckle more than 10 or 15 car lengths.
The way to do it is drop it off the engine, walk back, get your air to come back on the train, ride the rear car of the separated portion up to where the engine was. Grab the new knuckle, shove back to the rear of your train, replace it, put the train together, walk up. Or shove the whole train back depending where you Are.
@@stuff_n_thanngs7552 Exactly.
In middle of winter on a grade, coal train goes into emergency, drop off headend
Hai from Indonesia
Are there replacement knuckles on every wagon?
Canis Lupus spares are kept on the locomotives
etwncengineer
How many knuckles and so on are on the locomotive, as I remember American trains are long, so there are a lot of knuckles which can break.
Canis Lupus usually just a couple on each engine. It’s not a common as you’d think
@@CDRSpock03 There are two basic types of knuckles: E and F types. They are NOT interchangeable. So, most locomotives will carry 2 spares, an E and an F. There are a lot more cars with E knuckles compared to the F type. F's are only used in "tight lock" couplers.
Lol gets 3 step after already being in the gauge
Cool!
He just needed some duct tape
Is there no split pin or something to retain the bolt?
Carl Napp 100
jim smith
Thanks!
Does these knuckles break a lot?
Only when they want to get on UA-cam.
Yes but mostly only on rotary coal gons. And the reason for that is the during the dumping process, obviously the pins fall out. But those cotter pins are a pain to remove. Best to not put them where they aren't needed.
Where can I get a job changing knuckles?
Couplers 'R' Us
How much does on of those things weigh?
Around 80lbs. Also depends on what type it takes.
How much does that part weigh? Thanks for sharing 👍
Alco Power the knuckles are around 50-90 pounds
You can see that he's had training and experience in how to lift the weight from the ground, using his legs instead of his back
80lbs.
oh my god
What is a 37Q?
It’s a train ID
He looks a little rusty to me.
That job isn't easy on your lower back.
Doing this is a lot easier than working with remote controlled locomotives. The rcl box doesn't weight much but, when you have to lug it around for long periods of time day after day, it truly hurts your back. I'm just waiting to see some lawsuits in the future.
BossSpringsteen69 True!
100
What does it take to work on the railroad? Do they ask me for a career or study to be a machinist or how can I work on trains?
Most RR hire through the internet these days. Go to their website and apply.
Health and Safety would fine the company a vast amount for making a man lift a weight like that!
Rose White that’s part of the job requirement.
Lol. What?
E type knuckles, such as the one he installed here, weigh about 72 pounds.
@@thomasdupee1440 UK has recommendations on max weights but they are not legal so bosses can demand workers lift heavier things.
I regularly used to lift 160 pound steel blanks into lathe when I was making pipeline parts.
@@rosewhite--- whew!
Gay.