As an actual shortline conductor, I like watching these videos, figuring out how I would make the moves, and then seeing how it actually plays out. I’ve gotten close and spot on these last 2 videos!
Likewise, but I've mostly worked in passenger service so I always forget the trick of coupling cars on both ends of your power (in real life and when watching these videos). The real-world experience that most model railroaders miss is thinking about where the conductor and brakemen need to be, and minimizing walking!
I get that. Sometimes it's fun working with a 'really good' conductor. Just little things like lining a switch in advance or tying a hand brake down or closing an angle cock can save so many steps.
@@cdavid8139 *Just little things like lining a switch in advance or tying a hand brake down or closing an angle cock can save so many steps.* little things if you don't forget to do them... but they turn into *HUGE GIANT* things when you forget to do them... like on a runaround move... forgetting to line the switch is a really big oops...(made worse if you then run through it)... or my personal fav on a runaround move... forgetting to close the angle cock... forgetting to close the angle cock running around 3 cars, not bad... forgetting to turn the angle cock running around 83 cars, BAD
@@25mfd LOL. Yep. Well said. Had an interchange partner that purposefully would not close the angle cocks and we always had to walk the train at a very awkward location. (Union issue). We finally talked to them and the problem went away.
Watched this move on another UA-cam channel. Your knowledge and professionalism is superior to most. You are a true railroad icon to us rail- fans, at least to me. Thanks for posting this!
These switching exercises are my favorite RR videos. You have done an excellent job. The footage is good. The narration is clear. The graphics are spot on. My only wish for is more of these videos and perhaps some drone views of the action. I host a monthly operating session on my Gopher Canyon Line garden RR. These have some switching challenges that the operators either enjoy or hate. I sent the links of your three switching videos to my crew. I am sure they will enjoy them. Many thanks for these videos and the work you put into them.
Thank you for another switching video! Thise video of switching at Pembine, Wisconsin on the Escanaba & Lake Superior Railroad was a little more complicated than your other switching videos. (Posted 2 October 2024 at 1548 CDT.)
The crew had to do a bit of walking but all things considered it worked out okay. Surprisingly and a good thing too that they did not have the usual group of gondolas or granule cars fromCN sitting there. This would have been an interesting place to see years ago when the SOO & MILW Interchanged here to just see how many cars would pass through on a given day
Some sidings were torn out when the the Milwaukee Road left town. I wonder if they had these switching maneuvers in mind with what they left or is it pure chance?
@@benbookworm Agreed. Early in my career when I was young and lanky I spent some time on track. I had to throw myself hard into the job to keep the veterans from giving me too much s***t. Over the years during emergencies I had to swing a spike or shovel ballast and it certainly renews your appreciation for the effort it takes.
James Hagen the former CEO of Conrail said in an interview that when he worked for the government and they were setting up Conrail that one of the guys on the group was a trucking guy and that man said “just set this thing up (Conrail) so it hauls the coal and iron ore and the trucks can handle and get the rest.
@@M22OHIO Living here in Wisconsin, I always found it odd that the highways are filled with trucks hauling various goods. This was a state with an extensive rail network in the day. With all the jobs that the trucking industry provide, one could almost claim that there is a government conspiracy at hand. Since I don’t believe in UFOs, market forces must be at hand.
I know it has nothing to do with you, or the operating crew(s) who run trains, but it pisses me off to no end that there just isn't any money for simple weed control. Of course, not everyone believes in spreading chemicals to combat unwanted vegetation, well go buy a steam machine. Plants do not stand up well to scaling steam. Yeah, I know, huge mobile steam kettles can get expensive to buy and operate, well, on the upside, the water is usually free, or close to it.
@@killerbee6310 Weed control is far from simple. Roundup (and its competitors in herbicide) is expensive. Let's don't call the owner's cheap when many are struggling just to buy fuel and pay wages. Are you really 'pissed off to no end' because a struggling railroad trying to stay in business cannon afford weedspray?
As an actual shortline conductor, I like watching these videos, figuring out how I would make the moves, and then seeing how it actually plays out. I’ve gotten close and spot on these last 2 videos!
LOL-so funny. Glad to hear you are enjoying them. The ELS guys are experts at making do with little.
Likewise, but I've mostly worked in passenger service so I always forget the trick of coupling cars on both ends of your power (in real life and when watching these videos). The real-world experience that most model railroaders miss is thinking about where the conductor and brakemen need to be, and minimizing walking!
I get that. Sometimes it's fun working with a 'really good' conductor. Just little things like lining a switch in advance or tying a hand brake down or closing an angle cock can save so many steps.
@@cdavid8139
*Just little things like lining a switch in advance or tying a hand brake down or closing an angle cock can save so many steps.*
little things if you don't forget to do them...
but they turn into *HUGE GIANT* things when you forget to do them...
like on a runaround move... forgetting to line the switch is a really big oops...(made worse if you then run through it)...
or my personal fav on a runaround move... forgetting to close the angle cock... forgetting to close the angle cock running around 3 cars, not bad... forgetting to turn the angle cock running around 83 cars, BAD
@@25mfd LOL. Yep. Well said. Had an interchange partner that purposefully would not close the angle cocks and we always had to walk the train at a very awkward location. (Union issue). We finally talked to them and the problem went away.
Watched this move on another UA-cam channel. Your knowledge and professionalism is superior to most. You are a true railroad icon to us rail- fans, at least to me. Thanks for posting this!
Well thank you Mr Kazoo...I appreciate it. Glad my efforts are recognized.
These switching exercises are my favorite RR videos. You have done an excellent job. The footage is good. The narration is clear. The graphics are spot on. My only wish for is more of these videos and perhaps some drone views of the action. I host a monthly operating session on my Gopher Canyon Line garden RR. These have some switching challenges that the operators either enjoy or hate. I sent the links of your three switching videos to my crew. I am sure they will enjoy them. Many thanks for these videos and the work you put into them.
Hey, thanks a lot for the comments - greatly appreciate you taking the time. It was fun putting these together - albeit for a small audience....
Close to home!Thank you for another wonderful video....!
Glad to accomodate.
Thank you for another switching video! Thise video of switching at Pembine, Wisconsin on the Escanaba & Lake Superior Railroad was a little more complicated than your other switching videos. (Posted 2 October 2024 at 1548 CDT.)
Just take things one step at a time....
Love these vids. Thanks for sharing!!
And thank you for commenting !!
The crew had to do a bit of walking but all things considered it worked out okay. Surprisingly and a good thing too that they did not have the usual group of gondolas or granule cars fromCN sitting there. This would have been an interesting place to see years ago when the SOO & MILW Interchanged here to just see how many cars would pass through on a given day
I was wondering how they would have accomplished it if their train had been longer and it all would not have fit in the wye.
Some sidings were torn out when the the Milwaukee Road left town. I wonder if they had these switching maneuvers in mind with what they left or is it pure chance?
Probably pure chance and bad luck.
Great video. Have these lesser used lines always been in such rough shape? It’s disturbing to see tracks and equipment looking so desperate. Thanks!
Their condition ebbs and flows depending on when they last benefitted from state funded rehabs.
@@killerbee6310 If they ever did (or do). Lots of short lines out there (and Class I roads) going after very limited taxpayer dollars
MOW never gets the love it deserves.
@@benbookworm Agreed. Early in my career when I was young and lanky I spent some time on track. I had to throw myself hard into the job to keep the veterans from giving me too much s***t. Over the years during emergencies I had to swing a spike or shovel ballast and it certainly renews your appreciation for the effort it takes.
Why the locomotive swap between the trains? Perhaps repair parts for the SD9 only available at the terminal?
For whatever reason they want to keep the SD9 on the west (north) end.
Didn't know they still used their SD9s on road trains!
The 1221 has been used for awhile while one of the other units is being worked on.
A real railroad would just make it as hard as possible to do business with them and let the customer switch over to trucks.
Sometimes you do get that impression....
James Hagen the former CEO of Conrail said in an interview that when he worked for the government and they were setting up Conrail that one of the guys on the group was a trucking guy and that man said “just set this thing up (Conrail) so it hauls the coal and iron ore and the trucks can handle and get the rest.
@@M22OHIO Living here in Wisconsin, I always found it odd that the highways are filled with trucks hauling various goods. This was a state with an extensive rail network in the day. With all the jobs that the trucking industry provide, one could almost claim that there is a government conspiracy at hand. Since I don’t believe in UFOs, market forces must be at hand.
I know it has nothing to do with you, or the operating crew(s) who run trains, but it pisses me off to no end that there just isn't any money for simple weed control. Of course, not everyone believes in spreading chemicals to combat unwanted vegetation, well go buy a steam machine. Plants do not stand up well to scaling steam. Yeah, I know, huge mobile steam kettles can get expensive to buy and operate, well, on the upside, the water is usually free, or close to it.
The railroads at one time in the early 70s used agent orange .
Or, some owners are just cheap.
@@killerbee6310 Weed control is far from simple. Roundup (and its competitors in herbicide) is expensive. Let's don't call the owner's cheap when many are struggling just to buy fuel and pay wages. Are you really 'pissed off to no end' because a struggling railroad trying to stay in business cannon afford weedspray?
@@Go_for_it652 So did power lines, farms, large land owners. It wasn't uncommon
Wow this is an absolute mess
But...they make it work. They are experts of making do with little.