Week 3

Hey everyone, three weeks down, three weeks to go here in Atlanta.  This past week was a busy one for us, it being our first full week outside. 

On Monday, we took our week 2 test, and followed it up with some classroom time.  At one point, we went over to the "Shed" where they had a visible set up of the brake systems we use on trains. 

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday began a series of outdoor practicals for us.  We learned the proper way to climb across a box car and a tank car, and how to set the hand brakes.

After that, we learned the proper way to operate a derail.

 A derail is a safety device that prevents cars from rolling into a track where work is being done between cars.  It allows for the car that runs over it to safely derail from the track, hence the name. 

After climbing across the cars, and playing with the derail, we also learned how to change out a knuckle, which is the metal locking portion on the end of rail cars that connect to each other.

They can weigh anywhere between 79 and 85 pounds, and they feel every bit of that. 

Following the knuckle change, we learned the process for changing out the End-of-Train Device or EOT.

This one here is similar to the style that we use.  The EOT is a telemetry device that sends information up to the cab of the locomotive about what the back of the train is doing.  These came into use after the caboose was no longer being used on most freight trains.  The process for changing these out is similar to the Hokey Pokey, because you are constantly changing the position of your feet in relation to the tracks, putting your right foot in for some things, and then taking it out to put your left foot in... (you're singing the song in your head right now, aren't you?) While there isn't an established rule that governs changing out the EOTs, our instructors insisted that these were the best practices "ergonomically" and that if we followed them we were rehearsing for "safety success",  (although, I felt more inclined to say I was rehearsing for a children's dance show, but I digress). 

 We wrapped the practicals with learning how to couple and uncouple air hoses for the brake system,

and the proper way to use a brake stick:

Brake sticks can be used for a variety of tasks related to my job, and provide a safe way to operate around cars without fouling a train (fouling is just a fancy way of saying going in between the train cars). 

On Thursday evening the dream came alive.  After we finished up our practicals we got to throw hand signals while riding on the ladders of moving train cars.  With our trusty CSX approved lanterns in hand,

we made our way out to the darkest corners of the yard prepared to throw the most exaggerated hand signals we could.

We rode back and forth up the track 3 times, once from an autorack car, once from a hopper, and then once from the engine, facing and hanging both directions of the movement.  It was a lot of fun, but the initial jerk of the engine takes a little bit of getting used to. (and for the record, I totally imagined I was Nathan Drake while I was doing it).

After all the fun on Thursday, it was time to buckle down and study.  Friday, we had our midterm exam, an exam that sends some people home.  My class did pretty well overall, and everyone gets to stay for another week. Afterwards, we spent the rest of the evening coupling and uncoupling cars.

That was my week, and it was pretty exciting.  A side note here, we aren't allowed to have cameras at school, so I can't take any pictures of what my actual class is doing. Sorry about that.  I try to find pictures scattered around the internet that can show you the kinds of things we're doing, that can help explain what things are that I mention, and that can make this a little more enjoyable to read. I should be all caught up now, I hope you all have an enjoyable rest of the week!