Hi Tom, On the trains I ran we would pull up to the switch and let off the head brakeman. Then with flag protection to the rear, we would back the train up to a point where we could give the cars a start. We always chose a spot where the ruling grade was downhill and the cars would roll of their own accord past the switch. In fact, sometimes we would just uncouple the engine and run into the siding, then the conductor would release a hand brake on the draft of cars on the main, and they would drift past the switch. Instead of a "flying switch" this was called "dropping cars by." Or...making a drop. Always safer to drop the cars to the main, as the engine has more positive brakes. (as opposed to the hand brakes on the cars) You can always couple back to the cars and then spot them on the siding if needed. As far as "escape routes" go....the cab is a lot safer place to be than on the ground! A locomotive gives you some measure of protection. Some moves are just inherently dangerous too. Most of these moves are made at very slow speeds anyhow, and even if they were to derail, as soon as the wheels hit the ties....everything stops. Keith
> -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:sslivesteam- > [email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] > Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 3:25 PM > To: [email protected]; [email protected] > Subject: [SSLiveSteam] Fly Shunting > > > This old list is not as dormant as I had thought. > > ? > > I appreciate all the responses.? As the saying goes, I learn something new every day.? I now > know what fly shunting is and that it is not as ancient (outside of China) of a practice as I > had thought. > > ? > > One last and probably stupid question to consider.? Who on the train crew throws the > switch on a flying shunt and how does he get there before the train gets there?? Does he > need to be able to outrun the train to get to the switch in time?? In this clip, the flying shunt > was not done in a yard so it is unlikely the yard master.? I can probably guess what the > correct answer is but I expect one of you likely knows of a factual example. > > ? > > I also noticed nobody answered my previous question.? If the flying switch is not successful > causing the passing train to derail, what direction should the engine crew run (assuming the > siding length is limited preventing the crew from outrunning the pile-up by moving the > engine forward)?? In my line of business (offshore industry) identifying a primary and > alternative escape route is fundamental to any normal operation.? In this case, I am having > difficulty figuring out any good escape route.? Staying in the cab does not seem like a good > option to me. > > Tom Burns > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] > Sent: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 4:09 pm > Subject: Re: [SSLiveSteam] Shunting Steam in China > > > Clark, > > Sorry for the late response, I am catching up on old mail. > > When I viewed this clip, I asked myself if I?was the only one to?observe what I just saw > and had to respond. > > I believe the clip is showing something that constitutes a bit more than "shunting".? If I am > not mistaken, this appears to be a flying switch?around an entire train!? I have seen circa > 1950's historical footage of a flying switch being done to place a caboose on a siding, but > this is the first time I recall seeing a flying switch on an entire?heavilly loaded?train done > from what appears to be a siding?off a main line. > > Not only that, I do not ever recall seeing a locomotive after executing a flying switch, back > up and couple onto the rear of the moving train on the fly.??Note - this is a heavily loaded > train, continuing to move down the main line?and the entire thing is controlled with nothing > but hand brakes.? In the US, I believe such a situation only occurred in the 1800's. > > It is one thing to miss a flying switch and derail a caboose.? Can you imagine the mess > created if the switch is fowled by a rock?? Where would the crew of the stopped?locomotive > run to get out of the way of the big pile-up (assuming the siding is open ended and of > limited length)? > > Did I miss something here or is this really circa 1800's railroading being done today? > > Tom Burns > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Clark Lord <[email protected]> > To: Small Scale Live Steam List <[email protected]> > Sent: Wed, 24 Dec 2008 10:40 am > Subject: [SSLiveSteam] Shunting Steam in China > > > > Steam is alive and well in parts of China > > This video was taken last week. > > www.livesteaming.com/uploads/Video/xingyangclip03.wmv > > Clark > > Merry Christmas to all. > _______________________________________________ > SSLiveSteam mailing list > Send messages: [email protected] > Cancel subscription: http://postfix.45mm.com/mailman/listinfo/sslivesteam > Rules: http://www.45mm.com/sslivesteam_guide.html > > > > > A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! > > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: > http://postfix.45mm.com/pipermail/sslivesteam/attachments/20090126/3ff77a2f/ attachment. > html > _______________________________________________ > SSLiveSteam mailing list > Send messages: [email protected] > Cancel subscription: http://postfix.45mm.com/mailman/listinfo/sslivesteam > Rules: http://www.45mm.com/sslivesteam_guide.html _______________________________________________ SSLiveSteam mailing list Send messages: [email protected] Cancel subscription: http://postfix.45mm.com/mailman/listinfo/sslivesteam Rules: http://www.45mm.com/sslivesteam_guide.html
