HOW TO DRIVE A TRAIN! STEAM, DIESELS and Cool Trains PART 1.

www.djstrains.com
A RARE LOOK INSIDE AN ENGINE! Plus phenomenal steam and diesels and really cool trains!! Part 1 of 2.
music: Dusk by DivKid
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🕺🏻ABOUT DJ: DJ is a locomotive engineer for CSX Railroad since 1999. He has built dozens of layouts, gave presentations for model railroaders, is a KZbinr, licensed drone pilot, and a great father.

[@jamescraft672]

Now you understand why some of us model the Steam Era. Thanks for the tour.

[@lucky_cyclones1048]

Since I was 1, I’ve always been fascinated with trains. I’m 29 and I’m praying to get this job as a freight train conductor/engineer ❤

[@djstrains]

Best of luck!

[@iusetano]

In the olden days they put a weight on the deadman switch. I know of this first hand. Excellent video.

[@georgewilson1184]

It actually was a tool box the Engineer set on the pedal in Silver Streak

[@sparky107107]

first off.. I have to say it was great hanging out with you again. wow for a group that can just keep the laughs going and the good times showing. second. the training was terrific. If I wasn't so excited with the whole meet and greet of the weekend I might have learned something. lol. Thank you my friend

[@djstrains]

Maybe we'll complete your training in Canada? LOL

[@patpat-rp3lv]

Thank you DJ! I have some troubles driving mine (it is a huge and complex machine indeed), but now i understand. Thank you so much man!

[@rfpproductions1836]

Wow, very cool video, thanks for sharing!!

[@djstrains]

Thanks for the visit

[@rfpproductions1836]

@@djstrains Not a problem! Keep up the excellent work and have a great day!

[@kevinharris1392]

Cass is a nice ride,if you go on the trip to the top of the mountain it's about 6 hours up and back. Cass station was a C&O station with the track following the Greenbrier river. Numerous places to stay for overnight,I prefer the Omni Homestead in Hot Springs VA. The last and largest Shay ever built, Western Maryland no.6 Training tip number one on a Geep 30, watch your head while entering the cab. The door isn't as high compared to a Geep 38 or 40. Thank you for the video DJ.

[@djstrains]

GREAT INFO!! Thanks!!

[@Horse2021]

Thank you so much for showing so much of this equipment. Reminds me of why I love trains in the first place.

[@djstrains]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@conrailfan6277]

Man I miss that Conrail Blue!! Steam always has the look that it's moving a hundred miles an hour even when they were idling before a run!! I still have a VHS video called " When Giants Roamed" about the Big Boy and Challenger, awesome Documentary!!! Great Job DJ!!!

[@djstrains]

Sweet!!!

[@joelvale3887]

I've been at the B&O Museum it is a excellent place to visit.

[@RailsTailsandTrails]

Great videos man! keep it up!

[@djstrains]

Thanks! Will do!

[@joeraderblackrockcentralrr]

Great video work DJ. Really a pleasure meeting you Saturday.

[@djstrains]

SAME! That was such a great weekend. I laughed a lot!!

[@U_ever]

Excellent work !

[@stevemckeown4120]

Very cool

[@holkasmash]

You’ll love cass, there’s nothing like hearing a shay in real life.

[@djstrains]

Ya'll are making me so excited to go there!!!

[@alainaarrhodge5900]

YES!! FINALLY got to see you in the chair! Thank you for the video DJ!

[@djstrains]

Hope you enjoyed it!

[@seanpacificrailroad3700]

Fantastic video dj thank you 😀

[@djstrains]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@georgehasler142]

Dj great video and good information really enjoyed how you showed how you run a engine can't wait for part two looks like you are enjoying your vacation

[@djstrains]

Coming soon!

[@fstudent0198]

This is such an enjoyable video. Thank you for posting!

[@djstrains]

Glad you enjoyed it! I am really proud of it.

[@MrJohnB-qs6dp]

Thanks for that little tour. It was awesome!!! Just think what those steam engines did back in their day!!! Stay Safe & God Bless!!!

[@djstrains]

I was on a small steam engine once and I sweated so much I dehydrated and got delusional.

[@williambryant5946]

Awesome video. Very enjoyable and informative. 👍

[@djstrains]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dirkmontgomery5983]

Wow way too cool wow

[@Eric-sn4qz]

Holy crow. Love this museum. Folks live in Oxford and everytime we visit them we always hit this place. I take the kids they have a blast. Plus great trains shops to finish the day. Thanks for this vid.

[@LoCoMotiveTimeTravelersDNA]

Your killing these vids ! Love this footage and the coverage of the hobby store! Makes for an awesome short trip

[@djstrains]

I am really putting a lot of my heart into making the best videos I can. Lots of traveling lately and more to come!

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

Excellent video our friend, very cool!

[@djstrains]

Thank you very much!

[@kensbackshop6399]

Awesome video dj,,,,,sparky was in his glory in that conrail gp-30 he loves conrail

[@sparky107107]

oh ya baby. big blue all the way

[@mikehowey4869]

Nice job explaining the controls of the loco and what each does.

[@shiftintohigh5564]

Awesome👍👍😎🇺🇸

[@djstrains]

Thanks 👍

[@davebennett8434]

Hats off to strassburg railroad for giving us this amazing stuff!

[@andydundas2443]

Great video! I'm thinking "road trip" next summer. 👍

[@ottorosborough7589]

Great video as always. I’m just sorry I didn’t get to come and meet you. I love it there I have been going there for about thirty plus years. Look forward to your next one DJ. Stay well. Otto

[@grosseileracingteam]

Steam locomotive fans will enjoy the Henry Ford Museum (they have an Allegheny) and Greenfield Village in Dearborn Michigan. They have a pit in their roundhouse/shop and have 2 or 3 steam engines that pull passengers around the Village. You can also take a bus to the Dearborn Truck Plant and watch them build new F 150's. Very cool place.

[@djstrains]

I actually have that on a bucket list

[@grosseileracingteam]

@@djstrains You won't be disappointed. If you like pizza, there is a Buddy's Pizza very closeby on Michigan Ave. I grew up in the area. Did you know Henry Ford owned the DT&I for a while? He loved railroading.He had a private car called Fairlane.

[@talk2azs]

Hi DJ. This has got to be the best video you have ever put out! Thanks so much for sharing. Can't wait for Part II! I would love to plan a trip to come up from Atlanta, GA to the Cooltrains Hobby store in Pennsylvania. When my daughter was 5, we took her up to North Carolina to go see the Thomas the Train event. We were able to get on the caboose and ride up in the cupola. She definitely had the time of her life being able to stick her head out the window while riding up so high in the air. And being 20 now and in college, she still remembers that day today. Oh, and that trip was pretty cool for my wife and I also.

[@djstrains]

awe, what a great story!!!

[@bendugan465]

Hey DJ, great video. You’ve probably heard of train sim world, a game that I and a lot of railfans play but it would be cool to see an actual engineer play it (especially sand patch grade since you do freight and work for csx) and their reactions to how realistic it is or isn’t. Just an idea

[@michaelmoses8745]

Seconded. That would be an interesting livestream

[@djstrains]

I have a friend who messages me about it, but some stuff seems "incorrect" and I might smash it, lol.

[@thomasboese3793]

Try looking at Hyce - kzbin.info A real live steam locomotive engineer who also plays railroad sims. Warning! Not suitable for railroad nit-pickers. You will laugh a lot and learn (well, I did) even more. Check this out How to DRIVE a real STEAM TRAIN - First Person Engineer! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4ucpq19j7KHn7s 12,380 views May 21, 2022, In this video, we take a look at the first in-depth view of my recent trip to the @Colorado Railroad Museum. There's great camera shots of both what I see as the engineer, and what I am doing with the controls in the cab. I provide explanations along the way, and you can see how to operate 1899 steam locomotive Rio Grande Southern #20 along the way. Special thanks to the Colorado Railroad Museum for letting me come film my adventures out there, make sure you check out their channel!

[@michaelmoses8745]

@@djstrains well then. That's a piss test then.

[@bernardc2553]

Excellent DJ if you ever Come out West the Nevada Northern has EVERYTHING as it was built It's America's "Purest Original RailRoad .

[@kinnywolf2255]

Great video

[@djstrains]

Thank You so much, I have so many great ones on my channel and organized into PLAYLISTS

[@joelvale3887]

This hobby comes with three prices , one the price you pay for the product, two the price you tell your wife and three the price you pay when she finds out how much you really paid for it.

[@djstrains]

I just snorted while laughing

[@bunnyman6321]

😂😂

[@Theoreticalforever]

I’m dying

[@danwoodman5505]

That museum is the best.

[@djstrains]

Ill be there sept 10th

[@frankcadillac9151]

DJ when I was young my next door neighbor was an engineer on the Boston and Maine, he operated the last steamer before they dieselized. He said anyone that loves steam locomotives never worked on one, they are a cruel master and your never comfortable freeze in the winter and roast in the summer. Personally I like steam ran my sawmill with steam but eventually change over to diesel. Waking up in the middle of the night to stoke the boiler on cold nights gets old fast. Thanks for your information.

[@djstrains]

His line made me laugh!!!

[@garrett531]

0:58 " you have never seen before!" Thats not true. I live in Indiana, and I love trains so much that I was able to go there when I was 8 or 9 and unknowingly, I sat in the same seat as the best DJ ever!

[@tonyvtc3]

By the way love your videos great job thank you for sharing.

[@djstrains]

Thanks for watching!

[@coreytarducci36]

I miss Strasburg!

[@williamcoulston7788]

Loved going there

[@djstrains]

Cant see it all in one day.

[@robadams5799]

Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, I used to enjoy visiting the Illinois Railway Museum in Union. My favorite part was the Santa Fe 2903 4-8-4. GINORMOUS!

[@jamesnichols2188]

Great video thanks for sharing and always educate on old and new stuff

[@djstrains]

You bet

[@jamesnichols2188]

They realy do take care of their equipment have to check it out thanks again

[@jamesnichols2188]

Hey the only thing you didn't cover was mu-2a valve and cut out lolo but always great videos you share realy enjoy 😉 thanks be safe

[@jamesnichols2188]

I'll try and catch you on your train sometime I live right in clairton pa

[@djstrains]

@@jamesnichols2188 im on newell extra board. so go to glassport or Elizabeth

[@richardgivens2422]

@djstrains I'm a railfan and model railroader from South Texas. We did the ride on one of the Shays at the Cass Scenic RR several years ago. The first thing you will notice is the butter-smooth travel from a geared loco. No jerking and pulling from the standard drive rods. You would think you were riding an electric, if not for the smoke and cinders. You will love it.

[@djstrains]

Im gonna do it one day!!

[@railfankasey]

Visited this place way back in 2011 when I was 17. My uncle lives in Morgantown/twin valley area and it wasnt too far from there. Maybe some day I'll be there again

[@djstrains]

If you go, maybe I can meet you there!

[@confusedbakugo1373]

As a fan of trains and train simulators since I was a kid I geeked out so hard during this video. I also laughed so hard when you said no one really knows what Suppression does.

[@djstrains]

We use suppression to reset the air after a departure test using PTC. That would be a boring video though, lol

[@dennisnicholson952]

GG1s used to run through the town where I grew up every day when I was a young boy and up to about the 1980s until they were replaced by G.E. E-44s. They had a distinctive and quite loud horn so you knew when one was at the head end of a merchandise freight or a coal drag.

[@djstrains]

Would have been a sight to see and hear!

[@bobthomas4514]

Between the Cass and The Durbin Rocket you can find all three types of Timber locomotives. I rode the Durbin Rocket once. It was being pulled by a Climax Locomotive and when we got to the end of the line they stopped to allow everyone to walk around. I of course walked up front to get a look at the loco and asked if I could look around in the cab but said to watch the surfaces as they could be very hot. So I carefully climbed up and had a look around. I had thought about trying to get a cab ride but after seeing the size of the cab I realized there was no room for a third person. They probably would have said no anyway.

[@jeffbaker2897]

Fantastic place to visit, very interesting vid DJ👍, great ta see you at the controls of a GP-30, & explaining how to operate the unit👍, Our Club set up in the museum once ,it was 👍 great! our club enjoyed it a lot. Hey bud, another super vid, always enjoy it, take care & stay safe. 👋😎🛤🚂

[@djstrains]

More to come!

[@alfrednawrocki8061]

These logging locomotives are works of art !!

[@djstrains]

No doubt

[@gcorriveau6864]

First one I saw - at a glance while driving by a local Forestry Discovery Center - made me do a double-take! "Hey - a 4-0-4 steam locomotive?! Where are the drive wheels?"

[@cp368productions2]

Planning on going to Cass one day as well, I have been near there but never had the time to get there.

[@giarc0]

When I think train engineer, I think of this exact gentleman.

[@djstrains]

That was very kind. That meant a lot to me. Thank You.

[@jeffreymcconnell6794]

Great video, DJ! The lack of a knuckle on the logging loco is because it was set up for link and pin couplers. Not something I would ever want to deal with! Keep up the great work and stay safe out there.

[@djstrains]

Great point!

[@vmdairy]

Also, the boiler was not mounted level so that they could go up steep slope maintaining water level. Also why they often pushed rather than pulled.

[@djstrains]

@@vmdairy ahh thats killer info!!!

[@metronorthrailfan2244]

A lot of those GE and EMD diesel engines may be mechanically identical on the inside, but of course, it’s the cosmetics that set them apart. of course they do function the same way yes, but sometimes even the colors can make them stand out

[@nathandelay]

Very awesome video Dj it was an honor to meet you again how good did I do with the your camera for your video in the cab of the GP30s and I hope you have an awesome day DJ

[@djstrains]

You did great my friend, you did great!

[@RonMontagueSWRR]

Another great video. If I could drive any those engines, it would be the GG1 .

[@djstrains]

Can you believe how large that thing is? I kept walking backwards to try to get it in the shot, and you remember how big my camera is, lol!!

[@indiananotch8204]

wow! listening to you explain it all with the gp30,i try to incorporate it all on my layout with esu's drive hold feature.its a lot of fun to imulate the real thing. it looked like you and sparky were really enjoying yourselves. I would have loved to have been there:) maybe one day we'll make it.

[@djstrains]

Maybe a new location next year.

[@erikmcc804]

Hello DJ, this was an amazing video. If you visit the Missouri Dept of Transportation outside of St Louis. This place has some amazing old and new train, You think this is amazing, trust me it is.

[@kamala2111]

Great seeing you explain the engine controls and you can’t get fired 😂

[@djstrains]

:)

[@nomadsempirebuilder9461]

Shays are whats up lol!!!

[@djstrains]

Gearing is so wild to look at!! Pistons pumping too!!

[@jamesferrell3328]

On 26C brake equipment the suppression position is used to nullify any safety control, overspeed or train control brake application.

[@brandonlepley3793]

2233 took me for my first train ride on the West Shore RR.

[@misha2197]

I'm so old I remember Penn Central. Lol!

[@thomasboese3793]

That's 'young'... As a kid, I saw PRR boxcars, pulled by MILW steam.

[@bkauffman2010]

Great video!! Very cool to see the museum, and definitely makes me want to go visit. The hobby shop you stop at “Cool Trains”. Was there a nice a selection of N scale trains? I’m a n scaler and sometimes it hard to find a hobby shop with a decent selection

[@djstrains]

Although it is well stocked in O gauge, I did see some N Scale as well. Esthers Hobby in Millville (Pittsburgh) is still the largest N Scale store in Pa, if not America.

[@frankneher9192]

Cass Railroad is awesome you need to go.

[@djstrains]

possibly this summer

[@Eric-sn4qz]

Nice contrast of old and new. Plus they have Amtrak.

[@djstrains]

New video soon!

[@B-and-O-Operator-Fairmont]

Check out the New Tygart Flyer on the West Virginia Central / Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad. They have F7's and GP9's and even a BL2, WM 82. The 82 has an updated (for the 1960s or early 1970s) control stand, but the other units have the original control stands AND 24RL brakes! The NTF is not far from Cass (Elkins, WV) and runs over ex-Western Maryland track to the High Falls of Cheat.

[@RichardOlsonar15]

Wow...I don't model but this is the sort of browsing I love. I'm in NH, but my daughter lives in Harrisburg, so I'm in the area 3-4 times a year.

[@djstrains]

I'll be there in person giving a presentation September 10th if you can make it.

[@RichardOlsonar15]

@@djstrains Oh wow! I'll put it on my calendar!

[@Trentonpage]

I've been to.yhe Cass Seneca railroad alot. Including inside the sream locomotives while running.

[@anthonyway7175]

Check out English train store in Williamsport next time you're in the area

[@waynelyles9475]

Come to Spencer nc..we have a impressive display...nc trans museum.

[@djstrains]

on my list

[@takeoff_ltn4293]

something I want to do.

[@jimjohnston7688]

My grandfather was an engineer back in the days of steam. Sadly he passed away before I could get to talk to him about his experiences. One of my great regrets.

[@djstrains]

Sorry to hear that.

[@brix3298]

17:49 left you hanging lol

[@djstrains]

Lol, unscripted totally spontaneous. Very cool guy and very well stocked store.

[@GrandyDancer]

DJ: the Shay locomotive did not have a nuckle upfront because it was setup for the older link and pin couplers. Link and pin couplers survived on logging railroads after most railroads converted to the Janney couplers.

[@djstrains]

I had no idea!! wow!

[@brandonlepley3793]

If you're ever in central pa English's Model RR Supply is worth visiting in Montoursville. It's also the location of Bowser Manufacturing.

[@djstrains]

I like bowsers stuff!

[@Eric-sn4qz]

How about the Choo Choo barn? What a killer layout.

[@djstrains]

Lots of KZbinrs covered it that weekend! Great videos

[@JTTheRailfan]

I was a certified Norfolk Southern conductor for a few weeks so I had to go on a real railroads engines.

[@SMichaelDeHart]

DJ, have you ever came down to Cass, Pocahontas County, West Virginia and ridden behind the Shay Locomotives at the Cass Scenic Railroad!! It's a fantastic time!! *ps, heard your answer...but you need to come down.

[@djstrains]

Not yet!

[@SMichaelDeHart]

@@djstrains absolutely beautiful country...

[@delawarebeachboy]

Did you visit the Landisville railroad in Landisville? they repair covered hoppers and tank cars

[@djstrains]

no, I squeezed a lot into 30 hours

[@patp3177]

Great video, as usual. I have a dumb question for you though. I operated (40 years ago) an MP15AC switcher, probably the only engines produced with only 4 notches instead of 8. On that engine notch 1 was actually just an idle. It didn't actually move until notch 2 (we had 4 of these and they were all the same). On your big engine, is notch 1 movement or just an idle? Thanks and keep up the great videos.

[@djstrains]

1 will get us moving. That is wild about that MP15!

[@yrunaked4]

Great video and a Cameo by Sparky? They let anyone in this country anymore 🤣🤣

[@djstrains]

I know, right? Lol

[@faithtaylor7356]

Do you have a training video on MUing motors

[@djstrains]

Not really. A mention here and there but not a thorough video

[@geoffwilcock1519]

Was that an a Italian unit from the drone shot at the start? I never realised I’d got this geeky but it’s what I model 😀

[@djstrains]

New video soon!

[@landoncrowder9871]

There isn't a knuckle on the Shay because back when it was built, they used link a pins which were a simple but dangerous way of keeping rolling stock together

[@Idaho-Cowboy]

Back when a good brakeman often didn't have 10 fingers, proving they were experienced. Don't know if that is true but that's what the History Channel once told me.

[@djstrains]

ha

[@Kevin-gh4jz]

It make. Sense steam engines look very very steam punk like victorian era

[@treos17]

disclaimer, im an engineer too, trespassing approved.

[@djstrains]

Haha

[@IMRROcom]

5'5" sparky107107 said you were rounding up :)

[@djstrains]

not sure why you guys seem overly obsessed with something I have no control over, but hey, you do you.

[@IMRROcom]

@@djstrains I think you are taller than you are, I always thought you were over 6 foot. In fact I still think so. But all I know of you is video. I’m sure a lot of people think you are much taller.

[@djstrains]

@@IMRROcom does it even matter? I mean after 11 years on KZbin and nearly 400 videos giving a perspective that no one else can, and the amount of work to promote the hobby, and my height is the subject? Kinda lame. But somehow it always gets brought up..always.

[@thomasboese3793]

@@djstrains One of the best members at a club I belonged to was an AMTK engineer and stood a whopping 5' 4". His rail knowledge was unmatched by any four members.

[@TRAINSUP1]

👍

[@georgewilson1184]

I would like to hear your expertise observations On the Movie Unstoppable with Denzel Washington & Chris Pine

[@djstrains]

I had posted it on here, but KZbin flagged it. So I uploaded it to google drive and is on my patreon site. That was the only way I could get around the copyright issues.

[@georgewilson1184]

Ok 👌 got ya Thankyou

[@thomasfreeman7770]

One of my favorite adventures as a kid was a cab ride. My uncle was a dispatcher for Central Railroad of New Jersey. In 1967 he arranged for me to have a cab ride. We started in west Jersey somewhere. I forgot the exact location. We had 4 electro motive F 7s in a A,B,B,A mu configuration followed by 106 C and O open hoppers full of coal destined for a Jersey City yard and near by power plants. In a desolate section of track the engineer let me take the controls. I remember as we switched into the seat he told me to step on his foot over the dead man pedal and he said when he pulled his foot out “ you’ve got it”. A 12 year old freight engineer. A civilian cab ride and temporary engineer would never happen in today’s world.

[@djstrains]

Great memories

[@robertdarby7197]

Watching the replay now. A question, you drive or control and or operate an engine? Had a Amtrak engineer here in CA, tell me there is no steering wheel...Been a long debate!

[@djstrains]

I usually phrase it this way.."one banana=go, two bananas=stop". I'm just a monkey who moves levers.

[@ernestpassaro9663]

Great video

[@Fire21ccfd]

I've seen engineers who will throttle up the engine but the loco doesn't move. Is there an electrical "neutral" that allows this?

[@djstrains]

yes. older engines we use notch 4 to pump maximum air to cars, while staying in neutral/reverser centered.

[@doyourememberme2904]

Hello, Nice video. Something you many Not know is 90% of the Locomotives inside the Museum were collected and bought by one person over years of railfanning yeah Not a railroader but by a Railfan Family Friend of mine aka The Man the myth the Legend George Michener Hart which sadly passed in 2008. The E6 class 4-4-2 #460 my all time favorite Locomotive is the Fastest American Steam Locomotive Record Braker that raced a plane from DC to NYC in the 20's and was in NYC and 30mins before the plane. The GG-1 #4935 may in fact look Black but isn't Black as Pennsylvania never owned a black GG-1 is actually Pennsy Green do to its special tint looks black but is Green. 9:16 Not to step on toe's but in fact Not all Locomotives work the same as the time period as a GP30 which was built in the early 60's 3 great examples first the EL-C a electric diesel locomotive set-up and controls are way different, Second the UP "Union Pacific" or Early C&O "Chesapeake & Ohio" Turbine units were the only units to have 22 Notches of Throttle and used a Diesel Engine as a Yard movement when the Turbine wasn't in use, Thirdly Most GP or SD units at the time didn't have a separate Dynamic Brake Lever as it had its own Universal Lever and had a Locomotive Charger as it didn't have MU "Multi Unit" Connection plug. The Automatic Brake in Handle off is called Suppression is because you can actually can remove the Handle from the control stand as there is a cut in the top as indicated, why would you remove the Handle well back in the day it would have been removed a lot making sure the train didn't roll away as it acted like a Parking Brake for the ENTIRE train believed as it would help not knowing that at the time, more or less a Safety Guide but with better technology now a days we know that's a false when having Better brakes question Answered DJ, Hence the name "Handle Off" as you could remove the handle. Something most people don't know is that American Railroad Locomotive Horn blows are in FACT "Morse Code" as a Long blow is indicated as 0 and a Shot is _ so at a crossing gate the horn blow looks like this 00_0 what does the Code mean well "Stop Look and Listen" most people seen that on signs that what that means. And yes 2 different locomotives miles away from each other can use horn blows to talk to one another as long as you know you Morse Code signs but with Radio technology now a days know one does so.

[@4444pro]

My son loves Trains Can he get a ride on a diesel train?

[@djstrains]

Only on a tourist railroad. There has been no non employees allowed on our engines since 9/11

[@4444pro]

@@djstrains check my Sons page he is such a fanatic fir Trains

[@mic8040]

Hey Dj I have a question, I have seen some engineers play with the independant lever up and down and to the side ( in a desktop control locomotive ). What does it do?

[@djstrains]

That is the engine brakes (brake pad to metal wheel). Does not control air to cars, thats the Automatic.

[@H3avyHaul3r]

“bailing off” is the term for depressing the independent brake….to stop the locomotive brakes from coming on… so when you apply the automatic or train brake as some RR call it, it applies the brakes to all cars on your train as well as the locomotive brakes…you have to depress the independent brake to stop the application from coming on to your locomotives brakes which are more aggressive than car brakes… if you don’t bail off, this will cause the cars to “run in” and give your locos a “hit up”…. this is also used in conjunction with power braking….ie. keep power on (1-5 notches depending on loco type) to keep the train stretched…. driving a train isn’t about pulling on notches, there’s a science to it….

[@anthonycedar7]

@@H3avyHaul3r Beautiful explanation. People who aren’t railroaders don’t realize how much goes into operating a train. The slack is definitely the most important thing to control. The train is constantly stretching and bunching with the terrain. It gets really bad when the terrain becomes hilly and undulating. You’ll have some parts of the train bunched up and other parts stretched. That is a dangerous combo and often leads to violent runouts. At BNSF they don’t say “bailing off”, they call it “actuating”. It’s so important to actuate whenever the automatic is applied, especially when the train goes into emergency, otherwise the cars will ram into the motor (it’s a horrible feeling haha!)

[@anthonycedar7]

@@H3avyHaul3r It’s sad that CSXT doesn’t allowed stretch breaking anymore; to them it’s not ‘fuel efficient’. BNSF allows power breaking from notch 1 to 4, and UP allows it up to notch 6. I definitely prefer to stretch then using the dynamics. Much smoother.

[@jabyrdlip]

Perhaps an obvious question : when you are on the main, maintaining what every speed you must maintain, how do you maintain a constant speed when notch A is too slow and A+1 is too fast? Or is my assumption that notches are fixed and there is no between-the-notch setting. Thanks

[@djstrains]

great question. Its called "Throttle modulation" and its just that, a constant messing with the throttle to try to keep speed consistent. Knowing your grades and terrain is also vital.

[@thomasboese3793]

Stand railside near the start or end of a grade, you will hear the loco(s) notch up/down as needed to keep speed. I live near a Jct. between the WSOR and CN. CN just hits the turnout at speed and the WSOR needs to notch down before it does because of a tight curve they have leading to the turnout.