Railcar Coupler Slack Action, plus Shelf Couplers

[@littlewingpsc27]

These videos are absolutely great. I have not seen anywhere else where time is spent showing this level of detail. Thanks for posting!!!

[@ccrx6700]

Littlewingpsc27, thank you for the nice comment, very much appreciated

[@crackerjack4833]

The only other place I seen this level of detail was Mike Rowe's Dirty Jobs 🤣 I mean that as a compliment

[@ccrx6700]

@@crackerjack4833 Lol, thanks, used to love to watch Dirty Jobs! Great show

[@brennenseibert6708]

@@ccrx6700 the spitter valve is so the air. Resavuar doesnt explode

[@ericsikma4764]

Second the motion. Just saw the on locomotive turntables as well. A big irony on those: On one hand, there's the cost to build for "only one function" but on the other hand, without one a RR company is is left scratching heads and asking the, "OK...NOW what???" question. Vital construction there. Hehe! On THIS one...spent literally YEARS listening to that "slack action-to-draft" metallic noise. Makes COMPLETE sense now. Heard a comment elsewhere a while ago about how, over the course of an entire train, just in the act of hooking up the train can "grow" by MANY inches. That all makes complete sense now as well. Cool stuff!

[@coloradostrong]

Oh, and to answer you question on the shelf couplers: All hazardous material cars must be equipped with couplers having top and bottom shelves projecting from head end front faces. The purpose of the shelves is to prevent vertical coupler disengagement during train derailment and thereby minimize the potential for tank car shell puncture. Thanks.

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you for your information, well received.

[@erict5234]

Fantastic breakdown on the shelf/ double shelf couplers... We use type H tightlock couplers for passenger cars, which is an enhanced version of what tank cars use... For those who didn't know, the industry standard for tank car couplers changed after the 1974 Decatur, IL train accident. A Norfolk and Western switch engine was switching cars in the yard and a coupler bypassed during a joint, jumped up and punctured a tank car carrying some sort of flammable gas... the gas carried across the yard until it found an ignition source and exploded... Blew up half the town. -Every rule is written in blood, and railroad safety usually only comes after a serious accident!

[@ccrx6700]

Eric, thank you for great comment! Really appreciate when fellow railroaders add information like you have provided, i learned some things too. Excellent addition to this video! You are right bout rr safety. Thank you again sir.

[@OregonCrow]

It didn't blow up half the town, lol what the heck? It was in a railyard, way far from town, didn't even damage homes that were a football field away, just a big ole fire ball in the sky basically.

[@erict5234]

@@OregonCrow my wifes family lived in Decatur and had broken windows from the blast... they live almost 1mile from the yard, so yeah... there was wide-spread damage, look it up!

[@coloradostrong]

Between watching this and learning about shelf couplers and watching Hobo Shoestring on here, I am getting some good insight. He taught me that the rail has the year it was made stamped on it, and you can tell if a car is loaded by being able to slide your fingers in the springs up to your knuckles. If it is loaded you can barely slide your fingers in. Propane tanks sit on the side of the track, by the switches, to heat the switch in the winter, and the brake line air valve will be closed on the end of the consist that would normally hold the caboose when trying to figure which end of the cars the engine will couple to. The closed air valve end will receive the FRED or EOT device. They air the lines up to 90 PSI before the train can move, always step over the rail not on it as you can slide on the rail and a train can be on you in a second, and more good stuff. He is an actual professional hobo, LOL.

[@joemc111]

Nice show Dave, not to many people have a full size train set to play with.

[@ccrx6700]

Glad you enjoyed, and yep sure is nice of the company to spend all that money so I can play with big boy trains.... LOL Full size train sets mean full size expenses too. Thanks for writing in and watching today my friend.

[@ChrisBuss77]

This is the second video I've watched and I'm addicted to your kind and thoughtful explanations - Back in the early part of the last century my great uncle was seriously injured working on the railroad - I never got the whole story so I'm not sure exactly what happened but I think it was the result of the slack action noted in this video - He worked for either New York New Haven and Hartford or The Providence and Worcester - Sadly he was gone by the time I was born in the 1960's but the wonderful stories about him are a treasure in the family to this day - It's really wonderful to see things as he might have, many long years ago.

[@25mfd]

do you have ay pics of your uncle at work? that would be pretty cool to see

[@ChrisBuss77]

@@25mfd - Boy I wish I did!

[@espeescotty]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I've always been fascinated by the couplers and the slack action and always enjoy seeing them in action. Whenever I watch trains with DPU's, I always look for the cars ahead of the DPU that have long travel draft gear like autoracks, center beam cars, and some boxcars to see when they are fully pushed in to know the point where the trains cars transition from being pulled to being pushed. Plus I just like seeing the couplers in action from above like when riding the train. Like I said, endlessly fascinating to me.

[@benjavr6]

I love the "slack" sounds to go and stop. And the detailed record about the couplers. Everything on the video it's perfect. Unfortunately I don't speak english perfect and I only understand some things. But the point it's very clear. Thanks for share this material and regards from Mexico City

[@ccrx6700]

You are welcome Benjamin, really do thank you for the nice comment and for watching

[@sc1784]

Wonderful and informative material. We railfans are lucky to have you explaining the nuts and bolts of railroading. Many thanks.

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you for the very nice comment SC17, it is much appreciated and glad you are enjoying the home movies

[@arlynsmith9196]

I stumbled upon your channel and am absolutely hooked!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to make these. Your explanations are terrific.

[@dd1862]

I just stumbled upon these videos and I'm hooked! These are great. Everything you wanted to know about railroads.

[@ccrx-xu1wc]

Thank you sir, really glad you are enjoying. Stay tuned, got a lot more planned to come out this coming year. I'm really lucky can do these, have worked track maintenance here full time for the past 18 years, and part time on track since 1977. Not a lot of other vids out there that show what all goes on behind the scenes or running a railroad and am glad that I can share some or our experiences with you

[@randysmitchell4810]

This is almost like an 'out-of-body' experience - up close & personal - while the train is moving - WOW!

[@ccrx6700]

Glad you enjoyed the show Randy, thanks for watching

[@Garcansdad]

There is something fascinating about all the sounds rail cars make.

[@ccrx6700]

👍👍👍

[@P61guy61]

I really learned a lot on this one. Thanks for the video.

[@ccrx6700]

William, thank you, appreciate your nice comment

[@NiceMuslimLady]

Remote control locomotives, electrically operated switches? You're just working on a GIANT scale model railroad!

[@daniellewis1789]

1:1 scale.

[@realvanman1]

12 inches to the foot scale!

[@alexhajnal107]

He did a video back in April where he showed the cork that they've got under the ballast.

[@iamdarb]

Keep the good content coming. Enjoy the behind the scenes stuff.

[@ccrx6700]

Iamdarb, thank you for the nice comment, glad you enjoyed watching

[@davidchristensen6908]

Wonderful videos. I just found you on recommendation video on KZbin. Thank you to the company you work for huge respect they let you do the videos.

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you David, yes sir we are very fortunate that I can do these, they come with some stipulations for me but they are so far okay with it. Yes indeedy hats off to my supervisors for allowing me. Thanks for watching

[@michael7423]

I love learning about things like this, I would love to know more about the shelf couplers and how they work ( what does the shelf do ?) I also look forward to your switch video’s! New subscriber here, thanks for all the extra work you do putting these video’s together. Please stay safe and keep well!

[@ccrx6700]

Michael, thank you very much, really glad you enjoy watching, stay tuned, lot more to come this year.

[@ccrx6700]

The shelf helps in keeping couplers coupled in case of a truck set getting off track. Only a few of our cars have them. They are FRA required for all placarded tank cars.

[@rojo340s]

Also in case of a broken draw bar, the shelf helps hold together the parts from dropping onto the roadbed and causing a derailment.

[@douglassopa2544]

thanks to all you guys for giving us that good info. love the blue work horse loco from 1975,

[@daveogarf]

Thank You, ccrx 6700! I always learn something new from your vids.

[@ccrx6700]

Your welcome, glad you are enjoying! Appreciate your watching

[@clarklindquist8137]

Great video Dave. I always learn something from ya. God bless brother...

[@ccrx6700]

Appreciate the nice comment Clark and glad you liked this one. Thank you for taking time to visit with us and check out the coupler action video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@twinturbohenry]

Fascinating video! I just can't get enough. My new favorite channel. subd

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you and welcome to our community, we are glad to have you with us and hope you will continue to enjoy. Here is an introduction video to get you a feel for what all we do here at the Railroad and a bit about our mine: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYDYmGOwaJlkZ5o Lot's of cool RR videos on our home page if you would sometime care to check any of them out. kzbin.info

[@johnnemery545]

Thanks for the info. The first time I experienced slack action was when I was 12 years old. I was in a parking lot with Dad next to the tracks with a train stopped at the order light. Dad warned me to back away from the train, I was very close and I thought I was invincible. About 30 seconds later the train must have received it's orders and the driver had a hot dinner date. All those cars lurched at once and scared me to death. I jumped and Dad started laughing. "I warned you" was all he said.

[@ccrx6700]

Your welcome Johnn, do appreciate your writing in with the nice story and for watching the video my good man.

[@ededmonds8792]

The Locomotive repair looks GREAT.

[@ccrx6700]

The guys did a remarkable job and she is feeling much better now

[@krisztiantkacs]

That was interesting to see. In Europe we have very different couplers. Thanks!

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you and we do appreciate your tuning in and checking out the show today my friend. I've seen those couplers and they are pretty neat.

[@krisztiantkacs]

@@ccrx6700 yes they are neat. They do the same job but in a different environment. And both work very well for what they are designed for. I always wanted to ask. Electric locomotives are a thing in the US?

[@stretchlimo7275]

Excellent video, very informative, thanks for posting 👍🏼😎

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed watching

[@thomasaley8839]

Thank you your videos are full of information educational thank you rail fan Tommy

[@ccrx6700]

Your quite welcome Tommy. Really pleased to hear you are having a good time with us. Thank you for taking the time to watch them and write in my friend.

[@crackerjack4833]

I want to watch a vlog of your typical work day ... like what you do throughout your day at any particular assignment. I know you've done similar but ... take your assignment today for example. I'd love to watch a vlog about all you gotta do on this assignment. That would be awesome!!! 😁😁

[@chrisfrank6449]

Excellent videos!

[@ccrx6700]

Chris, why thank you very much, really nice comment much appreciated and glad you are enjoying

[@jetmech9287]

Did not realize how much action there was in those couplers. I'd like to know how much movement and slack takes place while the train is in transit.

[@ccrx6700]

A good engineer tries to keep couplers either bunched or slack out, depends on the grade, a lot of slack action is not a good thing at high speeds. Thanks for watching

[@jdavis460]

Strange how the terminology is different for the thing on different sides of the pond. The couplings are “buckeyes” in the uk and switches are called “points”. Very interesting to learn about the U.S railways (railroads in American) look forward to seeing some more. From a UK train driver 45 years on the front.

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Brian, yes it is interesting to learn different terms, I have never heard the term buckeye before, thanks for sharing your knowledge with us, I love to learn new things like that.

[@seanjeffery1846]

In Australia we call them knuckle couplers

[@RafaelGuadalupe-b5u]

0:36 0:22 2:56 *coupler stretching of the draft key and slack action*

[@ccrx6700]

These couplers and draft gears do take a beating Rafael don't they. Really appreciate your taking the time to watch and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@RafaelGuadalupe-b5u]

@@ccrx6700 oh but the draw gear and make a video how it works i love draw gear

[@davejustice7464]

Great videos they also have different grade of Steel on the couplers

[@ccrx6700]

Dave, thank you, you are correct in different grades steel for couplers. You might also enjoy vid I made on Draft Gears. Thank you for watching

[@MRR_Shadowolf]

Interesting video! Learned a lot!

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you for the kind words schadowolf. Nice to hear you liked the video. Appreciate your taking the time to drop by and check out the presentation my friend.

[@csxchicagoline5523]

That’s a really cool video! Thanks for sharing!

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you, amazing to me more couplers an draft gears dont get broken, glad you enjoyed

[@dennisb-trains23]

Awesome action 🎬 👏. No wonder those couplers break and the train goes into EMERGENCY. I kept waiting for one to bust in this video. I love your videos.

[@neilcrawford8303]

Interesting video. What's the purpose of so much slack? It's not like the pocket has springs inside to absorb some of the load shock. In the UK some of our electric multiple units / EMUs use Tightlock couplings. It's a knuckle design with a wedge shape key cast on one side and a corresponding pocket on the other. When coupled the wedge fits in thd opposite coupling's pocket and it performs a similar function to your shelf couplings. We have many coupling types in the UK it's ridiculous as they often need special adapters to couple two trains in an emergency. We have the link and buffers, drop down buckeye, Dellner, the German made BSI, tightlock. Add to that the various control systems that mean even some trains from the same manufacturer can't work together except for emergency recovery of a failed unit. Some locomotives, classes 59s, 66s, 67s, 70s, some 68s and some 73s, use the same AAR system you have in the States.

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you for the interesting comment. There so much slack cause couplers are wore out! They do have draft gears behind coupler shank, check out vid i made earlier this year on draft gears, and thanks for watching!

[@TheNemosdaddy]

Umm yes, there is a device, called a draft gear or some cars with EF, long shank couplers, have an End of car cushion unit. Draft gear is a rectangular cast steel device with either springs and a wedge system inside it or a rubber type draft gear. The slack is there so nothing breaks. If you had a solid system you'd never get anywhere and would be constantly breaking parts. The slack is what allows the couplers to be able to move and pivot a bit so that cars can transverse curves also. It's much more pronounced on an E69 long shank EF type coupler system.

[@trainmann111]

I JUST was wondering like two days ago what those larger couplers were called and what their purpose was. Great video!

[@davewallace8219]

can't get enuff on the nuts and bolts of railroading.. thanks dave!

[@ccrx6700]

That's good to hear Dave. Gonna have a whole lot more videos coming out this winter and thru next years. We really appreciate all your great support and comments my friend.

[@jasonlane8739]

nice video. the location of trinity industries was at greenville pa and it just a big empty lot.

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Jason for the nice comment. Appreciate your taking the time to visit and check out the video my friend.

[@yardlimit8695]

nice video...........when you make one on turnouts please give info on the lengths of the various turnouts and how they are measured and the speeds that are allowed on different turnouts........etc...thanks, this was a good one....

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed

[@Boilermaker-Rick]

Another awesome video

[@bluegrassman3040]

Living next to the tracks in western Kentucky, I hear these sounds often. Many times the slack sounds like they just derailed, as they are going down the track.

[@ccrx6700]

Awesome, gotta love all the diffetent sounds a train makes, all the different pitches and bangs. I,m lucky get hear them everyday. Thank you for watching sir

[@ededmonds8792]

Great Channel.

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Ed, great to hear you are liking what you see sir! I appreciate the nice comment

[@DarkVoidIII]

It was hard to hear your voice over the noise of the railcars, the top air line was for the doors to open and close them, right?

[@ccrx6700]

Yes sir, you are correct

[@alandaters8547]

@@ccrx6700 Thanks for the clarification. I had been wondering what powered the hopper doors.

[@ccrx6700]

@@alandaters8547 Alan, you are welcome, might want to watch Bad Order Hopper Cars, I give you a much more detailed analysis of how the doors open/close. Thank you for watching kzbin.info/www/bejne/l2GuaYJmmtOsgZI

[@chemistryinstruments7156]

I had a thought about the brake airlines with the gladhand coupling, why didn't the railroad engineers make a better design that eliminates having to reach between the cars to reconnect the hoses? I can't say I have a solution myself though.

[@HugsBach]

Fascinating! Wow!

[@edsel6818]

What's the purpose of shelf couplers are they necessary? What's the reason for these couplers on the tanker cars? I once in awhile see a half shelf coupler on very few locomotives.👍

[@ccrx6700]

All tank cars carrying hazmat liquids are required to have them. theory goes in case of a derailment the cars won't become uncoupled. But if you've ever watched a serious derailment with tank cars, they don't always stay coupled. I have no clue why some of our coal hopper cars have them and some don't.

[@edsel6818]

@@ccrx6700 oh ok, my thoughts was probably if these tankers are coupled together for the most part n should their be a derailment, depending on speed, and exactly how n where n, how it derails, these couplers help the cars stay up right for the most part, amongst each other, preventing (more) other cars from rolling over off the tracks, (especially if their full). I do have some of these special couplers on my ho scale trains, (on tankers, both short and long tanks). just for the hell of it.👍

[@ccrx6700]

@@edsel6818 staying coupled helps prevent them from bunching up and slamming together side ways. Although it doesnt always work. Couplers do break

[@georgen.8027]

I wonder if a length of rubber hose shoved on the outlet of the spitter would reduce the freaken noise?

[@ccrx6700]

I could try it, but what I really want to do is knock the dang thing with a big sledge hammer and put it out of it's misery. That thing drives me nuts. Thanks for tuning in and watching G N.

[@alexhajnal107]

@@ccrx6700 What does a spitter do?

[@ccrx6700]

@@alexhajnal107 supposed help eliminate moisture from main air reservoir

[@TriGogglin]

Hey there Dave ol boy, this was a great video. You definitely explained alot on this one with full visual affect. Are all your hoppers in the inventory made by Trinity.

[@ccrx6700]

Glad you enjoyed the show. All are Trinity except for 10 new cars we bought in 2007 (JACX) those were built by Freight Car America. One of those JACX cars recently got scrapped.

[@TriGogglin]

@@ccrx6700 HA, so the newest got scrapped first, go figure.. thats how everything is now, whats new is old real quick. But what's old is still here.

[@anthonycook5238]

What’s the top air line for ? It was really hard to hear at that part 😊

[@ccrx6700]

The top line supplies air to be able to open and close the hopper car doors Anthony. Can't take air off the brake pipe or each time the air would be used for the doors there would be a reduction in air pressure and the car brakes would apply. Thanks so much for taking the time to check out the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@heartland96a]

Interesting about the remote control of the locomotive in this operation

[@ccrx6700]

Yes it is. He is moving the train with a controller box which is called a belt pack, he can make the loco do anything he wants from that belt pack, such as: change direction, throttle up or down, reverse direction, apply brakes, etc.

[@heartland96a]

@@ccrx6700 understood , didn't know an on board operator wasn't required for safety , obviously it's a working system

[@ccrx6700]

@@heartland96a operator is in cab running main, they just use remote for load and dump. We got signs up along our acess road warning that train moves without notice. All of this is on our private roads at the harbor.

[@heartland96a]

@@ccrx6700 Yes , all good operating measures.

[@christopherharbauer8374]

Could you do a up close Video like this one with a Bigger Union Pacific Locomotive or NS or CSX

[@ccrx6700]

If I ever get the chance, however I work here and being that close to another RR's equipment they may not like me being there. And there are no yards left around here, mostly just main line track Christopher.

[@mikeanderson6522]

Thanks 👍.

[@ccrx6700]

Your certainly welcome Mike, so pleased to learn you enjoyed the show my good man.

[@christopherharbauer8374]

Have you ever worked with the Bigger Locomotives?

[@ccrx6700]

No sir, only been around these old relics we have here.

[@christopherharbauer8374]

You Drive the Blue one like everywhere must be your Favorite one

[@christopherharbauer8374]

The Locomotive

[@stevenmetzger3385]

great video!

[@ccrx6700]

Steven, thank you. Glad you enjoyed the show

[@dorothycole8611]

So much to know!

[@christophercarey3232]

Do you have any videos looking at locomotive air horns?

[@danielfantino1714]

It´s also "half coupled" betwen unit and first car. May be car springs are tired or car overload making it to low for a coupllng at right eight, or may be track bump that i didn´t saw. Or loco too high, i don´t think so. That should be avoided as all efforts is distributed betwen half face of both couplers with more vertical forces on couplers kunckles. Thanks for these excellent shots.

[@ccrx6700]

Glad you enjoyed Daniel. We do appreciate your stopping by and taking the time out of your day to watch and write in my good man.

[@danielfantino1714]

@@ccrx6700 well my friend your vidéos are simple and well made. You like your job for sure and your teaching bring knowledges to general public and rail rnthousoasts. Thanks for your comment. Highly appreciated and continue your good work and be safe.

[@ccrx6700]

@@danielfantino1714 😊👍

[@SOU6900]

I enjoy hearing the slack action on a freight train that's getting underway.

[@ccrx6700]

👍👍👍 trains make such interesting music 🎶 Southern, what a great railroad that was, you got good taste there sir!

[@SOU6900]

@@ccrx6700 Highhood power my friend. 😉

[@SOU6900]

Also we had a mail man who's grandfather worked for the Southern out of Spencer Shops back in the steam era. He gave me a Southern Railway key chain that belonged to him.

[@ccrx6700]

@@SOU6900 Thats an awesome keep sake there!

[@ccrx6700]

@@SOU6900 👍

[@derrickanderson4932]

Nice Video,

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Derrick, pretty interesting stuff close up that not many really get to see. I'm lucky I can get this close and show this stuff to you guys, it's really pretty special to me to be able to do it and also a lot of fun. And hey, helps me make closer inspections on stuff going on too that I can review if needed

[@masterbower6083]

I got to ask, what is the second air line for that goes over the coupler? Is it for unloading the cars?

[@ccrx6700]

Yes sir, for dumping car doors

[@alexhajnal107]

@@ccrx6700 I presume that second line ties in to the air brake line through a one-way valve at the loco end? Is there more to it than that? (Maybe this would make a good video topic if you haven't covered it.)

[@lamontbowe8511]

No good morning... Nice😆😆

[@jasonking2943]

With the introduction of Precision railroading couplers and draft bars really take a beating. I've broken more couplers in the last 18 months than my whole 27 years. Longer trains suck! 99.9% of the time it happens when the computer is running the locomotive. Paperwork is the same ugh!

[@ccrx6700]

Very interesting comment Jason! Thank you for sharing that. I always lije hear from another rail roader. I been rr over 40 years and still learn new things bout it all time. Thank you, I really did appreciate learning that. Please keep your comments coming

[@jasonking2943]

@@ccrx6700 when you stop learning it's time to give it up. Like deer hunting when the ole heart stops beating 90mph when a big buck walks out it's time to stop hunting

[@jasonking2943]

@jay Smith how's he trespassing?

[@ccrx6700]

@jay Smith Jay, i work track there, but thanks for the concern

[@jasonking2943]

@jay Smith bingo you are a bright one here is your award for the day!

[@ClassyNeons]

Age old American engineering right there. There's nothing pretty or elegant about it; it's just a barebone simple design that works.

[@ccrx6700]

Yes sir, the Janney coupler saved a lot of carmen from retiring with missing fingers

[@NiceMuslimLady]

Well...if it works, why fix it?

[@tracksideguy1228]

Such a pain dealing with the slack we get at my elevator when loading. The grade doesn’t help on the loop track either.

[@ccrx6700]

Greg, I can fully understand that. If we have to run single locomotive while loading it's totally frustrating trying to time the cars with the coal being loaded, the cars are all over the place. Not bad when they run a loco on either end, that makes it a lot easier. Do appreciate your watching sir, thank you

[@Sin_Teoria.]

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?

[@ccrx6700]

I work at a coal mine that just happens to have a railroad. I am track maintenance here, but here you bid on jobs. For a job at a class 1 railroad you'd need check out their web site

[@doctordeath.5716]

Talk about putting flat spots in the wheels with the breaks being held on

[@ccrx6700]

Thanks for stopping by today and watching the video Doctor Death.

[@290wayne]

Don't know how I missed this one ..

[@ccrx6700]

Better late than never Wayne. Do appreciate your watching my friend.

[@terryallshouse3499]

The top shelf in a emergency keeps the mate coupler from pushing up and uncoupling

[@ccrx6700]

Thanks for sharing Terry and for taking the time to tune in and watch the video today my good man.

[@missourivalleyrails]

So what do the shelf’s do tho why are they required on tanks?

[@ccrx6700]

Very good question. They are designed in case of a derailment the cars will not come uncoupled. That is the reason given for the requirement on tank cars. Although I'm not certain whether the rule is for all tank cars or just those carrying hazardous material. I know for fact it is for all hazmat cars.

[@JV-pu8kx]

3:38 What is the second line for? Too many other sounds drowning you out. Google couldn't auto generate a caption.

[@ccrx6700]

Google failed? Oh my and they are supposed to be the best in the world....:-) That 2nd line is to supply air to dump the hopper cars J V. Thank you very much for taking the time to check out the video and write in my friend.

[@NoBody-ht1oh]

That’s a lot of slack!

[@ccrx6700]

Yes it is, these cars take a beating, its amazing they hold together as well as they do

[@thomasdupee1440]

@@ccrx6700 The draft gear on the car to your right is functioning properly. The draft gear on the car to your left is defective. Notice the draft gear key on the right hand car is not moving much when the slack runs in or out. The draft gear key on the car on the left is meeting no resistance and moving the full length of the keyway. That means that the draft gear cushioning device is not working at all and needs replacement.

[@ccrx6700]

@@thomasdupee1440 Excellent observation Thomas, thank you for sharing that. Did you happen get car numbers on the 2 you are mentioning? It,s been several months since I watched this, but if you didnt i will watch again Really appreciate your writing in.

[@NoBody-ht1oh]

@@thomasdupee1440 agreed

[@mikelowery5741]

What’s that hose doing above the couplers

[@ccrx6700]

That is for the door dump line. Car doors are dumped via air. Thanks for writing in and watching today Mike.

[@mikelowery5741]

@@ccrx6700 awesome info thanks and your welcome

[@ccrx6700]

@Mike Lowery my pleasure Mike 😊

[@stephenroberts4895]

Slack action: A silent killer of trainmen. Cushion cars like Auto-racks and Cushion equipped cars are the worst.

[@25mfd]

the auto racks are the worst offender, especially during switching movements... pushing the slack in to get the pin between two racks can get claustrophobic for your shoulder if you aren't careful

[@thomasdupee1440]

Auto racks can have as much as 18" of end-of-car hydraulic cushion drawbars. That's 36" total cushion slack per car. This does not include the free slack in the couplers which can add another 2" or so. Certain hydra-cushion cars (e.g. boxcars and refrigerated boxcars) have as much as 30" of cushion slack on each end of the car. That's 5 feet of cushion slack per car! Imagine what it's like to run an 80 car train of these. CSX and UP used to have a coast to coast refer train service. Sometimes that train would be 85 cars. That's a LOT of slack to manage. Some of the engineers would break them in two.

[@GamingWithJazz]

I heard a slck sound that sounded like an explosion. it made me do a backflip (figuratively)

[@ccrx6700]

Thank youGamingWithJazz for taking the time to stop by and check out the video my friend.

[@billsmith3195]

Man those couplers can give you a fright if you busy working alongside a train and it starts to move taking up slack.

[@ccrx6700]

Yes they can Bill, as you probably noticed in the video we have a lot of wear on those couplers and draft gears. These cars take a real beating getting loaded 6 times a day and unloaded 6 times, pretty extreme usage. Most cars on the big RR's get loaded and dumped only once or twice a week. Thanks for checking out the show my friend and hope you are feeling much better.

[@jasonoliver5388]

How many sets of cars you for for loading?

[@ccrx6700]

We can only haul 38 cars here because of our end of track limits, high stone walls on either end prevent us from having any more track. Thanks for writing in and watching today Jason.

[@jasonoliver5388]

@@ccrx6700 when i was working for the railroad i used to run 75 car stone trains, 38 cars is a nice size train for your guys to be running.

[@jasongrady1278]

What is the reason of the different couplers

[@ccrx6700]

Great question Jason and I honestly cannot answer why, gonna have do some research on that one, now you got me curious as I had never thought about it before. Thanks for waking me up ...LOL

[@shirleyharrington-moore9657]

So that kind of coupler can't just totally pull apart from the car it is attached to. Got it.

[@ccrx6700]

You are correct Shirley, it must be manually released. The shelf couplers are designed to keep tank cars coupled together in case of a derailment, which is good in theory but doesn't always happen. I have no idea why we have some of our cars with shelf couplers, they are not needed on hopper cars.

[@ocsrc]

That is a lot of slack. Why is there so much slack in that coupler ?

[@danielrongo2367]

Interesting wow

[@bradley-eblesisor]

Slack couplers seem counterintuitive to me. The constant bumping when there's a change in momentum would seemingly hurt stability but I'm so obviously wrong.

[@ccrx6700]

They are mandatory on haz mat cars, reason being they theorize that if there is a derailment the cars will stay coupled and have less chance of rolling over. However in reality it all depends on the speed of the train at the time of derailment plus the conditions that caused it. I have no idea why some of our cars have them and most don't Bradley. Really appreciate your checking out the video today my good man.

[@TheNemosdaddy]

They are called a double shelf or bottom shelf coupler, not Full or half. F type couplers are double and have an interlocking side.

[@Elfnetdesigns]

For some this would make a good ASMR video XD Not me I hear this and more at least 3 times a week... IDK maybe you should come onto our Garry's mod server sometime where we build and run trains in the virtual world so we can pick your brain lol. We have myself and a UP engineer that go on there and a couple young guys who work for a railroad museum plus various others that are railfans..

[@ccrx6700]

Your web link you tried to put in comment, utube blocks all we links in comments. Would love see cymx car you made, your site sounds interesting, send me pic of car if you can

[@Elfnetdesigns]

@@ccrx6700 sent

[@Elfnetdesigns]

@@ccrx6700 I finally modeled a shelf coupler for Garry's mod with the draft gear, key, and brake lines. if you want to see it let me know the screenshot i took in blender shows it all assembled but in Garry's Mod it will be separate parts to some extent

[@patrickspies1464]

Is this why knuckles break

[@ccrx6700]

It certainly is one good reason they would with all that tremendous stress on them Patrick. Some operators we have are a lot smoother in moving the cars than this one was which is much easier on the couplers. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and watch the railcar coupler action video my friend.

[@gblahnik]

Boy you can tell them cars are Loaded down... Heavy sounding.

[@ccrx6700]

Greg, yep. Nothing like the sounds of the railroad, quite a variety of them too. Love it. Thank you for watching

[@ocsrc]

What's a draft gear ?

[@ccrx6700]

Watch video i made on draft gears please. Thank you

[@ricksadler797]

Nice

[@ccrx6700]

Rick, thank you for the nice comment, glad you enjoyed watching

[@mvraillover3058]

👍

[@daneru]

Weird that it does not have bumpers.

[@ccrx6700]

Ha Ha, you must be European? Thanks for watching

[@raymondwedley]

Like it

[@Nderak]

didn't know there was that much slack, always thought it was half an inch, not near a foot,

[@ccrx6700]

Gotta remember these cars are worn out, been getting loaded and dumped 12 or more times a day since 1986

[@sd90mac61]

Thank you for takn your time makn these interesting videos, I've always wanted to SEE this kind of action, everybody wonders what is makn that loud (noise) n domino affect when these trains are movn back n forth, I call it slack action, I could be wrong, anyways is theirs any way you could this video the same but it would much better if your doing this on the 87' foot cars like them excessive height box cars, 87' fatcars, and even autocarriers, for they have, longer shank draw bar COUPLERS, I believe their 3' LONG. Thank you for sharing this with me 😊✌️😉👍 more please.

[@GeorgeSTANFIELD-ju5gd]

If trains had no slack they could not get started. Just think what it would take to get every wheel rolling at once. If there is not enough slack the train must go reverse to compress the joints then only have to start one car at a time.

[@ccrx6700]

You are right about that George that's why they put draft gears in the cars. Really appreciate your taking the time to visit with us and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@chessplayerelite669]

Why all the slop??

[@ccrx6700]

As you can see these cars get a lot of pulling, stopping and then pulling again as the cars are being unloaded. So that means a good bit of wear on the coupler and draft gear parts. And not all of our operators are as smooth unloading the train as others are so they often get banged around pretty good. Most hopper coal cars get loaded and dumped about once or twice a week on other railroads. here they get loaded and dumped 6 times a day, 7 days a week, so that in itself is an extreme amount of wear on the cars. Very grateful my friend for your taking the time to visit with us and check out the video.

[@chessplayerelite669]

@@ccrx6700 how much training does it take to become a full-fledged locomotive engineer?

[@ccrx6700]

@@chessplayerelite669 we dont have certified engineers here. The jobs are all bid jobs and go to the senior bidder. We are not under FRA jurisdiction.

[@DrMurdercock]

If you put your hand between the knuckles, it will stop the banging.

[@ccrx6700]

Banging on the couplers perhaps, but will increase the banging in my head and body.... Appreciate your taking the time to visit with us and watch my friend.

[@xxxxxx-rm2pn]

Do you work and walk this slow normally or were you off the clock?

[@ccrx-xu1wc]

Guess when you get to be almost 67 years old you don't move as fast as you used to. Send me a couple bottles Geritol, i'll give them a try ....LOL

[@xxxxxx-rm2pn]

@@ccrx-xu1wc haha. You aren't retired yet?

[@chipset2900]

Just for giggles, at 5m35s, youtube Closed Caption calls your road the 'Crumbling Line.' But we know thats not true cause you're on the job.

[@ccrx6700]

LOL... if you say the derailment vids then that statement was true! Ha Hah

[@ocsrc]

You can really get hurt with that coupler moving in and out