Switching 101 - BUILD a TRAIN using a HAND-POWERED TURNTABLE!

[@a5wr1ght]

Hyce you should make a particular note that you're using WESTERN USA style hand signals. Those of us in the EASTERN USA use a bit different set of signals.

[@Hyce777]

Yup - had a friend of mine from back east message me going "what the hell hand signals are those" - of course there's yet another stupid little difference across the states, lol.

[@NoPegs]

Agreed, you need to come spend a summer in Pennsylvania...

[@Hyce777]

@@NoPegs twist my arm :D

[@richardjayroe8922]

@@Hyce777 we have narrow guage, called the East Broad Top, you mentioned it in one of your streams. I also live by a once thriving, but converted narrow gauge line for the original NS.

[@Hyce777]

@@richardjayroe8922 I know a few folks at the EBT, I would -love- to spend some time out there. we will see what comes in the future.

[@daniellewis1789]

You get probably the best hand signal in use video I've ever seen. It's not training, but as "in use as used" video it's fantastic.

[@JonsGarage89]

That was great, I knew couplers evolved over time, didnt know the original knuckles were so tempermental.

[@Insprill]

Loving the 101 series! So much information that you just can't find anywhere else presented in such a great way. Keep up the great work Hyce!

[@Aidan_Rattlehead]

Took the words right out of my mouth, very true

[@andrewhill9568]

@@Aidan_Rattlehead never talk wussy on radio, it's t he railroad

[@Aidan_Rattlehead]

The 101 series is amazing, I guess if you want to work with historic equipment you gotta enjoy the historic pains as well

[@Hyce777]

very very true

[@GuardianOz]

That manual turntable was amazing. Tones of weight, just a few "Man powers" to turn. Respect to the "Old School engineers" They knew what worked with out the need of computers.

[@brenthinshaw8391]

Is that the little guy with a clutch that got put in the dirt? (It may be answered when I actually watch but I gotta wait to watch it 😩)

[@Hyce777]

That's the one!

[@trevortammen2341]

So glad I found your channel man...I could prattle on for hours about trains and seeing someone who has a job I'd kill to have enjoy talking about all of it has given me a burst of joy this current world situation had killed in me previously

[@Hyce777]

Cheers Trevor! Glad to see I can help spark joy.

[@johndeereboy1945]

Watching these videos makes me want to put up videos similar to these on my channel about my tractors. There’s not as much technical knowledge as a lot of the topics covered so far, but I think some people could get a bit out of some tractor videos. Loving the content, keep up the good work Hyce Edit: my tractors are old John Deere letter series tractors from the 40’s

[@Hyce777]

Do it!

[@gentlejake605]

Yea why not do it get motivated learn a editor and go for it! It’s not that hard just drag drop basically unless you wanna get more technical with editing you got this!

[@OfficialUSKRprogram]

I'm sure a lot of people who have never used tractors before would appreciate the videos, both how they work and also how to maintain them

[@Pizza_PugSauce]

The Henry Ford Museum uses a hand-powered turntable, and It's pretty cool to see in action.

[@rossgilbert5890]

Got a giggle out of how you finally got that coupler undone at the end haha

[@Crummieboi56]

Hyce, give er the beans next stream.

[@themigmadmarine]

I know it's a biproduct of the camera being mounted on your chest, but your hands entering frame as you walk just makes my brain think you're doing this really cartoonish sidle which is very amusing to picture.

[@1000jlg]

very cool hyce. had the pleasure of being at that railroad museum earlier this year during a demo people could turn that table. it was a fun experience.

[@Two_Bears]

Good video! Never thought of doing car shuffling with a turntable. Looking forward to the next video “How to lubricant the RGS loco with a whole bunch of oil and grease.” Of course, without wearing half of it!

[@Motherslug-q7l]

Nice video keep them coming you have everything spot on as what's the difference depending on railroad is all true as I worked 28 years Conrail brakeman then became Hump Master, only little thing is modern day freight even Amtrak Engineers or Conductors in Mainline Service aren't allowed to use Turn Tables as Shop crew master will take care of that given restricted speeds and Safety. Many mainline Freight use Radio call signs as a Note. Like when I worked the Hump at Enola Yard a one Bump a car that's coupler is stuck or may need kicking out mainly Notch 3 value of 35% power pushing for 3secs cut-off becomes a rolling domino effect Kicking the last car off with little to no Problems for most of the time, Safety Slide Couplers on Tankers are the nicest to work with.

[@Hyce777]

Yup, we had it the same at BNSF. Mechanical crews had to run off/on the table and operate the table, otherwise normal train crew could.

[@ghostgames30222]

Yay another 101

[@Crummieboi56]

Congratulations.

[@ghostgames30222]

@@Crummieboi56 I love to watch these

[@Crummieboi56]

@@ghostgames30222 me too :)

[@ghostgames30222]

@@Crummieboi56 always new im stuff to learn

[@Crummieboi56]

@@ghostgames30222 yes there is, im still learning too! :)

[@cadetkohr5508]

You know you don't care anymore when you just disassemble the couple because it won't unlock.

[@GodschildinNC]

It is not "don't care " as much as tried all we can, and it didn't work, now lets try something else.

[@christopheralthouse6378]

Or, as we say these days, “by choice or by force!” 😅

[@NONNAME152]

I was half expecting a can of WD-40 to be emptied into the mechanism

[@michaelramsey82]

Fantastic stuff! I love seeing the first-person experience of working with the 19th century rolling stock. Please keep it coming!

[@se7encureton]

My great grandfather was working under a turnabout in Stockton ca many years ago. Before I was born & I’m 38. A steam engine started up with him under it and he was burned all over his Body. He crawled out and talked to the boss and walked many miles home. He didn’t have a car. He lived. Different times. Different men. My grama told me that story a good few times.

[@Pamudder]

You manage to make almost any operation interesting, so keep 'em coming. I know that the knuckle coupler was a big advance for safety over the pin-type coupler. European railroads seem still to use some type of coupler that uses a pin, plus buffers to absorb the shock. Can you provide a link to a video that shows how they work?

[@Hyce777]

I'm not sure of a specific video, but they're called a chain and buffer or a screw coupler. The screw tightens the chain link between two hooks, then the buffers provide damping. Kind of neat, but not near as convenient as knuckles.

[@Pamudder]

@@Hyce777 Thank you! A screw tightener would be much safer than a 19th century pin coupler, which mangled the hands of many railroaders.

[@Pamudder]

@@Hyce777 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffers_and_chain_coupler

[@loganjoy-koer5936]

There was a train driving by as I watched this video! I love your content, you are always so enthusiastic!

[@dshack4689]

fantastic hand signals especially with the multiple camera angles and the explanations - learned a heap! =)

[@whoever6458]

Cool! (Well except for the Janey couplers since it looks like those really ought to be called janky couplers.) I bet that little engine has some huge cylinders on it. I had a single cylinder motorcycle that had a lot of torque because it was 650cc coming out of that one cylinder that had a head probably the size of a large grapefruit. Since it was also relatively light, it still would out-accelerate even very fast sports cars right off the line but then you'd get passed later alone because the fastest I ever got it to go was 95 mph. I am also greatly amused by the giant train lazy Susan. I didn't realize they had any hand-operated turntables since the only other one I've seen was the one in Dunsmuir, CA and my mom was pretty sure it was mechanically driven. We didn't see it being operated though and we couldn't really get close enough to see it well since it was way on the other side of the mainline from where we were at the train station, plus it was still just getting light out when we got off the train there.

[@Rizz_Messiah]

In 2021 The Worlds Strongest Man held a competition in Sacramento California. One of the events that the athletes had to compete in was called the Titans Turntable. As the name implied they had to turn the Sacramento railroad museum's turntable as far as they could within a set time limit with a JW Bowker steam engine placed on it. Its a wild spectacle to see.

[@Rizz_Messiah]

Heres the video of the event kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZO6qIuDocmBpsU

[@wolf3515]

now i wanna see the ''size does not matter event'' where peewee pulls the train cuz yes

[@NukeLife87]

If I drive all the way from Georgia to visit the museum, I want a special tour from you.

[@Hyce777]

If you end up making it out and I've got the time, I'd love to take you around!

[@Disnydude1]

This is the stuff I LOVE!!!!! You can only talk so much about a train sim. But REAL TRAINS!!!! Oh HELL YEAH. All the3 time dude!!!!😁😁😁😁😁

[@narrowgaugetrader6864]

Awesome vid Hyce, love the museum vids!

[@phil69881]

Just came across this video. Pretty cool. Being from 🇬🇧 those hand signals are just strange to me, apart from the pointing to "go between". Also, I can say that shunting with a hydraulic locomotive is a lot easier than with a mechanical locomotive (especially our 90+ year old miniatures) 😂🤣

[@FuelFire]

Me watching the video: "hey look it's 491" (at about 1:28) "Doesnt look like she's under steam" literally 2 seconds later *PSSSSSHHHHHHHH* I nearly jumped out of my chair haha

[@Surkai25]

great stuff Hyce! thanks for sharing all this cool footage with us! can't wait for more!

[@Trainman-cw1zl]

Hyce I love that SD40T tunnel bord Rio Grand engine and never have seen one but always wanted to

[@hadinossanosam4459]

26:20 I find this interesting because most other locomotives you've shown seem to be controlled entirely via hands (levers, switches, valves, etc., but no pedals), is that a gas locomotive thing or a small switching locomotive thing? (Or just particular to Peewee specifically?) Any reasons for that?

[@katies6426]

It’s a gas mechanical switcher, it’s basically just a tractor on rails.

[@Hyce777]

This is specifically a mechanical locomotive thing, clutch pedal just like your car.

[@Sir_Uncle_Ned]

This is a great look at how a turntable actually worked! It’s nice to see this side of things

[@andrewpalm2103]

Thanks so much for showing operations with a critter. Nice to see how it works.

[@PowerTrain611]

My go-to for hand signals for getting between cars is one hand pointing to the knuckles and the other holding up 3 fingers, calling for 3-step protection. Of course, I usually make the call over the radio too asking for a 3 step... but when I'm close enough to the head end to make it a hand signal... I see in the pinned comment here someone has already touched on your weird west coast hand signals... I'm just gonna agree that you should spend a summer in Pennsylvania. Would love to hang out with a fellow train nut!

[@Hyce777]

Hey I am all game! Haha. Makes sense asking for 3 step.

[@alexandernorwood8091]

Peewee 101 video in the future? Maybe a deep dive into the everything in the cab and its complete history.

[@Hyce777]

Could be fun down the road! I'll have to learn more about it. I'm not honestly terribly familiar with it's history.

[@justinthomas1774]

This may be a dumb question is there a spot where the railroad museum connects to like the modern railway system across the US or is it isolated to itself not that you ever would but theoretically would you be able to take one of the steam trains out on the highways in a sence

[@PyroNicampt]

Looking on satellite, I don't see any external connection, the nearest one is 270 feet away across a road and a creek. I'd imagine taking a locomotive out would be fun, but you might also run into an issue with the lack of service infrastructure like working water stops or coal stations. Would probably have to stop at road-accessible areas to refill those via semi.

[@noahengelhardt3596]

Seeing how easy those couplers move was satisfying. At coors I damn near give my self a hernia every time I try to move one. Unless they’re the big white LINX or CRYX cars. They’re usually greased well and move like butter.

[@idcanthony9286]

It is fantastic to see how we use very similar hand gestures when marshaling aircraft and, uh (marshaling?) a train. I never knew why we called it marshaling, but after this video, it would make sense that it is because of train marshaling yards? Are you guys using the chain like a chock?

[@omegafalconoriginal]

When I visited the Carson City Nevada Railroad museum they let me turn MacKeen motorcar. I was surprised I was able to push on the handle and turn it myself.

[@jetdestroyer9626]

Love seeing more action from the museum!

[@landoncrowder9871]

I was there yesterday and was hoping to catch a ride around the loop but I came too late but it's a neat little place to go and explore

[@billyrueckert5113]

This was really cool to learn about. I love the way you break things down. I am still new to the rules even with several years of volunteering (announcer/narrator forgets le operating rules.)

[@nw611J]

Hi Mark cool video man really love the info on the couplers. When did Janine’s stop being used on class 1 railroads? Loo forward to chatting to you and hope we can message some today your friend Jeff aka NW611J.

[@Hyce777]

Looks like the original Janney patent was 1873; the predecessor of the AAR coupler came around in 1888; and our Type E which is still in service all across the US came around in 1930.

[@nw611J]

@@Hyce777 nice that’s cool man. Hey do you think you could a 1 on 1 video on whistke signals?

[@jamesbuckner4791]

I am rewatching this after seeing the 20 wheel set. You can tell that 20 has blind drivers in the second drive position right when you are filming the train departure.

[@Ryan_Rail]

23:49 seeing that GE Cog loco next to that switcher is almost humorous

[@Hyce777]

Right?

[@willpelkey1510]

Loving the series!! I can't wait for the next one! Keep it up Hyce!

[@Conrailfan8098]

2:55 now I’m just imagining Hyce saying “ummmm excuuuuse me I need to get in there, mkay!”

[@Two_Bears]

Chaining a car is like the principle of looping a rope around your sleeping bag when sleeping outdoors. The car wheels won’t climb the chain, and the snakes won’t climb the rope. 😂

[@Hyce777]

I mean, the chains actually do work pretty well.

[@darrelljones5960]

wheres the heart button at.?loving the videos. keep up the great work

[@JonathanColemanTrains]

Sometime this summer East Broad Top railroad number 16 whistle is back in the valley

[@GodschildinNC]

How do the chains work? I assume that they are like wheel chocks, or lock pins?

[@levimccallum7722]

31:37 the guy in the back of the shop wondering what fell *Hyce who's had enough*

[@retr0bits545]

Wait the peewee has a straight 6 Hercules? Whenever I get a Studebaker US 6 I might ask you guys for advice as I think it might be the same engine.

[@BeefTechnology]

I find it funny how hyce just tortures the horn of n. 3

[@danielgamboa1200]

How does it feel to push the turn table? Is it heavy?

[@Hyce777]

It is, you have to put your back into it a bit but once it starts moving it's not bad at all.

[@sterlingodeaghaidh5086]

Pikes Peak car was cool, I go to Mantou all the time being I live 3 hours away, never ridden it but i want to one of these days. They changed their tracks here recently apparently, its not a traditional cog style mechanism anymore. The guy in pueblo at the rail museum there said its now more of a corkscrew style.

[@Hyce777]

Different type of cog system yeah, I think either way it's still "traditional cog" - just a mechanically better style.

[@sterlingodeaghaidh5086]

@@Hyce777 All I know it was enough to make them replace their snow blower and give it to pueblo.

[@the25thdoctor]

I still can’t believe that you reply and heart to almost every comment! I can’t wait for the next video of the museum!

[@Hyce777]

I try to get to them all, though the few really "head scratchers" I leave alone... lol :D

[@737Garrus]

28:42 Lmao that Coupler wasn't having it!

[@barbararoberto1258]

Liked the video so informative enjoyed the turn table seen one used along time ago at another museum , great job

[@MinorLG]

I want to build a small SG GM switcher at some point. But that will probably be after building a narrow field rail at home. Could end up doing dual gauge ..

[@lull_the_un]

Why do they still use the janie connectors? are they not allowed to replace them for preservation reasons?

[@GretchenDawntreader]

I think as a lay person who just "likes trains" but doesn't know the details, maybe to go along with the brakes 101, something about cabooses, the history of having a crew cab in the end of the train and then their phasing out in favor of end of train devices, what was gained and what was lost.

[@Hyce777]

That's a great idea! Should be easy to shoot at the museum soon enough. :)

[@DavidTomaschik]

What are those couplers on the #3? Never seen anything like it.

[@Hyce777]

they are just welded up shop knuckles that can't couple or uncouple actually, haha. Fabbed up to match the height.

[@MineTrain]

Thank you very much for this really good insight into what is happening! Love it!

[@10jaysfan]

Love your videos hyce

[@Foxymorris9236]

I feel that Train Sim World 2 should have something like vise, it would make my gameplay more realistic and more easier. Once I some how derail a 10 car consist into another 10 cars that needed to bring to The Bowl, I would have used Freecam but they removed it which made it a little easy

[@jacobramsey7624]

Question, is there anything on the modern day railroads that are the same at the museum?

[@Hyce777]

As far as equipment or appliances go? We have the same gladhands for the brake hoses, the angle cocks are the same on some equipment, 491 has an AAR type E coupler on the tender, etc. - there's plenty of stuff that has overlap.

[@ianpidgley9720]

it's intresting comparing American hand signals to the British versions, some appear to be similar (move towards for example), over here the 'Going between' hand singnal also tends to vary a bit, personally i use a hand tracing an arc over the head. which ends with the hand pointing downwards at a 45 degree angle towards the coupling, this is acknowledged by the driver giving the 'Alright' hand signal (on arm rised above the head), are the handbrakes on those coaches unreliable to cause you to use a scotch? (our passenger coaches don't have handbrakes (except Guards Vans) so we have to use them when moving those, but when moving handbrake fitted vehicles we'd normally just use the handbrake, is this a daily shunt for this line or is the formation unusual? and what was the reason for neading to turn the 2nd coach?

[@Hyce777]

The handbrakes don't really set up worth a damn without an airbrake set to assist you getting them tight, so that plus the turntable pit to roll into... Makes sense to chain or chock everything. We spun the second coach because it got a brand new platform on one end, but not the other. The second end still needs to be replaced, and we wanted passengers to load on the good end. Easiest to spin it so that we could have one station attendent load both cars with the good platforms butt to butt.

[@ianpidgley9720]

@@Hyce777 ah, that makes sense

[@CBTransportVideos]

The rules down here in Australia are very similar, but I've seen my local Passenger company do completely different hand signals while Shunting onto the Conists!

[@Hyce777]

Hand signals vary across territories. Lord knows I confused the eastern half of the US with these hand signals, lol.

[@CBTransportVideos]

@@Hyce777 Haha! We confused our other Friendly states here is Aus with our hand Signals lmao

[@VintageRenewed]

I wish we could see drg 50 Aka Sumpter Valley 101 do some switching moves

[@Hyce777]

It is also a mechanical switcher and it's got some clutch issues to work out.

[@VintageRenewed]

@@Hyce777 Yep I knew it was a mechanical switcher I’ve looked into it some since it is former sumpter valley but haven’t found any videos yet of it running

[@LouisMcNabb]

CRRM 101 when you get there? All of the old cars and locos look really interesting and seem to have a story to tell.

[@Hyce777]

That could be neat!

[@tylerdunning7363]

Do you have a video talking about that red pikes peak tram looking thing?

[@scr2392]

The only way that museum could run any of the standard gauge is if the street ran the rails down the road onto the main

[@LMR78]

When you’re a brakeman you should make a special es&d pin lol.

[@Rusty_Nickle]

There's a place I load at that has a little switcher engine like you guys are using. They call it ’little puff'

[@richardjayroe8922]

I'm firing no 89 in strausburg next Saturday. When is the firing 101 going to be posted?

[@Hyce777]

I have to get the edit done, and it's kind of daunting, lol. Less linear, more "dig through footage and find stuff". I am not sure if I could have it done by then, but at the end of the day, the folks there will teach you better than some guy from KZbin can, and if I were in their shoes, I'd want to teach someone fresh rather than someone who's got a bit of an idea from a video. ;)

[@GretchenDawntreader]

LOL at the end, that's one way to get the coupler open, take it apart ;) I haven't looked but I expect a 101 on couplers would be interesting. I'm surprised a design that cantankerous was in common use.

[@Hyce777]

Well they were a hell of a lot better than link and pin, lol

[@28Cryptic743]

were only certain tracks being used on the round house because some tracks appear to have the gaps beside the tracks filled with gravel

[@FabiaLp]

can someone explain how those chains are supposed to secure the cars..... the wooden wedge makes at least sence, but the chains just seem odd. here we got things called "Hemmschuhe" (brake shoes), they kinda act like a wedge, just that the car is also standing on them, so they usually don't get pushed around.

[@Hyce777]

The wheel won't climb up and over a chain that sits about 3/4" above railhead. The wheel tries to move and it "bites" the chain rather than roll. Better for dual sided use as we don't have many nice chocks.

[@williamsexton970]

Well I wish him the best of luck

[@10jaysfan]

Yay trains, my favourite I know about trains

[@solarflare623]

I’ve always called knuckle couplers buckeye. It’s just what everyone else around me called them. Update: I just looked up buckeye couplers and apparently they are these weird hybrids of turnbuckle and knuckle couplers.

[@dkbmaestrorules]

Buckeye couplers is just what we call all knuckle couplers in the UK. The hybrid versions are known as drop-head buckeye or swing-head buckeye, depending on the type.

[@brettany_renee_blatchley]

Very cool!! 🦜🚂💚💙💜

[@DFX2KX]

That tiny little shunter is adorable. *edit* That coupler at the end, JEEZE, it's like me trying to fiddle with Zcouplers in Derail. "Is it loose? Who knows! :D"

[@modelrailwaybackshop]

I wanted to know what it would be like trying to do maintenance on a locomotive or a Railroad car in the 101 series... like how to rebuild the brake cylinder or replace the brake shoes when one gets completely worn down... That would be very useful information...

[@Hyce777]

I imagine we can get to that down the road.

[@awildjared1396]

6:48 is that same Jeff that made 4k videos on operating, firing and maintaining steam locomotives a few years back?

[@Hyce777]

It is not. That is Jeff Berrier, who works at Disneyland i think these days. The Jeff in the video is Jeff Taylor, the curator of equipment and rolling stock at the CRRM.

[@awildjared1396]

okay thanks

[@katies6426]

Peewee!

[@standardaussie]

Yes I imagine the peewee's clutch has to have a substantial mechanical advantage, leading to the knee chin driving position. Imagine the clutch size/pressure required for that kind of torque and weight🤔.

[@dalemettee1147]

Hyce, after watching all the hand signals, I'm just wondering if walkies has come into consideration?

[@Hyce777]

We do use radios as well, yes. Situationally though. Hand signals are easier and more direct.

[@stevemellin5806]

Lots of fun .if I lived thier I would volunteer .

[@844SteamFan]

What’s up with the coupler on the switcher? Also the NG CB&Q locomotive

[@Hyce777]

The switcher coupler is a fabbed up shop coupler; it saves weight for easy change out to standard vs narrow gauge or link and pin, etc. based on what we're going to pull. Everything you run into has a knuckle that opens, so it doesn't need to. The CB&Q paint job was for fun on our switcher #4. We didn't have much that represented that era of the Q, and it needed paint, and it isn't a historic engine for us, so we decided to paint it up that way.

[@844SteamFan]

@@Hyce777 Thanks! I was wondering if the CB&Q painted locomotive was from the CB&Q NG in the Black Hills (I don’t know if they re-gauged it)

[@goldenrailways]

On the dual gauge track at the Meuse I’m, could a narrow gauge engine pull a standard gauge car?

[@Hyce777]

With an idler car, yes

[@trevorhaddox6884]

I was expecting you guys to start wrenching on and smacking that little pin that was spinning at the back of the coupler (I assume that was getting stuck down inside)...then you just pulled it apart. XD

[@phillipmercer3641]

I noticed that pee-wee has a different style of knuckle coupler can you please explain what kind of knuckle coupler it is.

[@robertbalazslorincz8218]

Now. Make an advertisement for the company that made the TURNTABLE. Also it would be nice to have these hand signals in RO wouldn't it?

[@Hyce777]

I'm not sure who actually made this turntable! And yes, yes it would be.

[@commanderfoxstudios9561]

omg you guys have the goose!!

[@commanderfoxstudios9561]

Man... You have my dream job. And a goose. Have you done a video on the goose yet?

[@Dracopendragon013]

I would have loved to see the service of that car especially the coupler that fought so hard lol