Train Car Switching Exercise #6 - The Denmark Dance

[@DK-nv9zu]

That was a lot of steps. They definitely prepped and knew the layout. Thank you for sharing!

[@killerbee6310]

It was interesting watching the crew go thru their learning curve when FOXY first took over. The first couple times it was 12 hour days but now they whip right thru it.

[@johnwinter8273]

Like those switching puzzles. I think I may have told you that in the past. My HO layout is a switching layout with 16 customers to switch. Most take only 1-2 cars. The largest is a co-op that takes 8 cars. Keeps it interesting.

[@jimg6476]

As a veteran railroader.. the moves were planned out well. Its always nice to have sluff tracks. Good explanation!

[@killerbee6310]

Thanks !! As you know, in a lot of places you don't have the luxury of ample infrastructure.

[@johnandrus3901]

Very interesting. The best way is to have a plan in place and always set your train up properly, before departing. One of out locals had 9 industries to serve on its route. Eight were regular and one was only a car or two, on a monthly basis. Proper placement of the cars in the train made for a smooth trip. An excellent video, as always.

[@killerbee6310]

Plus if you are out on the main you get the work done faster and don't delay mainline trains and piss off the dispatcher, who will then make you sit in the clear until every last train has gotten by you before he lets you out...oh ya - and then the Trainmaster asks why you can't get your work done.....

[@btraindavidlemke312]

I remember the FRV owned this line. It was still connected,until WCL cut it off south. FRV ran a night train I remember.

[@ArborRails]

This would make for an awesome small shelf layout. Love these videos!

[@killerbee6310]

Got another one ready to post when viewership on this one dies off.

[@bobozo389]

The Denmark dance, Great video!

[@killerbee6310]

Thanks. Keep your eye out for another in a week or so.

[@denmarkwispurtrains35]

Great job Killer Bee

[@killerbee6310]

Thanks. It was darn cold that day - my hat off to the conductor. I had it easy....

[@markiewodi3371]

Thanks KillerBee! Love your informative videos! Keep em comin!

[@killerbee6310]

That is the plan !!

[@rrgak4031]

I would like to see an all animated version of these switching moves. The photos don't help the process.

[@doctordeath.5716]

This is really cool

[@killerbee6310]

Indeed. Thanks !!

[@tedfisk1211]

That was quite interesting. I encounter switching challlenges on my model train layout all the time and it is good to have a plan to do it the most effectively or not have a plan and encounter frustration and a lot of time waste.

[@killerbee6310]

I don't like getting in the train crew's face so I don't show a lot of their moves but they are also constantly setting handbrakes, doing securement tests, releasing handbrakes, making hoses, protecting shovers, walking up and down the train, etc., etc.

[@MontyCarlo1977]

This is what I come to see on the internet.

[@killerbee6310]

LOL - appreciate the validation! Thanks !! Got one more ready to go when this one peters out.

[@MontyCarlo1977]

@@killerbee6310 Look into the Iowa Traction Railroad in Mason City. They are a short line switching railroad powered by overhead wires. Locomotives are about 100 years old. Very cool little operation.

[@Milwroad4ever]

Nice video. I always wondered how they did there run around in Denmark

[@killerbee6310]

Actually me too....

[@RandyStyczynski-sc1gi]

It sure looks like UC in Denmark uses a different set of marked cars than UC uses in Oconto Falls.. Same company/cooperative but a different railroad.

[@bestfriendhank1424]

It’s 2024 Mr. Killer Bee. Fresh meat facility not slaughterhouse. 😂

[@killerbee6310]

LOL - guess I am non-PC. Still live in the past.

[@bestfriendhank1424]

@ Boomer 😜

[@bestfriendhank1424]

@ what do think is eventually going to happen with the Medford Sub, save or scrap?

[@JohnS-jj9by]

Great video! Good detail of the switching process. How long did this take?

[@killerbee6310]

The switching or making the video? The conductor said this was the first time he had worked this job by himself on a Sunday plus he had double the cars - took him maybe two hours?? But as said, he took the time prior to them arriving to line up the train so everything was all blocked up. I do not know how much time that consumed.

[@JohnS-jj9by]

@@killerbee6310 Thanks! Yes, I was curious as to how long the actual work took on the road. Great video.

[@thomasmackowiak]

Thank you for another switching video, KillerBee! I enjoyed watching this video of the Fox Valley & Lake Superior Railroad crew performing this dance. Too bad your video camera battery ran out of power. (Posted on 19 December 2024 at 2049 CST.)

[@killerbee6310]

Ya...and too bad my back up battery wasn't charged. LOL.

[@Jleed989]

I’m a bit confused. They left the original portion of the train up track, past the crossing. So when they got all of this switching done, how did they get the locomotive to the head of the original train? Wouldn’t the locomotive be trapped mid train? Excuse my confusion. I’m a non railroad person but a big fan.

[@killerbee6310]

Go to 3:44. They pulled the rear portion of the inbound train down and onto the old siding, cut off, ran south over the crossovers, lined the crossovers for the old main, crossed over to the old main, lined the switch, went into 873 and pulled cars, took them north across the switch, cut them off, and ran the lite engine up high, lined the switch for the pass, and came down on top of the cars in question. Easy Peezy - LOL

[@ironmule]

Could you tell us the brakemans activities? Hooked up air lines at this point...set brakes on this car etc. on future videos. Thanks

[@killerbee6310]

OK, thanks for the idea. Basically they did all the ground work. Depending on the assignment, the railroad, local practices, etc., the amount of work the conductor also did would vary. When I was a kid and watched the GTW local freight that switched my home town, most conductors would be on the ground along with the brakemen helping with the work. But there was one who couldn't walk very well so he exercised his prerogative as the boss and stayed in the caboose and left all the work to the two brakemen. On GTW at least, the brakeman in the caboose was technically the flagman. Oh boy, now we are going down a rabbit hole....

[@ironmule]

@killerbee6310 maybe not exactly what these guys are doing but like "at this point the brakeman would set the brakes etc." Just for us dummies. Thanks

[@Nderak]

what type of car is a JBS car?

[@killerbee6310]

JBS Packerland is a slaughterhouse (opps - I mean meat processing facility) that FOXY serves on their way back from Denmark to Green Bay. The facility receives both covered hoppers and tank cars for loading rendering. Some of the tank cars have the JBS emblem on them.