Steam & Excursion > UP 4014 Elmhurst Illinois -- 2:15 PM July 26 2019

Quite an afternoon.

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W H Y are those two guys with green vests permitted to constantly hang in the gangway of the Big Boy, while it has been traveling for days?  That should not be allowed.

Keystone1 Wrote:
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> W H Y are those two guys with green vests
> permitted to constantly hang in the gangway of the
> Big Boy, while it has been traveling for days?
>  That should not be allowed.

Most likely members of the Pilot Crew. 

Keystone1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> W H Y are those two guys with green vests
> permitted to constantly hang in the gangway of the
> Big Boy, while it has been traveling for days?
>  That should not be allowed.

Ego, my friend. Just plain old "Look at me!" ego

Pilot crew is responsible for assisting operating engineer so they need to see upcoming signals and other railroad signs to properly advise the operating engineer. To do that they may need to lean out to see those signals and signs to do their assigned job. If the operating engineer is leaning out he may block the pilot crews vision so they may also need to lean out. Please remember given the gravity of these Big boy events to the upper level floors in UP Omaha Headquarters, any personnel mistakes most probably could be highly magnified.

Don Allender

So,  do pilot crews wear yellow safety vests on ALL locomotive assignments, on a daily basis ( in the cabs of dismals)?
How about other, complete PPE* devices: Safety goggles, hearing protection, gloves, hard toe safety shoes, legging/ankle clips?

Or, are safety vests a ‘fig leaf’ for pretend demonstrating ‘safety concerns’  to UP management.
And, as HotWater has cited before, the flammability if these plastic vests — is that a concern, or not?

One area of concern on many Mechanical Departments’ Safety Rules was the prohibition of “Loose, torn or baggy clothing”...
Most safety vests are very loose fitting, and baggy—- especially with ‘stuff’ in the pockets.
To me they represent a greater risk to safety, than dubious protection, in this environment.

However, in working environments like busy freight classification Yards, derailment clean-up crews, and in work situations around heavy, wheeled/tracked equipment —- & ground-working situations at nighttime, the reflective vests are necessary and useful.

But in the “office” of steam locos, not so much —- UNLESS ALL cab occupants are required to wear the yellow vests.
But this attitude of ‘advertising’  “I’m a safe worker with my safety vest ON”,  impresses NO ONE who actually works around trains on a daily basis.

This may be another aspect of the insurance company ( which provide the liability coverage) roles in the Employers Liabilty Act (FELA) .... where safety rule-violations can be a mtitgating ( for reducing RR liability) argument in courts hearing injury cases.  
“Mr. Smith was not wearing hard toe shoes when the 3,000 pounds dropped on his foot...”, therefore, even though the lifting device failed, the RR is not liable for the damage to Smith’s feet, ....the argument goes...

In the loco cab, keep the safety vests off, except:  if all of the cab occupants are required to wear them..
Then everybody wears them.  But, in such a hazard-rich environment, all the PPE ought to required, not just bright vests.

I think that standing in the gangway, and the apron plate, of the moving locomotive, is its own safety violation, if I recall correctly..
Or, maybe we’ll just overlook that Rule...

W.

*PPE:  Personal Protective Equipment..
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/04/19 05:56 by wcamp1472.

ATSFSuperChief Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Pilot crew is responsible for assisting operating
> engineer so they need to see upcoming signals and
> other railroad signs to properly advise the
> operating engineer. To do that they may need to
> lean out to see those signals and signs to do
> their assigned job. If the operating engineer is
> leaning out he may block the pilot crews vision so
> they may also need to lean out. 

And there is a signal bridge ahead of the train at this point.

Nice photos of both the 4014 and the hundreds of admiring fans.