Railroaders' Nostalgia > Grabbing the brake valve

How many engineers out there were sitting in the cab and suddenly sensed motion, and reached for the brake valves in a panic only to realize it was the cut of cars next to you actually moving ?

Haven't plugged one yet...but sure got a near heart attack a couple times. At least!

Oh yes. I think most every engineer has experienced that sensation.

Posted from iPhone

I never did it.  Maybe because I was old time - window open and starring at the ground when stopped. Add starring at the air gauges, and also because the oldheads told me not to be fooled.  However, I had two engineer trainees / future road foremen that succumbed to the illusion and shot 'em.  Today, both remain great guys and good engineers however.

Never plugged 'em, but I had movement next door get my attention.

Many times. The strangest was sitting at a signal on a steep descent with that strange sensation that your train creeps once in a while, and really does!
JB

Notch7 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I never did it.  Maybe because I was old time -
> window open and starring at the ground when
> stopped. Add starring at the air gauges, and also
> because the oldheads told me not to be fooled. 
> However, I had two engineer trainees / future road
> foremen that succumbed to the illusion and shot
> 'em.  Today, both remain great guys and good
> engineers however.

Something the young people fireing don’t get. I’ve got my window open 95% of the time, and like you. But, exercising the Napping Policy while on spot in the yard I’ve woken to cars moving; never plugged them but had the BeJesus scared out of me for about 3 seconds.

Regards

Posted from iPhone

Oh yes especially like JB said on a steep grade either headed uphill or downhill. Never made a 90 or 110 lb set but went to full service a few times.

Posted from Android



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/30/24 17:51 by SanJoaquinEngr.

Yes, more than once!

Jeff

I've sensed that while I was a passenger on commuter trains a few times.  Tho the strangest has been when you pull into a parking space with your car and stop only to have the car next to you immediately start pulling out, making you think you haven't really stopped.

Kit Courter
Menefee, CA
LunarLight Photography

Have had a similiar  feeling when a T&P passenger engineer would take off so smooth I thought cars next to us were rolling, not us.  But it was US.