Eastern Railroad Discussion > 3 POINT PROTECTION

WHAT IS 3 POINT PROTECTION. I know that this is used when you go between cars,but what are the 3 points.

Brakes set, reverser centered, and generator field switch in off position

Actually called three step protection.
Three point is three point contact,which you must maintain whan mounting/dismounting or riding rquipment.One hand,both feet or one foot,both hands.
MetallicA

When riding on equipment one must maintain either two feet and
one hand or two hands and one foot on the equipment.

Sometimes gets confused with 3 step protection which the trainman
requests when going between equipment to couple the hoses or set
handbrakes. When the 3 step is requested, I must fully apply the
independent brake, center the reverser and turn off the generator
field switch. This in turn provides protection against possible
movement while the trainman is in between the cars.

The proper way to apply 3-step protection is to apply full independent, a twenty pound reduction of the automatic, waiting for the blow to stop, generator field down and reverser centered and preferably removed. The idea behind the twenty pound reduction is to make sure that the cars don't move. The wait for the reduction to stop makes sure that there is no ripple effect of air when the angle-cock is closed leading to an undesirable release and also ensures that all the brakes are set. Even when shifting cars around without air, setting both brakes prevents one from being accidentally knocked off, especially in NS engines where space is tight, and causing movement.

NS has cheapened 3-step as far as the air portion is concerned and their yard brakemen make a big production out of it. Only NS can complicate such a simple procedure.

i is suppose to be 3 step protection its a safety thing
when the brakeman or conductor brakes the plain of a freight car
you are suppose to ask for 3 step protection
the enginer applies the brakes puts the reverser in netrual postion
and turns the generator field switch off