Eastern Railroad Discussion > N999-14 at Keyser, WV - 15 July 2017

Coal Drag N999-14 arrived in Keyser, WV shortly after Q316 departed town. The drag would split their train into two 40-car cuts and yard them in the east yard at Keyser. Each 40 car cut will be picked up by later following drags to make 120 car trains east of Keyser.

1) N999-16 working their way down to the east end of the east yard at Keyser, WV

2) The drag yarding the 1st cut of 40 cars on track RC#2. When the cars are yarded they are put on yard air. The equipment from two different Surfacing Gangs spending the weekend parked on the east end of the westbound siding.

3) With Brake Sticks now prohibited, the Conductor has to climb the cars to set the hand brakes.

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1) Surfacing Gang Equipment in the foreground while the power from N999 cuts away from their 1st. cut of cars and prepares to bring the 2nd cut into the yard.

2) N999-14 prepares to go west on track RC#1 to get the second 40 car cut into the yard.

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DTW you do a great Job with your Camera thanks

wmbrakeman Wrote:
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> DTW you do a great Job with your Camera thanks


Thank You!

Great pictures. I love to see American coal on the move, especially in WV. Thank you. I hate to display my ignorance, but can someone please explain the statement "With Brake Sticks now prohibited ..."? Is this a recent development? I thought brake sticks belonged to the by-gone era of railroading when brakemen rode out on their cars. Thanks.

qed479 Wrote:
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> Great pictures. I love to see American coal on
> the move, especially in WV. Thank you. I hate to
> display my ignorance, but can someone please
> explain the statement "With Brake Sticks now
> prohibited ..."? Is this a recent development? I
> thought brake sticks belonged to the by-gone era
> of railroading when brakemen rode out on their
> cars. Thanks.

Those were referred to as brake CLUBS.

BaltoJoey Wrote:
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> qed479 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Great pictures. I love to see American coal on
> > the move, especially in WV. Thank you. I hate
> to
> > display my ignorance, but can someone please
> > explain the statement "With Brake Sticks now
> > prohibited ..."? Is this a recent development?
> I
> > thought brake sticks belonged to the by-gone
> era
> > of railroading when brakemen rode out on their
> > cars. Thanks.
>
> Those were referred to as brake CLUBS.


Sorry, but around these parts the crews referred to them as "BRAKE STICKS"......... and I believe that is the term CSX used in the memo Prohibiting them.......