Model Railroading > Model railroad ops - is this cheating?

Here in Texas there are a number of outdoor railroads that hold operating sessions,
usually lasting a couple days, using car cards and a yard crew that puts together trains
for road crews to switch industries along the line.  We did this a couple weeks ago in East Texas,
and being a bit in a hurry not wanting to run around our train, as conductor I saw a pine log on the
ground nearby and made the call to pole the car we needed to pick up and yes, we had to pick up the 
pole and reposition it after clearing the signal button seen in this photo.

We were accused of cheating. 

To those of you who attend op sessions, either indoor or out, were we within our rights ?

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/06/20 09:49 by WrongWayMurphy.

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i think the problem is...You got caught :-) But no, that's a legitimate railroad activity.

Based on the time period of you locomotive that was probably pretty common practice then. That's what I would have done.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shunting_(rail)#Poling

If the locomotive has poling pockets, then its legal!

pilotblue Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If the locomotive has poling pockets, then its
> legal!

Sure, as long as you use a "real" poling pole and not an oversized tree you just cut down.

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> pilotblue Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > If the locomotive has poling pockets, then its
> > legal!
>
> Sure, as long as you use a "real" poling pole and
> not an oversized tree you just cut down.

if the tree works, use it! Shoot, I've used a tie before ( don't recommend it though).

I agree that your locomotive should have a pole hole.  And the tree??  Just be out of the way when it snaps.  Most operators would have a lot more trouble poling a car than they would running around the train.  But if you don't have a runaround, this method becomes brilliant inovation.

I vote for cheating. First, the "pole" isn't to scale and thus illegal. Second, "poling" even in the old days wasn't that widespread generally speaking. Third, poling was gotten rid of due to the dangers of it, which is being kept alive here. I would vote for the proper prototypical run around move - but that's just me.

I wouldn't say cheating (harsh word) ,but the railroad your working for thought it wasn't proper. Demerits are warranted as you work for them.
Someone could have been hurt.Take it up with the union if you must . Good Luck

Rmosele Wrote:
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> Based on the time period of you locomotive that
> was probably pretty common practice then. That's
> what I would have done.

Most Alco RS-3s had poling pockets, so you are good to go!

TJY

If that "tree" was to scale it would be several hundred pounds and since I haven't seen Paul Bunyon on your Trainman Seniority list...

They think you’re cheating because someone else didn’t think of it first.
 I think you used your brain and were not cheating.

The real question: did your move work? It almost looks as if the two tracks seperate more as you move toward the main so the "pole" would probably all out. And if you did move the car, did it derail as you are pushing on it almost sideways.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/07/20 08:20 by Railbaron.

He cheated, no two ways about it.   The car does not have a poling pocket.  AND, I know him !

Pull out the railroad's rule book.
No rule: No violation.
Bill in Ft Worth

Gosh Bill, why did you have to tell him that.  Now, there is no telling what he will do.

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> pilotblue Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > If the locomotive has poling pockets, then its
> > legal!
>
> Sure, as long as you use a "real" poling pole and
> not an oversized tree you just cut down.

The MILW crew I worked with in Bellingham (WA) blew a drop and frogged their engine. They decided to pole the car out of the way. Of course, in 1975, there weren't poles or poling pockets, so they improvised. I odn't remember what they scrounged up from all the debris in and around the yard, but it was a timber of some sort. It took a few tries (the failures were mmmm...interesting), but they got the car back on the lead in front of the engine. Dangerous, yeah. Against the rules, yeah. However, these were the guys who shoved a cut through the wall of the Am Fab warehouse and hit ttheir caboose so hard that the cupola broke off and slid off the end, so they weren't concerned about consequences at all.

Modelers, there is a prototype for virtually anything you think of.

TAW

TAW Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> PHall Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > pilotblue Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > If the locomotive has poling pockets, then
> its
> > > legal!
> >
> > Sure, as long as you use a "real" poling pole
> and
> > not an oversized tree you just cut down.
>
> The MILW crew I worked with in Bellingham (WA)
> blew a drop and frogged their engine. They decided
> to pole the car out of the way. Of course, in
> 1975, there weren't poles or poling pockets, so
> they improvised. I odn't remember what they
> scrounged up from all the debris in and around the
> yard, but it was a timber of some sort. It took a
> few tries (the failures were mmmm...interesting),
> but they got the car back on the lead in front of
> the engine. Dangerous, yeah. Against the rules,
> yeah. However, these were the guys who shoved a
> cut through the wall of the Am Fab warehouse and
> hit ttheir caboose so hard that the cupola broke
> off and slid off the end, so they weren't
> concerned about consequences at all.
>
> Modelers, there is a prototype for virtually
> anything you think of.
>
> TAW

More then a few crews had a chain or two in their caboose toolbox "just in case".

THAT is funny.