Couping

[BNSF5767]

Can a train just back up slowly to some cars or does the brakeman have to get out and attach the air brakes?

[CRQ5508]

well yes to both questions. the train just slowly backs into it's cars. If the train is just yard switching than train-line brakes usually aren't connected, unless the yard crew is assembling a train to go over the road. If they are building a train, then yes they have to connect the air lines. and yes the brake-man does have to manually connect the hoses. although using the 'glad hand' couplings, they will disconnect automatically if the cars are separated.

[rdamurphy]

Of course, if FRA rules have been followed, even if you don't connect the air, you still have to release the handbrakes on a certain number of cars...

A good example of this is in the movie Emporer of the North. Shack's train picks up an empty gon, and simply couples it to the back of the caboose and releases the hand brake. Then there's no reason to cut the train line and rebuild air, so they just take off for home.

Although the gladhands uncouple "automatically" when seperated, if the trainline valves aren't closed manually, the train will go into Emergency with the loss of trainline pressure. In addition, the dropped cars will need to have their hand brakes set, so they don't run away when the air bleeds off.

So, yeah, the brakeman has to get out.

Robert

[djt1]

Can a train just back up slowly to some cars or does the brakeman have to get out and attach the air brakes?

If the move is being made in a yard the brakes have most likely been bled off on the cars to be switched. Most yards are also built in a “bowl” so that the cars do not run out, so in most circumstances hand brakes do not have to be set everywhere in a yard. In this case yes some moves can be done by simply lining the engine in toward the cut of cars and then as long as long as the coupling makes the engineer can tie on without the help of the yard conductor or switchman/brakeman. Most operating rules though do require that the trainman protects the move by riding (or by walking ahead of movement) whether it’s with a light engine or not.

Depending on the conditions and operating practices some yards require by rule to switch with air in which case obviously the air would have to be cut in by the yard conductor/switchman.

If the train is an out bound road train then it would have to be properly brake tested before departure. In most large yards on class one railroad’s this is done by the car department. The yard crew will make the train up according to the yard masters instruction and when finished the car department will conduct a brake test on the train.

Out on the line of road or main line with say a road or local train the conductor will brake test cars that are picked up.

[ragtimer]

Over here there is now no loose shunting i.e hauling or propelling vehicles without the automatic brake being in operation.To tie on to a vehicle(s),the brakeman (we call him a shunter here) will call the loco on to them by either handsignals or radio (in case of setting back on to them),giving a countdown to the driver to prevent rough shunts.If the driver feels he can control the movement better then he may drive from the cab attached to the vehicle.After any coupling of auto couplers a "pullaway" test has to be performed to ensure they coupled correctly.We can now also drive a light loco from the rear cab during a runround movement in sidings if the shunter rides in the leading cab and is controlling the movement by radio.I personally will still not do this.If vehicles are to be left in a siding they must have sufficient handbrakes applied.

[djt1]

Over here there is now no loose shunting i.e hauling or propelling vehicles without the automatic brake being in operation.
After any coupling of auto couplers a "pullaway" test has to be performed to ensure they coupled correctly.

Interesting, it’s nice to hear about how they do it “on the other side of the pond” for a change.

Usually if the switching is taking place on a grade then using the air is required over here in the states. Similar to what you described, in the US most operating rules also require a “stretch” after coupling up to make sure the pins have dropped.