Heritage Units-Brake Stick Holder

[NW Mailing List]

Thanks, Ken.

Gordon Hamilton

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "NW Mailing List" <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
To: "NW Mailing List" <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2012 6:39 AM
Subject: Re: Heritage Units-Brake Stick Holder



> On 7/23/2012 5:35 PM, NW Mailing List wrote:

>> On 7/23/2012 5:12 PM, NW Mailing List wrote:

>>> >From a guy who models steam and does not keep up with the newest 

>>> equipment, what is a brake stick?

>>>   Kurt S. Kramke

>> Yeah, what he said...

>> Ed

> 

> From a guy who also models steam, but has to keep up with the newest 

> equipment for professional reasons..

> A brake stick is a telescoping handle with a head resembling a very 

> small battle axe, designed to allow a hand brake wheel to be rotated 

> from the ground.  The idea is to reduce or eliminate the need for 

> conductors to climb cars to apply or release hand brakes.  Some 

> conductors love them, others do not.  Personally, I have never cared for 

> them, as I find it easier and faster to climb the cars.

> 

>> Pray tell.  What is an RCO--Remote Control Operator?  Would an RCO 

>> accompany a remote control unit over the road?  If so why?

>>  Gordon Hamilton

> 

> Yes, RCO stands for Remote Control Operator.  They would not normally 

> operate over the road (yet, though it has happened, and it is a VERY 

> sore point with most engineers), but there are rules in place which 

> would allow a hybrid job where you could have people working as 

> conductors and engineers, or engineers alone, over the road, and then as 

> RCOs for switching at a yard or industry.  Also, it seems to be the 

> carrier's strong desire to eliminate conductors from road trains, so if 

> they could have a combination engineer/RCO, one man could do everything 

> by himself - everything except stay awake, I suppose.  Finally, 

> conductors also carry brake sticks - they are not specifically an RCO 

> tool.  In fact, I think that all conductors on NS are supposed to have 

> and use them, although not all do.

> 

> Ken Rickman

> 

> -- 

> Kenneth Rickman

> Salisbury, NC

> Fundamentalism: from "Fund" : Give me money, and "Amentalism": No brain.

> 

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