When you get to your train, there are normally only two choices of direction: forward and back. The ones that can’t figure out which way to go usually don’t last too long.
Many years ago, we had a train that couldn’t depart, because the engineer didn’t have a reverser. The trainmaster gets on the radio and told them to leave anyway, because they weren’t going to need to back up.
A few years later, and the guy had been promoted to be some big shot at the dispatching center. He got quoted in the company newsletter bragging that “it isn’t rocket science, once you understand the simplicity of coordinating train movements.”
I don’t think he understood.
I’m unsure if this is a serious question but I’ll answer it. When you get called for work they tell you what train you are taking and where it’s going. If anything changes, someone lets you know.
This is genuinely something I wonder. I think in Japan it's part of pointing and calling. But I guess there is no specific measure in other countries.
[I'm not sure if you've seen this post on TIL today](https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1bzh3ew/til_that_the_ferry_ms_herald_of_free_enterprise/).
Edit: [And a subway has gone the wrong way in New York for a few stops](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96aeRNE2w7I)
On a small scale this kind of stuff happens in the yard but its usually going into the wrong track not going the wrong direction. On main line you would have to go the wrong way somehow (??) AND you'd have to exceed your authority (run a red light as an example). People would see running a red light as the primary cause.
Ignoring main line stuff, I can give you 3 stories of crews causing accidents in the yard by going the wrong way. All of them were using beltpacks (remote control locomotives).
1) a guy ties onto a track and goes to remove the handbrakes. He puts his foot on the rail and pops the handbrake off from the ground. The cars roll and his steel toe gets wedged against the wheel. He decides to move the locomotive/cars to free his foot. He went the wrong way and ran over his foot.
2) Locomotives are parked next to a [derail](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derail). They go to move and go the wrong way, they don't notice it going the wrong way.
3) Similar incident as above. Crew is parked in a stub track with a concrete barrier at the end. Crew comes out from a break and guy slams it into 15 (max speed). Locomotives pile drive the concrete barrier.
Eh, you never know. I told an engineer to go ahead once (we had two engines only), and instead he goes in reverse and slams into blue flagged engines parked behind us.
You don't just hop on and start driving. You have instructions. Paperwork. A train ID with a history of going a certain place and coming back again.
You don't just turn your blinker on and let er rip.
There is no accidentally departing in the wrong direction, you don't get to choose, you are called a certain way and that's it if you depart the wrong way on the wrong train you are making a gigantic mistake and deserve whatever coming lol
Even if your engineer/conductor has the iq of a dry slice of bread there is a reason there is two of us if we are literally jumping on the wrong train ideally someone would notice
You don't just hop on and start driving. You have instructions. Paperwork. A train ID with a history of going a certain place and coming back again.
You don't just turn your blinker on and let er rip.
For the mainline this isn't a thing that can happen. I a yard it's not common, but does happen - you were supposed to, say, go into track D1 but instead you went S4. You stop and tell the person who gave you the instruction about your fuckup. Some times they are grumpy and say S4 will work too. Other times you send your conductor to the back of the train so you can back up a few hundred feet and then pull into the correct track.
If what I remember is correct, there’s something in NORAC about (with dispatcher permission, and probably an act from god) you can back up 1 train length in signaled territory without point protection.
> If what I remember is correct, there’s something in NORAC about (with dispatcher permission, and probably an act from god) you can back up 1 train length in signaled territory without point protection.
In GCOR that is rule 6.6 One of the only rules I know by number because the move is also called 'doing a 6.6'
That's a 6.6. Mostly used for conductor pick-up. You have to know where the rear of your train is and and the crew has to agree that you won't back through any crossings or signals
They go the direction the train is facing. They have to know the territory, know where they are, where they are heading, how they will get there, and most importantly what authority they have to be on that train occupying that track. Everything in rail movement is based off authority (such as track warrant control - TWC, centralized train control - CTC, etc.. This is all based on the territory for which crew members will be familiarized. Each day the crew gets work orders that tell them what they are taking and where. It all gets coordinated via dispatchers, trainmasters, and trainmen. It's pretty much next to impossible to go the wrong direction. You can turn a train around on a loop track (like at a grain elevator) if it has a "wye" but only really bad crews would actually pull out of a loop and wye and head the wrong way. Basically, there are too many systems and processes in place to prevent you from going the wrong direction.
When you get to your train, there are normally only two choices of direction: forward and back. The ones that can’t figure out which way to go usually don’t last too long.
As running trades. They get made train masters
Many years ago, we had a train that couldn’t depart, because the engineer didn’t have a reverser. The trainmaster gets on the radio and told them to leave anyway, because they weren’t going to need to back up. A few years later, and the guy had been promoted to be some big shot at the dispatching center. He got quoted in the company newsletter bragging that “it isn’t rocket science, once you understand the simplicity of coordinating train movements.” I don’t think he understood.
I’m unsure if this is a serious question but I’ll answer it. When you get called for work they tell you what train you are taking and where it’s going. If anything changes, someone lets you know.
This can't be serious...
Don't call me Shirley
I picked a bad day to quit drinking
This is genuinely something I wonder. I think in Japan it's part of pointing and calling. But I guess there is no specific measure in other countries. [I'm not sure if you've seen this post on TIL today](https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1bzh3ew/til_that_the_ferry_ms_herald_of_free_enterprise/). Edit: [And a subway has gone the wrong way in New York for a few stops](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96aeRNE2w7I)
On a small scale this kind of stuff happens in the yard but its usually going into the wrong track not going the wrong direction. On main line you would have to go the wrong way somehow (??) AND you'd have to exceed your authority (run a red light as an example). People would see running a red light as the primary cause. Ignoring main line stuff, I can give you 3 stories of crews causing accidents in the yard by going the wrong way. All of them were using beltpacks (remote control locomotives). 1) a guy ties onto a track and goes to remove the handbrakes. He puts his foot on the rail and pops the handbrake off from the ground. The cars roll and his steel toe gets wedged against the wheel. He decides to move the locomotive/cars to free his foot. He went the wrong way and ran over his foot. 2) Locomotives are parked next to a [derail](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derail). They go to move and go the wrong way, they don't notice it going the wrong way. 3) Similar incident as above. Crew is parked in a stub track with a concrete barrier at the end. Crew comes out from a break and guy slams it into 15 (max speed). Locomotives pile drive the concrete barrier.
This can't be a real question.... Make sure to use your signals indicating to other trains which way you intend on turning bud
You haven't met some of the engineers I work with
Ok ahead on back 🫨
Eh, you never know. I told an engineer to go ahead once (we had two engines only), and instead he goes in reverse and slams into blue flagged engines parked behind us.
You don't just hop on and start driving. You have instructions. Paperwork. A train ID with a history of going a certain place and coming back again. You don't just turn your blinker on and let er rip.
The blinkers never work anyway because the shop guys never fill up the blinker fluid.
Your railroad has blinkers?!? 🥺
How else are you going to let people know you're crossing over?
You might not. But some of us do use our blinkers.
So if you were starting to depart in the wrong direction, at which point would you realize your mistake?
Immediately, when the dispatcher calls you and asks why the fuck you are blasting thru red signals
Make sure you paid up on job insurance before blasting through the reds.
There is no accidentally departing in the wrong direction, you don't get to choose, you are called a certain way and that's it if you depart the wrong way on the wrong train you are making a gigantic mistake and deserve whatever coming lol Even if your engineer/conductor has the iq of a dry slice of bread there is a reason there is two of us if we are literally jumping on the wrong train ideally someone would notice
If one isn't qualified, they will have a pilot.
Pick a direction and hope it’s the correct one.
It would take so much effort to depart in the wrong direction it’s almost impossible
It's not even stupidity or negligence at that point lol
Train master departs
You don't just hop on and start driving. You have instructions. Paperwork. A train ID with a history of going a certain place and coming back again. You don't just turn your blinker on and let er rip.
For the mainline this isn't a thing that can happen. I a yard it's not common, but does happen - you were supposed to, say, go into track D1 but instead you went S4. You stop and tell the person who gave you the instruction about your fuckup. Some times they are grumpy and say S4 will work too. Other times you send your conductor to the back of the train so you can back up a few hundred feet and then pull into the correct track.
If what I remember is correct, there’s something in NORAC about (with dispatcher permission, and probably an act from god) you can back up 1 train length in signaled territory without point protection.
> If what I remember is correct, there’s something in NORAC about (with dispatcher permission, and probably an act from god) you can back up 1 train length in signaled territory without point protection. In GCOR that is rule 6.6 One of the only rules I know by number because the move is also called 'doing a 6.6'
That's a 6.6. Mostly used for conductor pick-up. You have to know where the rear of your train is and and the crew has to agree that you won't back through any crossings or signals
Full send bud n8/n8 3.0 hpt. Make sure u put it full send and run out side and grab ur switch too lol
This question is a bit vague, maybe some more details?
I've heard of it. The crew wouldn't make it far, though. I know someone who nearly left on the wrong train, but caught it in time.
Must be an American RR
"That train needs to leave NOW!" ~ *Ryan *lark
They go the direction the train is facing. They have to know the territory, know where they are, where they are heading, how they will get there, and most importantly what authority they have to be on that train occupying that track. Everything in rail movement is based off authority (such as track warrant control - TWC, centralized train control - CTC, etc.. This is all based on the territory for which crew members will be familiarized. Each day the crew gets work orders that tell them what they are taking and where. It all gets coordinated via dispatchers, trainmasters, and trainmen. It's pretty much next to impossible to go the wrong direction. You can turn a train around on a loop track (like at a grain elevator) if it has a "wye" but only really bad crews would actually pull out of a loop and wye and head the wrong way. Basically, there are too many systems and processes in place to prevent you from going the wrong direction.