To the engineers ( US ) : Do you want the conductor or fireman to call just the points or the targets too ?

Question

This assumes you are in yard limits and not going too fast to visually inspect them. Some engineers say to just call the points on the switches - and only the targets if they are BAD. I don't like the idea of running through a switch.
Also...what are your thoughts on the low profile switches?
Anyone miss the old switch stands that stood 5 or 6 feet high?

Thanks, all of you. These are GREAT responses.
I am putting this out for votes ! I always call the points in yard limits. If the target indicates a switch lined against me, I will call it out, otherwise I am just calling points.

Answer 1

Hey Planksheer. I work as a conductor in the U.S.. We call out signal aspects by their color, but for switches, we've always called out, "Lined up". Especially in yard limits because the tracks we may need could be a combination of red, green, and yellow. When a switch is not lined for our movement, then we'll call out "Bad switch". In a days time, I can easily work on three separate railroad properties. One, the Canadian Pacific (ex Soo Line), still has quite a number of low - ground through type switches. Most railroads though, are making a slow transition towards waist height levers and handles I believe.

Answer 2

On CSX, in yards, the rule is to ignore the target and only look at the points.

Regarding low versus high-stand switches: if you practice good lifting technique, you won't hurt yourself with a low switch, and it's possible to release the keeper just by stepping on it and not touching the handle. This is important, because if a switch has been trailed through, the handle is under tremendous tension, and if you can release it without touching it, you won't get hurt when it flies up out of control. A high-stand switch, on the other hand, will allow you to fall over trying to force a stubborn point over (on a low stand you just step on it and let you body weight do the work), and if you manage to force a run-through high-stand switch lever free, it will whip around like a samurai sword - you'll be picking up teeth. Also, it seems like hornets really like living in highstand switches for some reason.

Answer 3

I am a railroad conductor in the US, and I feel it's the best practice to look at the rail. We generally call out "Bad Iron", it the switch is lined against us. Looking at the target is okay, but it is possible for that target to have been altered, such as, by a person turning the target face from red to green, or maybe the wind moved it. If you trust the target alone, without looking at the rail, you may be in for a wrong turn.

Answer 4

The rules require that crew members call out each signal as soon as it becomes visible or audible, but in practice, when running on the main track, usually only restrictive signals are called, unless accompanied by officials. But, when running in snow or heavy fog, you call them all. When traveling at speed during these conditions, particularly in heavy fog, you only see the signals for a split second.

Yards are the place most likely for there to be an accident, so everyone pays close attention to switch (point) positions and/or position of targets. Different terms are used in different areas, such as "got the switch," "all lined up," "bad switch," "wrong switch," "the switch is against us," etc.

Low stand, ground throw and submarine switches are all back injuries waiting to happen, and, when employees are in unfamiliar territory, they are harder to see and can be a tripping hazard.

Answer 5

When we approach a switch whose target is blind to the engineer, we usually say, "Lined for us" or "Lined against us." You can look at either the target or the points to come up with your answer, but it's best to just look at the points. The target could be fouled, but the points tend not to lie. And yes, I do like the high switch targets. The bow handles are too funky for my liking.

Answer 6

I work at the Indiana Transportation Museum and our general policy is to just call out whether it is a red or green banner.