Training Again

For the last two weeks, I have been busy working for the Alaska Railroad. Currently, we are in training. Training started about two weeks ago, with some classroom time. We spent two weeks in the classroom, mostly going over operating practices from the General Code of Operating Rules (GCOR). Conveniently, this is the same rule book that BNSF uses. While it is the same rule book, the Alaska Railroad does do a few things differently. The biggest difference in operations is due to the fact that Alaska Railroad runs both freight trains and passenger trains. On the BNSF, we did not need to know anything about passenger trains, because we did not handle any. They have to be switched differently than freight trains and air tests have to be conducted differently for them.

Despite having railroad experience, I still have to go through all the training. That is just fine with me though, because I have been learning more, and I have had to learn what the differences are between the Alaska Railroad and how things are done on the BNSF.

This week we have been doing field training, which involves going out to a yard with our trainers and learning things hands on. We have been at a place called Birchwood, which is about 20 miles from Anchorage, where there is a four track classification yard. Since the Anchorage yard handles most of the switching, Birchwood is usually pretty quiet, which allows us to do our stuff without getting in the way of anyone else and without having anyone else get in our way.

Yesterday was our first day out at Birchwood, so we started by practicing hand signals. Most of them are exactly the same as they were on the BNSF. After we had all practiced a bit, they decided to have us move a locomotive, using the hand signals we had just practiced. That was quite entertaining. For a lot of people, it seems like it is easier to remember what each proper hand signal is when they do not have the pressure of actually controlling a moving locomotive with them! Everyone did very well when we were all standing in a circle practicing. When we got next to the engine though, some people did some goofy things. It was funny, and everyone did improve as we moved the engine several times. It is just part of the learning process.

We also got to practice applying and releasing hand brakes, and lacing and unlacing air hoses. Most of the equipment we are using is very old, some of it goes back to World War II, so most of the hand brakes are up high. That proved to be a bit of a workout, to tie and untie those brakes several times. Later in the afternoon, they showed us how to change knuckles and air hoses. We each had to do both of those tasks several times, to get some practice.  Before we knew it, the day was over. It went much quicker than the classroom time had!

Today, we started the day by practicing hand signals again. Everyone is getting better. They had us move the engine again, and then they had us ride the engine and move it around. There were far fewer goofy hand signals today, and I expect there will be almost none by tomorrow. After we had all had a few turns at riding the engine, they taught us how to get on and off moving equipment. This was something new to me. On Alaska Railroad, the do not use it much, it is mostly for when necessary because of an emergency, but they want us to know how to do it so that we do not get hurt if there ever is an emergency that requires it. It is not particularly difficult when the train is going slow, but there is still a proper technique to it.

In the afternoon, they got a little more ambitious with us, and decided to have us switch cars. We got a cut of four cars and went to the north end of the yard. We practiced switching a couple of cars out, using two different tracks, and using all the appropriate hand signals to make that happen. We also got to practice passing hand signals. I think everyone liked switching more than most of our other activities up to that point. It gave everyone a chance to see and experience what exactly they signed up for by taking a job as a Brakeman.

After switching, we looked at some freight cars and learned what all the different parts are called. I had to learn some new slang for parts I knew already. We looked at several different types of cars, from modern intermodal cars, to some very old gondolas that were built before World War II. The basic parts are all the same, even if the overall appearance and size has changed a bit. Once again, the day was over quickly, and we all headed home. It is nice to be outside and learning more hands on. Everyone seems to be enjoying it a lot more and understanding everything better.