How does one get to ride in the locomotive cab?
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the_traveler
Engineer
Unless you have special credentials and permission, I do not think it's allowed. However, there are some tourist railroads (like the Northern Nevada [NV] RR and the Valley [CT] RR) that train you and let you operate either a steam or diesel locomotive!
Henry Kisor
Service Attendant
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Generally, one had to be a serious member of the mainstream media at work on a substantial project contracted with a major magazine or book publisher in order to score a cab ride. At least that was the way it was for me. It was not easy, because a road foreman of engines had to go along to keep an eye on the clumsy civilian so that engineer and assistant engineer would not have added responsibility, and road foremen don't have a lot of extra time for these things. In addition, one has to sign heavy-duty liability releases indemnifying Amtrak (and, I believe, the host freight railroad) from responsibility for injury or death. That was in the early '90s and things might have changed. I do think the_traveler is right that tourist railroads would be more likely to allow cab rides. I think some even sell them.
Last time I was in England we were in 1st on a London - Oxford train. One of the crew members invited me into the cab. Only it was the rear facing cab, but still a neat experience. He also let me shoot out an open cab window at 90 MPH.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nic4lX3hKIw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nic4lX3hKIw
Long Train Runnin'
Engineer
Off hand for amtrak you need to be wearing steel toed boots and protective eyewear and pass a training class, and then you get a head end pass.
Trainmans daughter
OBS Chief
While it's not exactly a ride in an engine, you can take the Capitol Corridor northbound running "backward" and sit right behind the engineer. It's pretty fun to look over his shoulder, see the track like he does, watch him press the whistle button at just the right time, etc.
Things are a lot tighter these days, and especially since the Chatsworth wreck.
Back in late '80 in Canada, I was able to score a cab rides a couple of times, in F units on the Canadian, from Field to Banff over Kicking Horse Pass(and have the video to prove it). The first time, the conductor saw I was a railfan, and suggested that go up and ask the engineer in Field. I doubt I would have even thought of it on my own. So I just walked up to the head-end, climbed the ladder, and knocked on the door!
Different world now, though.
Back in late '80 in Canada, I was able to score a cab rides a couple of times, in F units on the Canadian, from Field to Banff over Kicking Horse Pass(and have the video to prove it). The first time, the conductor saw I was a railfan, and suggested that go up and ask the engineer in Field. I doubt I would have even thought of it on my own. So I just walked up to the head-end, climbed the ladder, and knocked on the door!
Different world now, though.
leemell
Conductor
I've got the boots, eye wear and even helmet. Flew bombers in the Air Force, was a spacecraft Mission Controller, where do I get the training?
Devil's Advocate
⠀⠀⠀
I spent hours exploring rail yards when I was a young boy. I managed to score some time in various locomotive cabs on a lucky day. I wasn't the son of anyone at the railroad. I didn't know anyone important. My only qualification was that I loved trains and was willing to ask. Some of the engineers and conductors would let me ride along as they did their switching work. A few even let me have a try at the controls. When there was no work to be done they let me sit in a running locomotive and imagine a future career. This wasn't all that long ago in the grand scheme of things. Back in the early 1980's actually. Asking for a cab ride on Amtrak today? I'd half expect to be read my Miranda rights and hauled off under suspicion of conspiracy to commit terrorism.
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I have twice talked myself into riding in the cab of European passenger trains - and in neither of the cases did the driver speak English or I speak their language.
In Italy in 2001, I got to ride in the cab of the Bernina Express in off-season when it is just an ordinary train. My wife helped explain to the Italian engineer in her limited Spanish that I was a railroad museum volunteer and he let me ride in the cab for about 4 stops including riding on the trestle that does a 360 degree turn. I was so awed, I forgot to take pictures!
In Spain in 2000, I got to ride for a portion of a trip between cities after myself explaining to the engineer in my non-existent Spanish about being a museum volunteer.
At the Southeastern Railway Museum, I got to run a 44 ton GE to move cars to the back of the museum. I could have become one of the engineers if I was interested in coming out early Saturday mornings as the engineers had to be there early to move cars each Saturday that blocked the tracks we use for rides. At that time I was working long hours on my job and wanted to sleep in Saturdays. I did volunteer as conductor many times and since there was no turn-around, the train went backwards for half the trip meaning the conductor had to direct the engineer for reverse motion as well as move the manual switches.
In Italy in 2001, I got to ride in the cab of the Bernina Express in off-season when it is just an ordinary train. My wife helped explain to the Italian engineer in her limited Spanish that I was a railroad museum volunteer and he let me ride in the cab for about 4 stops including riding on the trestle that does a 360 degree turn. I was so awed, I forgot to take pictures!
In Spain in 2000, I got to ride for a portion of a trip between cities after myself explaining to the engineer in my non-existent Spanish about being a museum volunteer.
At the Southeastern Railway Museum, I got to run a 44 ton GE to move cars to the back of the museum. I could have become one of the engineers if I was interested in coming out early Saturday mornings as the engineers had to be there early to move cars each Saturday that blocked the tracks we use for rides. At that time I was working long hours on my job and wanted to sleep in Saturdays. I did volunteer as conductor many times and since there was no turn-around, the train went backwards for half the trip meaning the conductor had to direct the engineer for reverse motion as well as move the manual switches.
Long Train Runnin'
Engineer
thats policy for Amtrak employees I don't think mere peons can gain access to these things.I've got the boots, eye wear and even helmet. Flew bombers in the Air Force, was a spacecraft Mission Controller, where do I get the training?
This used to be possible on Pacific Surfliners in push mode too, but no longer, and not for a long time. Unless the train is packed the cab car is generally off limits, and even when it's not you can't see out forward anymore because those windows are blacked out. It really bites.
George Harris
Engineer
Yes, for the blacked out windows om the San Joaquin trains, also. Whether allowed by rules or not, some engineers keep the door to the cab open when in push mode. I have enjoyed some good views at times because of that. Whether spoken or not, if he sees that he is going to hit something, the open door saves the engineer a couple of seconds when he decide it is time to bail out of the cab. Put another way, if you hear the emergency brake go on and see the engineer running down the aisle, don't think about it, don't ask questions, get up and follow him.
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If I see the engineer come running out of the cab I won't be following him, I'll be in front of him running down the aisle.
Shortline
Conductor
Yep, spent a lot of time in the cab....though, I get paid for it. Don't run much anymore, in my present position, but still get to keep current. Of course that's freight, but I did get to pilot Amtrak several times during reroutes when I was with CSX. Was interesting, believe it or not, there was quite a bit of difference between the "feel" of running 79, rather than 70 on pig trains. Back when things were a little more free, I've taken friends along with a cab pass, but frankly most of them were bored after an hour. Wife has gone several times, and even got Dad a pass once. Not as common as it used to be, but there's still options out there. Like someone else posted, best way to do it is to go to one of the railfan railroads that sell throttle time. You'll even get your own student engineer license.
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NE933
Conductor
If we are going at a high enough speed and the object ahead that shall define our fates is either a gas tanker, a truck loaded with steel (Bourbonais - City of New Orleans, 1999), or another train (Chase, MD, 1987), it might be worth to resign to surrender. I would not want to live with burns all over my body or as in Chase, one passenger was impaled in between cars like a bizaare show and tell, and lived for a while that way with his life spilling onto the tracks below. Nothing I know of in this world is worth that agony.If I see the engineer come running out of the cab I won't be following him, I'll be in front of him running down the aisle.
NE933
Conductor
Which fatal accident? We did this either in 2007 or 8; they gladly accepted our company, with the unspoken but common sense rule not to distract or interfere with the driver.
Given my life-long fascination/enjoyment of all things trains, I had the good sense as a kid to befriend the son of the local depot agent in our little town. On a few occasions, we were allowed to ride in the cab when the engineers would perform their necessary switching maneuvers while in our town. I was even given the responsibility, a time or two, of blowing the horn as the train approached the crossing near the depot. Granted, it doesn't take much to be thrilling when you live in a town with a population of 500 :lol: but for me getting to blow the horn was indeed a thrill.
On other occasions, my friend and I were able to ride the caboose from our town to the next stop down the line, six miles away. For an elementary-school aged young lad, that was a lot of fun too. Sadly, that, too, is the product of a bygone era, with cabooses nowadays very rarely seen except in railroad museums or rusting away on sidings. A few years ago, when I was on a Cascades train, waiting at the Vancouver (WA) station, there was a BNSF train pulling through the yard with a caboose at the rear of the train. That was such a rare sight I had to get out my video camera and record it for posterity's sake.
On other occasions, my friend and I were able to ride the caboose from our town to the next stop down the line, six miles away. For an elementary-school aged young lad, that was a lot of fun too. Sadly, that, too, is the product of a bygone era, with cabooses nowadays very rarely seen except in railroad museums or rusting away on sidings. A few years ago, when I was on a Cascades train, waiting at the Vancouver (WA) station, there was a BNSF train pulling through the yard with a caboose at the rear of the train. That was such a rare sight I had to get out my video camera and record it for posterity's sake.
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The fatal accident in 2009 where the driver of Monorail Pink backed his train into the front of Monorail Purple, killing Purple's driver.
More details here.
a video showing the damage to the two monorail trains, after the driver of Pink pulled back into the TTC station of the Epcot loop.
After the accident it was learned that the driver of Pink was supposed to back his monorail onto the Magic Kingdom track, such that he could then take his train to the yard. However, the yard failed to properly throw the switch for that move and the supervisor on duty at the TTC failed to properly ensure that the switch was thrown. The driver of Pink being rather new didn't realize that he hadn't taken the switch and therefore was still on the Epcot beam and was backing directly into Monorail Purple waiting at the hold point just outside of the station for Pink to clear so that he could pull into the station and discharge his passengers.
It was later discovered also that the person who should have been in charge of operations at the TTC, was instead a few miles away having dinner. The investigation also did show that the poor driver of Purple once he realized what was happening tried to get his train into reverse in a desperate attempt to move his train prior to the collision; but sadly he didn't have enough time.
In the video that I linked to, once the driver of Pink realized that he had hit something, he stopped his train and then pulled forward into the station dragging Purple with him since the trains were now locked together.
It's not nearly exciting as a locomotive cab. They have, what, a couple buttons and a lever?
NE933
Conductor
Wow, unbelievable! I'm sorry for that. I know the junction you're talking about, namely after leaving the ticket center, Epcot's track splices in with the one to Magic Kingdom. I seldom watch news stories, and even internet news is slowly getting my waving hand bye bye. I know it doesn't make the bad stuff go away, but gotta do what i gotta do and hope the best for all.
Well, on a happier note, back in 1982 i was blessed to be allowed into the Conrail cab of a 100 car long freight, unaccompanied! Yes, times were waaayyyyyy different, and the crew, on break in a nearby trailer, told me and my father that I was allowed to not only take pictures but to go inside, as long as I didn't touch anything. That is testamonial to the earned mutual trust and great respect that would be forever eroded in the decades that followed. Back in those days, I carried a clumpy Panasonic cassette tape recorder to get my train sounds, in a crinkly plastic shopping bag that gave a much hated background noise. Never the less I archived this and other recordings onto CD's in 2003 and my treasured sounds will live on. And, I had to save the actual cassette tape itself, after all, it was there with me so how can i just throw it away...
Ziv
Conductor
I was lucky enough to get to ride with my Dad on a couple of his trips as a brakeman on the old Great Northern (then the Burlington Northern) line. Usually we would ride in the caboose, and getting up in the cupola and watching for hotboxes was a blast for a kid. Not sure if it was a snipe hunt or not, but I don't think they had the electronics to test for temperatures back in the late 60's/early 70's. I also got to ride in the locomotive a time or two, which was even better. I was kind of disappointed to find out that the engineer wasn't the boss. That was kind of like finding out that the navigator was in charge of the Memphis Belle, sort of.
:blush:
:blush:
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