Friday, January 11, 2013 If you look hard enough you might be surprised to find that Atlanta is a haven for railroad and train enthusiasts. Not only is there a large organization dedicated to the building and maintaining of model train layouts in the metro area and a museum that allows visitors to climb aboard over 90 cars, engines and cabooses but there are also actual working railroad yards that move freight and passengers in and around the city as well as teach locomotive engineers how to operate the powerful engines. As part of a Three of a Kind photo feature for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution I photographed the Norfolk Southern Training Center in McDonough. Locomotive engineers from all over the country come to the training center to spend four weeks in an intensive training program to learn how to operate the engines. Between 300 and 700 engineers come to the facility each year.
I see this question was posted 11 months ago, but maybe I can answer these questions for future conductor trainees. I completed my training yesterday, started with a class of 58 and graduated 55. Two failed the hang test and one just up and left the one night after he decided this was not the job for him.he was 58 years old. About the hang test. Everyone must hang onto a steel ladder constructed exactly like the ladders you will find on railcars. You must hang for approximately 1 min, 15 secs with each hand all while swinging a railroad lantern. Sounds easy, but two people had to leave because they couldn't do this after three attempts.
If you get a notification of a school date go to a playground and practice hanging from a monkeybar. You will need some good leather gloves, not mechanics gloves, or anything made of rubber or cloth. I bought my gloves at a truck stop.figured if they were good enough for truckers, they were good enough for me. Adjusting your grip during the hang test will be enough to make you do it again. You don't want that!
The rest of the day will be spent going over the layout of the facility, meeting your and staff and completing all the other stuff. You will also receive your study guides. Expect homework every night. I spent every night studying, doing take home tests/quizes. This was common practice for every student and is necessary to complete this course, so if you cannot commit don't go. Week One-learning how to use our guidebooks and locate rules of operation. At least one test or quiz everyday.
Only had to wear workboots on day one, then we were allowed to wear street shoes rest of week. Alot of information to take in, but it all comes together in week two. Class days usually last from 8:00 to 4:30, but there were a couple days we had to show up at 7:00.
I will add week two info in additional comment block. Week Two-spent out in the railyard located at the training facility. This was my favorite time and this was when everything we learned in week one really started to make sense.
Warn winch m12000 service manual instructions. NS LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER TRAINING HANDBOOK. INTRODUCTION TO AIR BRAKES. AB-2 OBJECTIVE The purpose of this lesson is to familiarize the Locomotive Engineer Trainee with the air brakes on locomotives and freight cars. 
The air brake equipment on freight cars will be discussed. The trainee will be able to. NORFOLK SOUTHERN.
Very knowledgeable employees (NS Retired) showed us how to switch tracks, replace coupler knuckles and air hoses, but the best thing was riding on the cars and locomotives coupling and uncoupling cars. Plan on being outside rain or shine.just like the job requires. The last day of week two will be your evaluation.
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