Cab Ride Chances

[casanova419]

I;m an ex up/sp conductor/engineer worked out of the los angel's hub for 8 years. The first time you get on a locomotive is a thrill and scary at the same time. AFter 8 years i got bored of the job and tired or working 12 plus hours with 8 hours of rest but the crew dispatcher calling you one hour and a half before your 8 hours of rest to go back to work when they were short of crews and had a meltdown on the system like when the up-sp merger finalized they had trains all over the place with trains tied down in every siding and all we did was to relieved the crews that just sat there without turning a wheel for 12 hours. Been there done that it's no fun and you just don't have a normal life while you work for the railroad. While they got so many accidents going on I don't think the crew is going to risk there job just to give a non railroad employee to ride on a cab ride. Like others said try a museum place or a class3 railroad maybe you might just get lucky and get that cab ride.

 

[cascaderailroad]

Years ago at MG tower a set of helpers light, came downhill, stopped ... backed up toward me and my 4 y/o son... and the engineer motioned with his hand, and said: "Bring him on up" ... I said: "What" ... "I said: Bring him on up" ... "I said: What if a train comes along and rear ends us" ? He said: "Come on up ... Nothings comming".

We climbed up into the cab, it was diesel smelly, shaking, and noisy ... The engineer said: "Wanna blow the whistle" ? The cab alerter was was screaming, my son started crying, he blew the horn and we went @ 500' down the tracks ! "I said how far are you taking us" ? He said: "Just a short bit around the Curve, unless you want a round trip to Altoona and back" ! I think my son started to wiz himself, and soiled himself ! I said: "We better get off ... the car ain't locked, and I have a $400 stereo tape recorder on top of the hood" ! So the engineer backed up the 500', and we quickly got off.

Man ... We could have had the cab ride of our life ... and we passed it up, and will never see that chance in a million lifetimes.

My 4 y/o son said: "That was so loud, I was so scared !

 

[Klinger]

Go to a scenic railroad or an operating museum....cab rides are normal.

 

[frogpipe]

That is true, in fact there's one (in Arizona?) that advertises it on their website. Something like 1/2 hr and 1 hr runs in the cab of a diesel or steam (all at different prices)

 

[Vern]

In the UK unauthorised cab rides - no chance. Even those of us who work on the railway in operations and would benefit from seeing the driver's perspective, can no longer get cab passes, such is the concern over distraction.

Not sure how it is in the US but while most UK heritage railways will offer a driving "experience" this tends to come in at a three figure sum and you're likely to be sharing the time with others. Heritage railways are subject to the same rules and regulations and accountability as the national rail system, so are unlikely to offer casual cab rides. If an incident occurred and an unauthorised person was found to be in the cab or, even worse driving, the RAIB and DfT would have a field day. Preserved trains are every bit lethal killers as their main line counterparts.

 

[PerRock]

You could talk to the Southern Michigan Railroad, they're a tourist line. You might be able to ride in the 44-toner. The GLC also does tourist stuff but is a bigger & proper freight railroad. They tend to be pretty railfan friendly however. There is also the Huckleberry Railroad, which I doubt would do much, their too structured and government run. Finally there is the Henry Ford, and I really don't know what they'd say. On one hand their a serious tourist operator, on the other hand they are an educational facility, can't hurt to ask however.

I would contact the GLC first, as you would get the best bang for your buck if they let you up. The Southern Michigan would probably be the safest to ask, as they are really quite small. HFM/GFV would be a neat one to get, especially if your on their steamer. I don't know much about the Huckleberry.

peter

Edit: The Steam Railroad Institute is the tourist 'branch' of the GLC (their really separate entities). But SRI does have PM 1225 which would be fun to get a cab ride in. http://michigansteamtrain.com/sri

 

[Bluewater]

Well all, thanks for the help and advice, but I found my railroad. One in Kalamazoo, actually. The Grand Elk has an engineer whose son goes to my dad's school, and he wouldn't mind taking me along one day. That means I have a really good chance of getting inside an SD40-2. Thanks!

 

[Klinger]

Well, have fun. I would advise not posting to social media. Mum is the word when it comes to these things on Major railroads.

Its been long enough now....but my first cab ride was at the Mid Continent railroad, my second was on the Fox Lake Branch of the Metra.....that was about 10 years ago, so its safe to say I can talk about it now....plus that was before the last few distraction accidents.

 

[Bhorton]

I have 2 memories of cab rides, one was on my local railway the SKLR, where I got control of a tiny shunter while the train was delayed, and another memory was on my 5th birthday, the Bredgar and Wormshill light railway, where I got a cab ride in number 5.
I also had a guard ride on the KESR, where the vintage train was full the guard let me and a friend into the guard compartment, and we got to operate the breaks. (this was earlier this year)

 

[Wessex_Electric_Nutter]

Not sure how it is in the US but while most UK heritage railways will offer a driving "experience" this tends to come in at a three figure sum and you're likely to be sharing the time with others. Heritage railways are subject to the same rules and regulations and accountability as the national rail system, so are unlikely to offer casual cab rides. If an incident occurred and an unauthorised person was found to be in the cab or, even worse driving, the RAIB and DfT would have a field day. Preserved trains are every bit lethal killers as their main line counterparts.

Depends, I worked on a preserved system (I now work for the national system, in the form of SWT!) and the preserved system wasn't too much of a problem if you asked nicely and volunteered. Knowing managerial contacts also goes a long way to help. (Done a gronk, a 33 and a 205 that way!)

Now cabbing a Desiro? I wouldn't dream of it! Too much hassle than its worth, same for an electrostar and a 313. You have to draw the limit somewhere.

The other problem is, that even as staff, there are times where you need to travel as a passenger in the cab, due to the way some station stops are arranged like driver door only, such as platforms built for depot staff.

 

[BDP]

@Perrock: Most Regional Railways Like GLC, Says You Have to Know Someone to Ride , If just Walked into the Shops and Said" Can I Ride on the GLC in the Cab" They Would Say No.