12/12/2000
Today I was offered a ride on a small shunting train. Naturally I accepted. We shunted several rakes of carriages, including loose shunting several individual carriages, sometimes picking up a bit of speed. Loose shunting means that the carriages were shunted without their brakes on. This is done by bleeding the brake air reservoir empty. On several occasions carriages were rolled on their own after disconnection from the shunter. At other times the shunter attached to rolling carriages while still in motion. Most of the wagons and rolling stock was quite old and in poor condition.
It goes without saying that train hopping is a VERY dangerous activity. Don't even think of trying this.
It's so easy, this thing drives itself. Very old too.
Have to disconnect this carriage in a moment to loose shunt it.
So have to cross over to it first
Easier over here.
Scarier than it looks!
Safe on the other side.
Wagon is released to roll to a stop behind us.
Preparing to couple a loose shunted oil wagon in motion. I'm supposed to have both hands on the guard rail behind me.
Running on a high speed oil wagon between the suburbs
It's more comfy up here, and you see more too.
For Christ sake don't try this at home. View from the top of a wagon.
End of the day
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