What is meant by "NOT TO BE LOOSE SHUNTED" in rails?

Question

What is meant by "NOT TO BE LOOSE SHUNTED" in rail OIL containers?

Answer 1

Some rail wagons are fit to be 'loose shunted', that is, the shunting loco pushes them into the siding and they roll there under their own momentum.

However, some wagons do not benefit from this. They include maintenance wagons owned and operated by the Engineering Detartment, and other vehicles e.g. Mail Vans

Answer 2

It means a car must not be allowed to move under it's own momentum.

i.e letting it roll wherever you need it to go. Or kicking it so it travels up hill to wherever, it is required. (kicking means getting the engineer to speed up the locomotives and then pulling the pin and telling him to stop. so the car keeps going).

It normally applies to cars carrying dangerous goods, shiftable loads i.e. pipes, container cars or cars carrying vehicles.

It is a dangerous practice and luckily most new hires on our railroad do not do it, but we still get the old, bold employees doing it occassionally.

I was nearly killed by another employee, letting a car roll under its own momentum into a track I was working in, he did not ensure the car was lined into the proper track. He also kicked a car at me and expected me to jump on it and bring it to a stop before it rolled out the other end.

So you can see it is a dangerous practice and is far safer to ensure that the locomotives are attached until the car is tied down or attached to more cars.

Also if cars are rolling on the own, they are very hard to hear and another employee could be crossing the tracks and get wacked!!!!!

Answer 3

In some railway yards the tracks are on a slight incline. To move cars they push with the engine and release the car. Gravity takes care of the rest. This is usually not done with flammable liquids and dangerous chemicals for obvous reasons. These cars must be attached to an engine at all times for better control.

Answer 4

A car "kicked," "dropped," or "humped" is allowed to roll freely on its own.  Humps are found in yards, but other way freights, such as locals, use these moves in daily operation when out on the road.

These operations are also another reason for staying clear of the tracks while walking or photographing, etc.  A car rolling on its own will sneak up on you without you ever hearing it.    Stay in the clear when possible and always vigilant when near the right of way.

Safety questions get stars from me.  Here's yours and thanks for asking.  Stay safe!