Setting Cars Out on a Siding

“Locals” are some of the most fun and engaging types of trains to run in railroading. 

When running a local, cars are added and subtracted as the train travels through different industries, which creates interesting switching and consist operations.

In this case, cars are set out for customers from the train as it travels along its route. 

The crew will spot the cars, tie them down, and remove them from the rest of the consist. 

The process of setting out a car (or a cut of cars) is straightforward: Spot the car at the desired location, set the air brakes, tie down the car’s hand brake, prove the brake (this is typically done by releasing the air and pushing against the cars to see if they move), pull the pin on the coupler, and then pull away so that the air bleeds off from the car with the angle cock open.

“Tying cars down” refers to setting the hand brake with a tool called a brake club. 

With the Tsunami SoundCar, you can simulate this process by spotting the car at the desired location, turning on F11 to set the brakes, waving your brake club (i.e., a magnet such as our IC Wand) over the Intelligent Consisting sensor on the SoundCar to tie down the hand brake (this will also take the car out of the consist), turning off F11 to release the brakes, and turning off F13 to pull the pin. 

You have now successfully cut the car out of the line for the local industry to use. 

You will even hear the hand brake being tied down to confirm the car has been taken out of the consist. 

Now you’re railroading with SoundTraxx!