Opinion & Answer Part 20: Shunters & Pilot Locomotives (Yard & Dock Shunters + Station/shed & Work pilot Locomotives)

 

To celebrate my 20th Opinion & Answer, I'm doing a third special O&A piece to celebrate my mile marker of the opinion & answer series. For today's special piece, we are celebrating with a piece on Shunters & Station/shed/works pilot steam locomotives. 

In my opinion: I was looking to do this for my 15th opinion & answer celebration but had something else that better fit for the 15th O&A so I held off till now for this special O&A piece.  Another reason this fit for my 20th O&A is that lately been focusing on branch line, mainline and other engines but didn't focus on the locomotives that do the work around the station/sheds/works and doing the shunting in the shunting yards and at the docks. 

What are Shunters & Pilot (Station/Shed/Wok) Locomotives 

 

All these categories listed above are literally define the same locomotive's duties. The with only few difference among these groups:

Shunters otherwise known as switchers (in the United States) are the locomotives that work within a rail yard (marshalling yard in United Kingdom) or down at the docks (Dock Shunters) assembling trains for other engines to take away.

Pilot locomotives are the engines that are assigned to either the stations as dedicated station pilot engines or at the "work" shed as the Shed/Work pilot locomotives. 

             Station Pilots assemble/help trains with a push at a station.

             Shed/Work Pilots move rolling stock and out of powered locomotives in or around the                             maintenance buildings 

Lets Take a closer look at their classification & responsibility 

Shunter Locomotives (Yard & Dock Shunters)

In the United States: Shunters are called "Switcher" Locomotives that work in the switching yards 

In the United Kingdome: Shunters work in the marshaling yard (British classification of rail yard)

switcher/shunter/yard pilot/switch engine/yard goat/shifter Locomotives Duties 

• maneuvering railroad cars inside a rail yard
• assembling trains in order for another locomotive to take over
• may also make short transfer runs and even be the only motive power on branch lines and switching and terminal railroads.
• Switching locomotives may be purpose-built engines, but may also be downgraded main-line engines, or simply main-line engines assigned to switching. Switchers can also be used on short excursion train rides.

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Shed/Work Pilot Locomotives

Pilot locomotives are now limited to use in locations such as traction maintenance depots and heritage railways to move rolling stock and "dead" locomotives in and out of the buildings. Locomotives performing this particular duty were traditionally known as shed pilots when working at a motive power depot, and as works pilots when shunting at locomotive, carriage or wagon works.

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 Station Pilot Locomotives 

 

A station pilot is a shunting engine based at a major passenger station, used for moving trains or carriages between platforms, assembling trains, and other passenger train shunting tasks. Having assembled a train, it could also be used to assist the train engine in starting a train by pushing from behind. It is a predominantly British term.

Station Pilot locomotives work at railroad stations and station shunting yards

Currently: Station pilots have recently been phased out in the UK as the majority of passenger trains are formed with multiple units or have a Driving Van Trailer at the opposite end to the locomotive; the few locomotive-hauled passenger trains are shunted by the train engine rather than a dedicated station pilot.

That concludes another edition of Opinion & Answers. Stick around for Sunday 10/16/22 for examples of some of these locomotives as we explore Pilots & Shunter Engines steam locomotives posts.