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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Chainsaws
and Train Tracks<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Or
Trains and Chains...<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>By
Tim Ard<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Forest
Applications Training, Inc. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Worldwide transportation
of freight, passengers and food all depend on rail systems connecting North
America and connecting countries within other continents too. </span><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Rails as you
probably know have been operational for many decades but, what happens should
storms play havoc along the rails? Could it be, as with many other disaster
cleanup projects, yes the chain saw is a most valuable tool? Even around train
rails the chain saw is one of the first tools acquired by workers when problems
and debris block the tracks. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>One tree can
mean hours of delay and possibly threaten the life of trains and their
passengers. An improperly cut and placed track tie can mean sure failure in the
line…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>What are some
of the issues with chain saws and operators of major rail lines? How are they
affected by chainsaw, misapplication of it, training, and or the lack of it?
How many dollars are spent on down time in this very important industry?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>I recently
completed a training course with some Amtrak instructors and I learned some
things I would like to pass along to help you. <b>This team was awesome!<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Tie-ing in
Sharpening<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>How long does
it take to dull a chain? How important is sharpening to a chain saw operator
who has a task of cutting a railroad tie or removing wood debris after a storm?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Railroad ties
when fairly new are not too rough on a saw chain but after they have lain
around a few years under a train or near a track they collect all kinds of good
stuff. Sand, rocks, spikes, end caps and rot all become added abrasion to the
saw chain. Sometimes these foreign things are downright dulling! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>We went
through the parts of the saw tooth in class. Some comments were that it is not
critical that sharpening be part of an operator’s knowledge in the field.
The chains can be sharpened at a shop or replaced. I told them that I agree
with that but if you don’t know when the chain is dull, what does it mean
to the operator and eventually the piece of equipment. What does it mean to
productivity and possibly safety? Then we went out to some outside saw work on
some ties.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>I had them
look at their saw and the chain. It was a little damaged I noticed. I started
my saw and made a cut in a tie. Then they tried their saw and it would hardly
dent the tie. Just scratched the surface and smoked. They were amazed! They had
a new chain for their saw and mounted it to complete the cut. It made a world
of difference in the progress. I had told them I look for about an inch a
second progress into the wood if the chain is sharp and doing its job, if not
it’s time to stop and sharpen or replace it with a sharp one.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The tie
breaker in this session was that the next cut made with their saw, one cut old
new chain, was devastating. The operator made an undercut and there was a patch
of sand or dirt in the exact place he wanted to make the cut. Soon as he
started the cut the new chain stopped cutting - dulled it! Everyone thought
that chain is hard metal and should last through many, many cuts on the ties or
a tree. Not always so, the chains will stay sharp a long time if not damaged.
The majority of the time the sharp edge is not dulled it is damaged for some
reason in the cutting process.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>So to tie it
all together, the operator doesn’t have to know how to sharpen but they
must be aware of when it needs to be sharpened. There must also be a system in
place to repair the chains in the field or a supply of new sharp ones so the
tasks can be completed productively and safely. Pushing and pulling trying to
cut with a dulled chain will mean operator inefficiency, equipment damage and
possibly injury. The operator does have to know sharp! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>All kinds of
sharpening systems are available. Once you know the tooth basics and the
results you are expecting, practice!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>How to
Track Mixed Fuel<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Who buys and
stores the fuel supply? Is it fresh, stabilized or just plain old? Do your
operators mix their own fuel? Does a supervisor or shop handle the fuel mix
process? What happens in the field if there’s a hole in the system? How
do you productively finish the field task if there is a flaw in your process?
We agreed if there was a properly pre-mixed fuel can supply available, ready to
go, the problem/issue would be solved. There is such a solution!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>PPE on a
Rail<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Please be reminded
to read your equipment operators manual and follow any added safety information
from the manufacturer, your organization or company. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>P</span></b><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>ersonal <b>P</b>rotective <b>E</b>quipment
- Hardhats, eye and face protection, hands, legs, boots and visibility must be
considered no matter if you a cutting a railroad tie or removing debris from a
track or debris from your back yard.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Again, the
chain saw is an amazing tool for many tasks and applications. There are a lot
of things to consider. That’s why training is so important. Learn from
those around you – seek information, be aware and plan what you do. Good
Sawing!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>See our <a
href="http://www.forestapps.com/e-book/eStore.htm" target="_blank">eStore</a>
for items discussed in all our <a href="http://www.forestapps.com/program.html"
target="_blank">training programs</a> and <a
href="http://www.forestapps.com/news.html" target="_blank">articles</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>©
Copyright 2010 Forest Applications Training, Inc. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Good Sawing,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Tim Ard<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Forest Applications Training, Inc.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Phone: 770.222.2511<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>http://www.forestapps.com <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>We have an eStore for items discussed in our programs... <a
href="http://www.forestapps.com/e-book/eStore.htm" target="_blank">eStore</a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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