I actually used a wheel jack once, along with a couple other high school students. One of the fellows at the BN (NP) depot in Pasco brought one out, and let us use it on a MOW boxcar on the storage track there. He manned the handbrake, and we took turns using the jack, moving the car a few feet towards the dead-end of the track at a time.
Try that today, with all of the security and OSHA regulations! We were all familiar with the railroad, although not "friends" in the "hang out together" sense, and were regular visitors when Amtrak came through in the evening. So we were familiar with railroad safety, and had decent clothing, although not what would be considered "proper PPE" today. Solid shoes, jeans, etc.
