General Operations

General Operations.

a. Train Operational Methods.

(1) Yard Limit Rules. The Installation Commander may designate yards in their local

railroad operating directive. Examples are classification yards, commercial-government

interchange yards (bullpen), and holding yards. The following yard rules shall apply to all trains

operating within a rail yard.

Yard shall be marked, for example, upon entering the yard, a sign stating "yard

rules apply" and upon exiting, a sign stating "main line rules apply."

While operating within yard limits, trains or locomotives shall not exceed a

speed which will enable the train or locomotive to stop short of another train

or locomotive, obstruction, or switch not properly lined. Trains or

locomotives operating within yards shall not exceed 10 MPH or a lesser speed

as designated by a local SOP.

(2) Main Track Rules. Main track shall only exist where access is controlled by

means of a railroad dispatcher.

Operations shall follow the guidelines of only one train in each absolute block. The railroad

dispatcher shall not allow any train or locomotive to occupy a block previously occupied by

another train or locomotive until the dispatcher has positive confirmation from the conductor or

engineer that the original train or locomotive is no longer in the block.

Trains shall only be allowed to enter the same block if controlled by train order rules or positive

signal protection or both. Flagging protection is necessary.

b. Train Crew Notices. Train crew notices are necessary to provide a means of alerting

crews to local situations that arise which are not covered by other directives. They describe

situations that may be present for any period of time. Examples of these situations include: out

of service track, slow orders, wash outs, track under repair, and inactive track These situations

often present hazards that crews need to be aware of to operate safely. Notices shall be kept

up-to-date and reviewed daily. They shall be issued on an as-needed basis.

Crew members shall sign the log sheet that accompanies the train crew notice before every shift

and they shall note the highest notice number present. See Appendix B for samples (Form 2,

TRAIN CREW NOTICE and Form 3, TRAIN CREW NOTICE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

SHEET).

One system for maintaining train crew notices is to use an electronic print board. Key safety

related information is entered on the print board as required. Railroad personnel at the beginning

of their shift acknowledge they have done so with their signatures on the board. When all have

read and signed, the rail supervisor prints the board. The copy provides a record of key

information and the signature of the personnel who have read the information.

Train crew notices should be numbered consecutively beginning with January 1st of each year and

issued and canceled by the transportation supervisor or other designated officer.

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