Transmission of Train Orders by Radio

When radios are being used to control the movement of a locomotive,

transmissions to the locomotive shall include the locomotive number.

When radios are being used to perform switching, the employee directing the

movement shall keep in constant radio contact with the employee receiving the

instructions. If there is doubt of either the meaning of the instructions or the

employee for whom such instructions are intended, the movement shall be stopped

and shall not be resumed until the instructions are understood. Switching, backing

or pushing movement distances shall be specified in 50-foot car lengths. The

engineer shall stop the movement in one-half the specified distance, unless

additional directions are received.

b. Transmission of Train Orders by Radio.

(1) Train orders shall be transmitted by radio only when authorized by the local

railroad operations directive and must be transmitted in accordance with that directive.

(2) The procedures for transmission of train orders by railroad dispatcher or

designated representative are as follows:

Before a train order is transmitted, the conductor copying the train order shall

state that he is prepared to receive the train order. The conductor shall state

his name, identification or call sign, and location.

Train orders should not be transmitted to the crew of a moving train when, in

the judgment of either the conductor, the engineer, or the train dispatcher, the

train order cannot be received and copied without impairing the safe operation

of their train. Conductors shall copy train orders in the format prescribed in

the local railroad operations directive.

After the train order has been copied, it shall be immediately repeated in its

entirety. After verifying the accuracy of the repeated train order, the

dispatcher or designated representative shall state "complete," the time, and the

initials of the conductor. Conductors copying train orders shall then

acknowledge by repeating "complete" and the time.

Before a train order is acted upon, the conductor shall have a written copy of

the train order and shall ensure the train order is read and understood by other

members of the crew.

A train order which has not been completed or which does not comply with the

requirements of the operating rules, shall not be acted upon. Information

contained in a train order shall not be acted upon by persons other than those

to whom the train order is addressed.

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