This month's Operator Agent post is a big one!
Larry presents the the details from the "Rule Book" that every employee of the Railroad including Operator-Agents was supposed to be familiar with.
The rules applicable for Operator-Agents are highlighted.
Enjoy
73
You can
start from the beginning of Larry's series with Part
1 here.
The job of the Train Order Operator
and
Timetable and Train Order Operations
by Larry Isenor
Part 5
The
Rule Book
The
rule book is the main authority for the operation of trains and train
orders.
It
consists of a number of sections:
General
Rules:
This
section has a group of safety rules for all operating employees
including rule G:
The
use of intoxicants or narcotics by employees subject to duty, or
their possession while on duty, is prohibited.
Rules
1 to 6 cover standard time and timetables.
Rules
7 to 35 cover signals including hand and lamp signals, whistle
signals, and signals on trains such as flags and markers.
Rules
40 to 49 cover protection of trains.
Rules
71 to 152 cover actual train operations.
Rules
201 to 223 cover train order operations
A
section after 223 covers the forms of train orders. These are used
where possible but other information can be added to train orders to
clarify them.
Rules
246 to 673 cover fixed signals such as train order, block signals and
movement by signal indication.
The
main section we are concerned with are the train order rules so below
are some of the more important points.
Train
Order Rules
The
following rules are from the Uniform Code of Operating Rules and are
the rules which apply to the train order operator. There are a number
of other rules that cover dispatching, issuing orders after a
clearance has been given, failure of communication and other
contingencies.
Rule
201
For
movements requiring their use, train orders will be issued by
authority and over the signature of the superintendent or designated
train dispatchers and only contain information or instructions
essential to such movements.
They
must be brief and clear; in the prescribed forms when applicable; and
without erasure, alteration, or interlineation.
Rule
202
Each
train order must be given in the same words to all employees or
trains addressed.
Rule
204
Train
orders, except those relating to track or other conditions, must be
numbered consecutively beginning at midnight.
Train
orders relating to track or other conditions must be numbered
consecutively, using a separate series of numbers, and re-issued if
contin
Rule
206
In
train orders, regular trains will be designated by numbers such as
“No 10 Eng 756", Sections as “Second 10 Eng 756", “Psgr
Extra 234 East”, “Mixed Extra 234 East”, “Plow Extra 234
East”, etc.
Work
extras will be designated as “Work Extra 234".
Engines
of other railways will be designated by their initials and numbers,
as Eng ABC 234", “Extra ABC 234 East”, or “No 76 Eng ABC
234:.
When
two or more engines are coupled, or when a combination of units are
operated in multiple service, the number of the leading engine or
unit will be used in train orders, except when an engine or unit is
placed in the head endo of a train to operate over a portion of the
subdivision only, the number of the engine operating through may be
used.
To
express even hours in train orders the word “oclock” will be used
as “nine oclock 900 am (or pm)” and the words “noon” or
“night” will be used instead of “am” or “pm” where
midday or midnight is involved as “ twelve oclock 1200 noon (or
night)”.
In
transmitting and repeating train orders by telephone, train order
numbers, and the numbers of trains and engines in the address, will
be pronounced and then spelled letter by letter. All stations and
numerals in the body of an order must first be plainly pronounced and
then spelled letter by letter, thus: Aurora A-u-r-o-r-a, and one
nought five o-n-e n-o-u-g-h-t f-i-v-e.
Rule
207
Before
transmitting a train order, the train dispatcher must give the signal
19R or 19Y followed by the direction to each office addressed, the
number of copies being stated, if mor or less than three, as: “19R
east copy 2" , or “19Y west copy 7", and receive the
proper response from the operator as prescribed by rule 221.
Rule
209
Operators
receiving train orders must write or typewrite them in manifold on
the prescribed form during transmission. They must retain a copy of
each train order. The word “complete”, the time, and the
signature of the operator must be in his handwriting.
If
for any reason a train order is to be rewritten, the operator must
make additional copies from one previously repeated, and repeat to
the train dispatcher from the new copy each time additional copies
are made. The date of issue, repeated time, “complete”, and time
must not be changed, and the name of the operator who first copied
the order will be shown with the initials of the opeator who made the
additional copies.
The
train dispatcher must make a record in the train order book of each
repetition.
When
an error is made in transmitting a train order and before it has been
repeated, all copies of that order must be immediately destroyed, the
order marked “void” in the train order book, and if re-issued,
given another number.
Rule
211
Clearance
must be filled out by the operator before clearing a train, showing
thereon, without erasure or alteration, the number of each tain
order, if any, for that train with other required information, and
will then transmit to the train dispatcher, from the clearance, the
number of such orders as “Winnipeg, clear No 17 with orders numbers
1,2 and 3", or “Winnipeg, clear No 17 orders nil”. The train
dispatcher will make the required record in the train order book and
check the order numbers, and if correct will respond by giving OK,
the time and his initials, which the operator will endorse on the
clearance.
Clearances
must be delivered, together with all train orders, to the trains
addressed. Train and enginemen must see that their train is correctly
designated and that train order numbers shown on the clearance
correspond with the number of the train orders received. Operators
must retain a copy of each clearance.
Rule
222
Except
as otherwise provided, operators must promptly record and report to
the train dispatcher from the train register where provided, the time
of arrival and departure of all trains and the direction of extra
trains.
They
must, when practicable, observe trains and report at once to the
train dispatcher if proper signals are not displayed.
Rule
223
The
following signals and abbreviations may be used:
ABS Automatic
Block Signal System
CTC Centralized
Traffic Control
Com Complete
Cy Copy
Eng Engine
Frt Freight
Jct Junction
Mins Minutes
No Number
NS No
Display of Train Order Signal
OK Correct
OS Train
Report
Opr Operator
Psgr Passenger
SD Signal
Displayed, adding R or Y as required
Sub Subdivision
9 To
clear the line for train orders
23 Message
to all
Initials
for signature of the superintendent or train dispatcher.
Office
Signals indicated in the timetable.
The
usual abbreviations for the names of the months.
In
transmitting, repeatin, copying and recording train orders, spelling
of station names must be exactly as shown in the time table.
No
other abbreviations are authorized.
Note:
some sections dealing with the job of the dispatcher and failure of
communications have been omitted.
========================
Next month Larry begins a section on Railway Mail and Express Operations
