February Operator-Agent post

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
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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.

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Next month Larry begins a section on Railway Mail and Express Operations