BLE-T St. Louis Hub

Brothers,

Brother and Sisters, 

i would like to add one more part to riding over crossing. If it is a crossing within an intermodal facility, you must be on the ground to provide warning when shoving cars or engines. This would also include one engine long hood coward, and when pulling cars if long hood forward. 6.32.7

Riding Over Crossings 

Did you know that when riding a locomotive over a crossing you cannot be on the steps. This means you must be all of the way up on the platform, not just off of the bottom step. 

81.7 B - Details when not to ride. The second to last last bullet covers riding overs crossings. The first part of the sentence says not to ride over a crossing on the sill step of equipment, the next part says engine steps. Notice that this does not state bottom step. Also, it is important to understand that this applies to any crossing, including those in the yard.

Another question that often comes up is when do I have to be on the ground and when can I ride across a crossing?

6.32.1 Details when to provide warning when shoving over a crossing. The rule is specifically titled CARS Shoved, or Kicked, or Dropped. The rules specifically states “cars” and does not apply to locomotives. Also, this rule applies to all crossings; public, private, field, and yard crossings. The exception is crossings used exclusively by railroad employees. If in doubt, be in the ground. 

If shoving cars over a crossing, you must be on the ground to provide warning. If the crossing has gates, you can ride across but you cannot be on the sill step. If you are riding a locomotive you can ride across any crossing but not on any of the steps. You must be all of the way up on the platform. 

If you have a crossing protection order that requires you to be on the ground to provide warning, then you must be on the ground regardless of the crossing type, locomotive or car.

Twice in my career I have had someone run into to side of my cut of cars while switching. Once, one of my coworkers was knocked of a car that was struck as he was riding a shove over a crossing. Had he been on the sill step, he would’ve undoubtedly been crushed. 

Non compliance with 81.7 is handled as a Critical Rule violation. It is important to understand and follow not just for rules compliance, but for your own personal safety as well. 

Airbrake and Train Handling rule 32.1.6 says that when releasing handbrakes, you must check 3 additional cars beyond the last one that was applied. 

There has a been a rash of trains with handbrakes found on the head few cars, so there’s a new test Item that’s being introduced to check for compliance. Take the time to go back and check. I recommend even checking when the tie down sheet says that only the engines are tied down. 

The rule would also apply when you are stopped for a hot wheel and find a handbrake.

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It’s nice that the next governing signal was recently brought back. With that being said, it’s important not to to forget GCOR 9.9.1 - Approach to Automatic Interlocking. Rule 9.8 and PTC do not have an exception when delayed approaching an automatic interlocking. 

GCOR 9.9.1 applies at interlockings with an (A) symbol and also those with a (Z) symbol in the station column of the timetable.

If you are below 25 MPH passing the signal prior to these interlockings or drop below 25 MPH after passing the signal prior, you must be prepared to stop until you are within 1,000 feet of the interlocking. There a a few exceptions in the St. Louis Timetable. One exception would be approaching Tuscola on the Pana Subdivision. The signal that this rule applies to is actually a few signals before the interlocking in both directions. 

Don’t let your PTC screen or even seeing the signal with your own two eyes lure you into a trap. If you are delayed approaching an automatic interlocking, the signal could very well timeout and drop to a stop signal until you are within 1,000 feet of it

Brothers and Sisters, 

The other day I overheard a conductor telling the dispatcher about a dimensional load in her train. Great job. While excessive dimensional loads are pointed out on the title page of your train list, dimensional loads are only shown to be in the list of cars. There are similar requirements for both, so I thought that this would be a good opportunity for a refresher.

Item 5-A in the SSI covers the requirements for High & Wides as well as high value loads. There are a few similarities as well a one major difference between dimensional and excessive dimensional loads.

Similarities 

• Must be as close as possible to the head end, but no closer than the 6th car from an occupied engine when train lengthsl permits. Notice the word, occupied. HAZMAT rules apply to locomotives whether occupied or not. A little different here.

•GCOR 15.2 specifically says that when you are to operate through a Form B you must notify the foreman of Excessive Dimensional loads. Although not required, I recommend notifying them of dimensional loads as well. This is important because there is often not a lot of room as you pass on-track equipment. Simply let them know of their presence in your train and the measurements shown on your train list.

•You must have a job briefing with the dispatcher regarding both excessive and dimensional loads. This would also apply to foreign railroad dispatchers as well.

•Subdivision specific speed restrictions, such as the 30 MPH locations on the Chester Sub, apply to both. Not just excessive dimensional loads. This is why it is always critical to review your paperwork for dimensional loads. The dispatcher can allow you to go through those locations at maximum authorized speed if he determines that there are no trains in the area.

Differences

•Excessive Dimensional loads require a Form C Bulletin for each subdivision you will operate on.

•Dimensional Loads do not require a Form C. Remember, you must still job brief with the dispatcher if you have them in your train.

Whether you have Dimensional or Excessive Dimensional loads in your train, it is critical to know that they are in your train and understand the rules regarding their handling. All the instructions in Item 5-A are important to understand and follow.