via E-Mail I. We are working a switching job and we are building a train that contains hazardous materials. The second out car from the head end is a tank car placarded "Flammable Gas". This is not a residue placard. Does this mean the car is definately loaded and requires full cover?
A. Yes.
B. No.
II. Refering to the previous question, can we ever be sure a car is loaded or empty by looking at the placard?
A. Yes.
B. No.
III. We are working on a hump job and we have a flat car with placarded containers on it. The placards are blue class 4, (Dangerous When Wet). No residue placards are displayed. Our switch list says the containers are empty. Can we hump the car?
A. Yes.
B. No.
IV. We know that per General Order #63 placard notations and placard endorsements are no longer required. But the placard endorsements are still on our shipping papers. Can we still use the Placard Endorsement to aid in train placement?
A. Yes.
B. No.
V. In a cut of cars that we are handling is a placarded car that we are really unsure if it is a load or empty. What do we do?
A. Treat the car as an empty
B. Treat it as a load.
C. Check the springs.
Remember: "Residue/empty tank cars are indicated by:
- a 'T' in the type column, an 'E' in the
load/empty column and a 'DE' in the special
conditions column of a switch list or track list
or
- the notation 'RESIDUE; LAST CONTAINED' on the shipping papers."
When not teaching rules classes, Michey works the 7:00 A.M. Hump Job in Fort Worth.