Know Your Rules

By Mickey Cowling

For suggestion or comments contact Mickey Cowling via E-Mail

I. We are moving in CTC territory and we are running on CLEAR signals. We come around the corner and the next signal is an absolute signal and it is dark. Are we required to stop short of that signal?

II. Refering to the previous question, we use good train handling technique and do not get stoped short of the signal. The questions is, are we required to notify other trains by radio and immediately provide flag protection against possible conflicting movements, per Rule 9.5? III. Similar situation as the first two question, EXCEPT, this time we have passed an APPROACH signal. The next signal is dark. Are we required to stop short of this signal? IV. Refering to the previous question, our good day is history and we do get by the signal. Does Rule 9.5 concerning notifing other trains and providing immediate flag protection apply in this situation? V. This is an odd situation, but let's go through it. There is a train that is attempting to leave the yard and go into ABS/TWC territory. The train lays down, it can't pull the hill leaving the yard. The head end of the train has a Track Warrant and is beyond the yard limits. The rear of the train is within yard limits. A yard job is instructed to come against the rear of the train and assist this train to the first siding outside of yard limits. The yard job is to leave the power attached to the train at this point and they will be transported back to the yard. Does the yard job assisting this train need a Track Warrant to perform this operation? When not teaching rules classes, Mickey works the 7:50 A.M. Hump Job in Fort Worth.

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