Know Your Rules

By Mickey Cowling

For suggestion or comments contact Mickey Cowling via E-Mail

I. We are on a yard job in a terminal and at the end of the day the yardmaster instructs us to shut the engines down for they will not be used for over an hour. Then we are told to be sure and kill all the units in the consist. Can we do this when we are in yards?

A. Yes.
B. No, we are required to leave the lead unit running.

II. Refering to the previous question, what about locals and road switchers that are left at their regular tie-up point? Can all the units be shut down if instructed by local supervisors?

A. Yes.
B. No, lead unit must always be running.

III. If we are on a line of road and we are going to shut our engines down and we are going to leave the lead unit running, are we required to take note of the amount of fuel we have on the lead unit?

A. Yes.
B. We are not concerned.

IV. Refering to the previous question, if the lead unit has less than 500 gallons, does this mean that we cannot leave this unit running?

A. Yes.
B. No.
C. It means we have to notify the dispatcher as to how much fuel this unit has.

V. Refering to the previous question, if the lead unit is already dead, do we have to leave another unit running?

A. Yes.
B. No.

VI. We are doubling a hill and we have to return with our 4 unit consist to the rear portion of our train. The distance we are returning is more than 2 miles. Are we required to operate from the leading unit to make this move?

A. Yes.
B. No.

For the answer:

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When not teaching rules classes, Mickey works the 7:50 A.M. Hump Job in Fort Worth.

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