Know Your Rules

By Mickey Cowling

For suggestion or comments contact Mickey Cowling via E-Mail

Attention!

A situation I put forth in the October issue of U.P. CROSSROADS was NOT correct. I had a train in CTC moving on clear signals, around the corner the next signal was DARK. The train was not able to stop short of the signal. The question was weather or not Rule 9.5 applied to this situation. I said it didn't.....but it most definately does.
Rule 9.5, WHERE STOP MUST BE MADE. "When movement is being made beyond a block signal requiring a train to be prepared to stop at the next signal, the stop must be made before any part of a train passes the block signal requiring the train to stop.
If a train overruns any block signal that requires it to stop, the crew must:
Warn other trains at once by radio.
Stop the train immediately.
Provide flag protection immediately against possible conflicting movementsunless relieved by the train dispatcher or control operator.
Report it to the train dispatcher."
I said that since we were not running on a signal that required us to be prepared to stop at the next signal, this rule didn't apply to this situation. (That was when the first blow landed). I got to my feet and said, "We have to trust our signals, when we are moving at maximum speed we are not going to find a stop signal following a clear signal. (The second blow landed). I got back to my feet slowly, "Ya know, I think....I think I see the light. Something could have happened in the block we are about to enter and the signal should have been displaying a stop indication, but it was dark instead. We did overrun a signal that requires us to stop and the provisions of 9.5 do apply.
My head hurt, but the pain was about to get worse. I walked up to one of my favorite conductors, I like him because I've always thought I was smarter than he was. I told him I wanted to show him something. I explained the situation and I opened the rule book and told him that Rule 9.5 applied in this situation. "Of course it does", he replied, "what is it you want to show me?" ......I don't like him as much as I used to.
This has been a very difficult year for all of us on the Union Pacific....Let's all pray that such a year as we have had is never repeated...please Lord...never again such a year.
Merry Christmas,
Mickey

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

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