Module 1

Question 1

1. What documents are we required to have while on duty?

Answer 1

a. Safety Rules, General Code of Operating Rules, Air Brake Rules, and Timetable – Special Instructions. Note: Hazardous Material Instructions are required only for employees handling hazardous materials.

Question 2

2. How can the GCOR be modified (amended)?

Answer 2

a. Track Bulletin, General Order, or by Special Instructions.

Question 3

3. When must you review these General Orders?

Answer 3

a. Before beginning each day’s work or trip.

Question 4

4. Are we required to have either the UPRR’s or the BNSF’s Air Brake and Train Handling Rules, their Safety Rules, or their Hazardous Materials Instructions, and why?

Answer 4

a. No, unless otherwise instructed, employees will be governed by Safety Rules, Air Brake and Train Handling Rules, and Hazardous Material Instructions of the railroad they are employed by.

Question 5

5. What documents from the UPRR and the BNSF are we governed by?

Answer 5

a. Amtrak Operating Rules (GCOR) and their Timetable/Special Instructions.

Question 6

6. How are General Orders numbered, and what do they contain?

Answer 6

a. Consecutively, and contain only information and instructions related to rules or operating practices.

Question 7

7. What can the Special Instructions supersede?

Answer 7

a. Any rule or regulation with which they conflict.

Question 8

8. Where would you find the amendments to the GCOR in the UPRR or the BNSF System Special Instructions?

Answer 8

a. UPRR: Item 10-A, BNSF: Item 14 and Item 15.

Question 9

9. Where could you find further amendments to the UPRR or the BNSF System Special Instructions?

Answer 9

a. In General Orders and/or Track Bulletins.

Question 10

Review:
The General Code of Operating Rules is the foundation in which the UPRR and the BNSF operate. Each railroad fine-tunes the GCOR to fit their operating practices by using their System Special Instructions (SSI). General Orders can further amend the SSI, which is the reason we review these documents daily. Immediate changes, if necessary, can always be made by using a Track Bulletin.

Answer 10

Review:
The General Code of Operating Rules is the foundation in which the UPRR and the BNSF operate. Each railroad fine-tunes the GCOR to fit their operating practices by using their System Special Instructions (SSI). General Orders can further amend the SSI, which is the reason we review these documents daily. Immediate changes, if necessary, can always be made by using a Track Bulletin.

Question 11

10. Any employee operating an engine, must have what?

Answer 11

a. A current certificate in possession.

Question 12

11. When required, what must a watch display?

Answer 12

a. Hours, minutes, and seconds.

Question 13

12. When must employees ensure they have the correct time?

Answer 13

a. Every day before beginning work.

Question 14

13. How can an employee determine if they have the correct time shown on their watch?

Answer 14

a. By comparing it to a standard clock, by asking the train dispatcher for the correct time, by comparing it to another employee’s watch with the correct time, or by comparing it to the designated time service as shown in the SSI.

Question 15

14. Before initiating movement on a main track, what must be obtained or determined?

Answer 15

a. Obtain a Track Warrant or determine from the train dispatcher or yardmaster if any track bulletins are needed.

Question 16

15. What will this Track Warrant contain?

Answer 16

a. A list of track bulletins that affect their train’s movement.

Question 17

16. What is a Track Bulletin?

Answer 17

a. A notice of conditions affecting train movement.

Question 18

17. What may the train dispatcher verbally change on the track warrant as long as the track warrant is used only to deliver track bulletins?

Answer 18

a. May change the train symbol, the engine number, the date, or the direction.

Question 19

18. What must be determined regarding the route description as found on the track warrant?

Answer 19

a. That it covers the intended route of your train.

Question 20

19. If the route description is not complete or does not cover the entire route of your train, what is required?

Answer 20

a. Contact the train dispatcher and determine if the track warrant is valid.

Question 21

20. How much time can elapse from the OK time as shown on your track warrant before the train dispatcher must be contacted?

Answer 21

a. Four hours.

Question 22

21. The BNSF does not use a track warrant to list the track bulletins. What do they use instead, and do track bulletin rules still apply?

Answer 22

a. A General Track Bulletin, and all rules that apply to track bulletins also apply to general track bulletins.

Question 23

Review:
Track Warrants in this case (as opposed to a Track Warrant granting Authority, which is a later topic) are specifically used as a cover sheet to list all of the subsequent track bulletins. Track bulletins are specifically used to alert train crews of operating conditions that affect their route. Form A Track Bulletins indicate temporary speed restrictions, Form B Track Bulletins indicate work areas with men and equipment working on or about the main track, and Form C Track Bulletins cover miscellaneous instructions which can contain instructions to stop your train such as when protecting a malfunctioning road crossing.

Answer 23

Instead of using a Track Warrant to list track bulletins, the BNSF uses a General Track Bulletin. The same principle applies with a GTB, as does a Track Warrant in that a GTB is used as a format to deliver track bulletins. It will also contain an address line along with an OK time and route description, all of which you are responsible for checking correctness.

Always check the address line to determine correctness. If there are any errors, contact the train dispatcher and correct them verbally.

Question 24

23. Before transmitting on the radio, what must be done?

Answer 24

a. Listen long enough to determine that the radio is not already in use.

Question 25

24. What must be done first when transmitting or acknowledging a radio communication from a locomotive?

Answer 25

a. Must begin with the required identification by using the name or initials of the railroad followed by the locomotive number.

Question 26

25. When ending a radio communication, what is used to indicate that a response is expected?

Answer 26

a. The word “over”.

Question 27

26. When ending a radio communication, what is used to indicate that a response is not expected?

Answer 27

a. The word “out”.

Question 28

27. If you do not understand a radio transmission, what is required?

Answer 28

a. Treat the transmission as if it was not sent.

Question 29

28. When the radio is used for backing or shoving movements, what instructions must be given?

Answer 29

a. Direction and distance to be traveled.

Question 30

29. If you were given instructions to back up six cars, you must stop the movement within how many cars if no other transmission is given?

Answer 30

a. Within three cars.

Question 31

30. What are mandatory directives?

Answer 31

a. They are written authorities for occupying the main track or speed restrictions that affect the movement of your train.

Question 32

31. Who may not copy a mandatory directive?

Answer 32

a. The employee operating the controls of a moving engine.

Question 33

32. After the dispatcher states the intent to give you a mandatory directive, what must you state to the dispatcher when ready to copy?

Answer 33

a. Your name, identification and location.

Question 34

33. If you happen to overrun your limits of authority or overrun a Stop indication, what is required on both the UPRR and the BNSF?

Answer 34

a. Must make an emergency call by stating the word “emergency” three times, and then give as much complete information about the incident as possible.

Question 35

34. In addition to pronouncing directions on the BNSF (such as “East” or “West”), what is further required?

Answer 35

a. Must then spell the direction.

Question 36

35. What is the difference in the use between yellow flags and yellow-red flags?

Answer 36

a. Yellow flags are used for temporary speed restrictions and yellow-red flags are used when a train may be required to stop.

Question 37

36. What is the standard distance in which yellow and yellow-red flags are placed before the restricted area and how would an exception to this distance be noted?

Answer 37

a. Two miles, anything less than two miles will be noted in the track bulletins.

Question 38

37. Upon finding a yellow flag with no track bulletin specifying a restriction, at what speed must your train be in two miles from the yellow flag?

Answer 38

a. 10 MPH.

Question 39

38. When can you resume speed?

Answer 39

a. After the rear of your train passes a green flag, or rear of train has traveled 4 miles beyond the yellow flag and the train dispatcher has verified that no track bulletins are in effect.

Question 40

39. Upon finding a yellow-red flag with no track bulletin specifying a restriction, at what speed must your train be in two miles from the yellow-red flag and looking out for what?

Answer 40

a. Restricted speed looking out for a red flag.

Question 41

40. When can you resume speed?

Answer 41

a. Increase speed after receiving permission from the employee in charge, or the leading wheels are 4 miles from the yellow-red flag and the train dispatcher has verified that no track bulletins are in effect.

Question 42

41. When a red flag is displayed, what is required?

Answer 42

a. Stop and not proceed until the employee in charge gives you verbal permission.

Question 43

42. Can a red flag be placed between the rails of a main track?

Answer 43

a. Yes.

Question 44

43. Does a red flag apply to your train if it is between the rails of an adjacent track?

Answer 44

a. No.

Question 45

44. What does a green flag indicate?

Answer 45

a. The end of a temporary speed restriction.

Question 46

45. You have a Form B track bulletin that expires at 1700. It is now 1730. Can a yellow-red flag be displayed at this time for this now expired Form B track bulletin on either the UPRR or the BNSF?

Answer 46

a. Yes.

Question 47

46. The UPRR will place track flags only on the track affected. How will track flags be placed regarding restrictions while operating on the BNSF as opposed to the UPRR?

Answer 47

a. Track flags will be placed on all main tracks and sidings leading to the track affected on the BNSF.

Question 48

Review: Every track flag counts. No longer do you have the luxury of only being concerned with passenger speed restrictions. You must have an answer for each and every flag displayed in the field including freight-only restrictions. If you do not come up with a restriction specified in your track bulletins, you have a “surprise” flag which will demand a whole new action on your part.

Answer 48

Review: Every track flag counts. No longer do you have the luxury of only being concerned with passenger speed restrictions. You must have an answer for each and every flag displayed in the field including freight-only restrictions. If you do not come up with a restriction specified in your track bulletins, you have a “surprise” flag which will demand a whole new action on your part.