920.  Receiving Instructions

  Operators report to and receive their instructions from the Superintendent or other designated officer.  They must obey the instructions of the Dispatchers and other employees having jurisdiction, and advise them immediately of any occurrence that might affect proper operation or safety of train movements.  They must comply with the instructions of officers of other departments on matters pertaining to those departments.

921.  Assignment to a Position: Qualification

  Operators must be qualified at a TBS or interlocking station before accepting an assignment for duty.  When they have not performed service on a position during the previous 12 months, they must not accept assignment to that position without approval of the designated officer.

922.  Responsibilities

  Operators are responsible for the delivery of authorities for movement and other instructions that may be required by those rules, for the safe and efficient movement of trains and track cars.  They will arrange the use of blocks, tracks, interlocking switches, and signals for the prompt movement of trains.  They must maintain the Station Record of Train Movements in black ink, except track car movements and blocking devices, which must be made in red ink.  When records are maintained by computer, the black/red ink requirement does not apply.

  They must promptly record and report to the Dispatcher the following information on all trains; direction, time of arrival, time of departure, and (when directed) the engine number.

  In cases where the rules require that Operators apply blocking devices, they must ensure that the blocking devices applied provide the necessary protection.

  When the rules require Operators to ensure that a track is clear of approaching, opposing, or following movements before granting track occupancy or fouling authority, the Operator must continue to provide that protection until it is no longer necessary.

923.  Reporting Weather Conditions and Unusual Conditions

  Operators must report the weather and unusual conditions (such as derailment, vandalism, etc.) as required.  In case of sudden changes such as high water, storms or fog, they must promptly advise the Dispatcher.

924.  Operating of Devices

  Operators must operate hand-operated switches, movable bridges, and other devices as required.  They will operate power control boards and such other devices as directed.

925.  Blocking Devices

  Whenever the use of blocking devices is required, a record must be maintained.  This record must be made at once, never from memory or memoranda.  If the record is manually recorded it must be on the prescribed form, and must indicate the time blocking devices are applied and removed.  Signal lever numbers and the position and number of all affected switch levers must be indicated:

Example of record:

BDA 6 sig., 3 sw. nor., 11 sw. rev. – 9:01 a.m.

BDR 6 sig., 3 sw. nor., 11 sw. rev. – 9:05 a.m.

  When a panel blocking device capable of providing the necessary protection is in service, it will be used in lieu of blocking signal and switch levers.  A record must be made of the time the panel blocking device is applied and the time the panel blocking device is removed, indicating the track and the direction affected.

PBDA No. 3 track East – 3:45 a.m.

PBDR No. 3 track East – 5:26 a.m.

  When blocking devices have been applied by order of the Dispatcher, they must not be removed until authorized by the Dispatcher.  Before requesting the removal of a blocking device to route a train around a protected track, alternate route and blocking device protection must be established to ensure that the affected track is never unprotected.  The Dispatcher must be notified.  When movement is completed, original blocking device protection must be restored immediately and the Dispatcher notified.  The application of alternate blocking device protection need not be recorded.

  When the rules require Operators to apply blocking devices at locations where it is not possible to do so, the Operator must ensure that movements to be held are restricted by rule, special instruction, or Form D.

926.  Presence on Duty; Relief

  Operators must not leave their station until relieved.  They must notify the Dispatcher promptly if their relief fails to report at the prescribed time.

927.  Transfer Record

  When being relieved, Operators must complete the transfer record, including all necessary information.  The relieving Operator must:

1. Read this information aloud to the Operator being relieved to ensure complete understanding, and
2. Sign this record in his presence.

928.  Verification of Instructions

  Upon assuming duty, Operators must contact the Dispatcher and verify that they are in possession of all Form D’s, Plate Orders, and other instructions that are in effect and addressed to or in care of their location.