Cotton Belt Rulebook

[Deggesty]

This is in response to another post that I received via email, and it is not in my Classic Trains forum when I bring it up. efftenxrfe mentions the rulebook used by the Cotton Belt; I ahve a copy of the May 1, 1950 Rock Island Uniform Code of Operating Rules , which was used by total of sixteen different roads; the St. Louis Southwestern Railway Lines is one of them.

 

[efftenxrfe]

Deggesty,

You are absolutely correct, and my "mind" burst was completely wrong.

A little bit of confidence about a recollection, not good.

More than a little bit of confidence is much worse.

my error, very sorry.

 

[jeffhergert]

The 1st Uniform Code took effect in 1940, the RI, MP and SSW were the only users then.  The last UCOR was in 1968, with the SSW still using it.  

Jeff

. 

 

[Deggesty]

I understand that there are now two rulebooks in general use in the United States. Is there any practical difference between the two, other than possibly different signal aspects?

[jeffhergert]

Signal rules don't appear in the basic GCOR.  They appear in the individual user's book/special instructions.  For example, there are some minor differences between UP and BNSF signals, even though both use GCOR.

I think there are at least 5 rule books being used.  I know there is GCOR and, NORAC.  I believe NS and CSX have their own book and CN has a rule book for their US lines.  There used to be a site for Amtrak engineers that had links to those rule books, signals and air brake/train handling rules for a couple of the railroads they operate over.  The last I knew, that site was no longer available.  

When it comes down to it, there probably isn't that much difference between them.  

Jeff

[Deggesty]

Thanks, Jeff.

[BaltACD]

jeffhergert

Signal rules don't appear in the basic GCOR.  They appear in the individual user's book/special instructions.  For example, there are some minor differences between UP and BNSF signals, even though both use GCOR.

I think there are at least 5 rule books being used.  I know there is GCOR and, NORAC.  I believe NS and CSX have their own book and CN has a rule book for their US lines.  There used to be a site for Amtrak engineers that had links to those rule books, signals and air brake/train handling rules for a couple of the railroads they operate over.  The last I knew, that site was no longer available.  

When it comes down to it, there probably isn't that much difference between them.  

Jeff

But enough difference to get you fired if you 'comply' with one company's rules on another company's property under the wrong circumstance.

[Deggesty]

Yep, especially if a particular aspect (such as lunar white) on a certain road has the opposite meaning on another road, and you run on both roads, be certain you remember which road you are on. As I mentioned on another thread some time back, I noticed the lunar white as we were leaving Cincinnati on the Powhatan Arrow back in 1969, and I asked the N&W flagman about it; he told me what it meant on the B&O (I have forgotten what it was)--and that it meant the opposite on the N&W. Using the Pennsy between the two roads may have helped the crew know that they were on the other road.