Any information on what EOT (FRED) devices shortlines may use? I expect these devices are expensive so i would think shortlines that are just getting by may use something else. Cabooses? Flags?
Not sure about all short lines, but I have seen flags on the WC locals, before the CN take-over.
The WC ( Wisconsin Central) was a "regional", but still, I remember the flags, orange "Hi-Vis" type.
Mike.
My You Tube
Most short lines I'm familiar with operate within "Yard Limit Rules" and an EOT would not be required as yard limit restricts speed to 15 or 20 MPH. A track warrant is issued by the dispatcher for permission to occupy a section of track.
http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/t/71434.aspx
An EOT is required if the speed is above 30 MPH.
Good Luck, Ed
Most short lines don't use Freds since most operate between 15-25 mph and as Ed mention they fall under "yard Limit" rules. These short lines doesn't use a dispactcher because most are one train operation. The few that uses two crews usually head in opposite directions or uses morning/evening operation..I know of one that serves customers on (say) the East direction and the next day they serve customers on (say) the West direction.
Regional railroads used Freds and dispatchers.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
BRAKIEThese short lines doesn't use a dispactcher because most are one train operation.
Well, I wrote "dispatcher" but I was thinking "train director" or manager or whoever would be responsible for ordering the train. I guess there could be one-man operation where the conductor could write himself a track warrant?
Cheers, Ed
If its all in yard limits there is no need for a track warrant for movement.
The person who issues a track warrant (mandatory directive) becomes a "dispatcher" under Federal Rules and so is covered by Federal regs and the hours of service law.
Yard limits has nothing to do with whether an EOT, marker or caboose is required. Those are separate rules, the definition of a train and the rules concerning markers.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
Somebody has to answer the phone when someone calls in with a car stuck on the tracks.
"Eh, where are you?"
"Our next train through there is next Thursday, call us back then if you are still stuck in the crossing."
ROARING
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gmpullman BRAKIE These short lines doesn't use a dispactcher because most are one train operation. Well, I wrote "dispatcher" but I was thinking "train director" or manager or whoever would be responsible for ordering the train. I guess there could be one-man operation where the conductor could write himself a track warrant? Cheers, Ed
BRAKIE These short lines doesn't use a dispactcher because most are one train operation.
Ed,I have visited several short lines over the years and all recieve their switch list and train consist from the "Customer Service Representative" or his/her secretary. None of those one train short line I visited used a track warrant. The crew put their short train in working order and off they went with me in hot-well, more like slow persuit.
Over the years I've found short line crews more friendlier then the crews on the big roads and more open to questions especially if you stay out of their way while they are working. It also helps if you check in at their office and explain what you would like to do..
I have recieved coffee cups,hats and pens from several short lines. The cup I treasure the most is my R.J.Corman cup.
BroadwayLion Somebody has to answer the phone when someone calls in with a car stuck on the tracks. "Eh, where are you?" "Our next train through there is next Thursday, call us back then if you are still stuck in the crossing." ROARING
Actually 98% of the short lines operate daily and those that don't usually cease operation.
If a car is stuck on the track you simply call the County Sheriff or the Highway Patrol unless there is a phone number on the post of the crossbucks then you simply call that number.
BRAKIEOver the years I've found short line crews more friendlier then the crews on the big roads and more open to questions especially if you stay out of their way while they are working.
I spent quite a bit of time at the Indiana Northeastern, back when...
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I agree, good people.
Through club and historical society affiliation I know a bunch of people who work for the local regional, at all levels and across various areas of responsibility - MOW, Signals, train crew, DS, etc. Up to Director level. All a good bunch of folk, and willing to share their workign knowledge with the rest of us to make runnign the layout more realistic as well as preserve, maintain, and operate our collection of prototype equipment.
As for operation - they do use EOT devices, and control train movement via track warrant. I've been in the cab on a passenger excursion where both trains just sat there because for whatever reason, the DS wasn't responding. We could see the other train, they were in a siding in the clear. We could talk to them on the radio, so both radios were workign, at least over short distance, but it took a few calls by both engineers to finally get a response from the DS (potty break maybe? both trains were scheduled, not extras, so it wasn't that this meet was unexpected) to get a warrant to occupy the next section of track. Owner's private car was in our train, don't know if he was on board or just friends were using it, if he was there, hope he wasn't listening in on the radio, or someone probably got in trouble for delaying his train.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
A regional isn't a short line. As you noted a regional acts like a big railroad.. A short line employee can wear many hats (say) from locomotive enginner today weed cutter or generall laborer tomorrow becuse there is no rail traffic. On some short lines everybody is crosstrained A secretary could be a conductor or engineer if the need araises. A conductor could do the work of the "Service Representative".
west willow and laurel Any information on what EOT (FRED) devices shortlines may use? I expect these devices are expensive so i would think shortlines that are just getting by may use something else. Cabooses? Flags?
Deano
I though short lines just put red flags on the end?
Joe Staten Island West
OT DeanAfter all, you have to have somewhere to keep the coffee hot. Deano
Deano,In my 9 1/2 years of braking the only hot coffee we had was in our thermos bottle. You see the majority of the time there was no fuel oil in the caboose fuel oil tank even if there was we didn't carry coffee grounds or a coffee pot to make coffee.