Excursion Trains

[dehusman]

A couple notes on the excursion train question in the April MR.

Creating a right over order with waits (combining a form S-C and form E train order) does not create a "schedule".  It just gives a train or trains right over another train or trains and sets when the trains can depart certain stations.  An actual schedule imparts a whole lot of other benefits that the form S-C does not necessarily impart.

Railroads would set up the "priority" of the excursion and communicate that to the dispatchers and chief dispatchers for their handling.  One of my job responsibilities was to develop and maintain the dispatching protocol for special trains.  A lot of it depended on the priority assigned by the Vice President that approved running the train (you can't just up and run a special, somebody's got to approve it), who's on it, how soon it has to be someplace and what train its meeting.  A dispatcher may do things differently depending on whether the train being met was a passenger train, an intermodal train or just another freight train.

For example an excursion train would probably rank behind a regular passenger train or a premium freight train (i.e. one carrying UPS or Fed Ex cars, or with auto parts needed for production) but would rank above other freight trains.

[BRAKIE]

dehusman

For example an excursion train would probably rank behind a regular passenger train or a premium freight train (i.e. one carrying UPS or Fed Ex cars, or with auto parts needed for production) but would rank above other freight trains.

I've seen 765 on NS cooling her heels while NS ran several freight trains by her.. So,I guess the real  "priority"  will depend on several things including freight crews getting short on time.

Of course this wait was enjoyed by those of us that was track side.

To be fair while working on the Chessie(C&O) while stopped at Limeville awaiting for a inbound yard track to clear 765 passed us simply because she was taking the Russell  yard by-past track on her way to Huntington W.Va.

[jeffhergert]

I'm still trying to digest the part regarding the meet order, and how it "tells" the extra that it has to be in the clear 5 minutes before the scheduled train's arrival time.  Then goes on to say that the scheduled train also gets a copy, almost sounding like it's an after thought, so that if the extra is delayed the scheduled train won't leave until the extra arrives and clears.

Of course there is no requirement to be clear by 5 minutes on the meet order.  The explanation saying the scheduled train will wait if it's not there clearly shows the 5 minute clearing time doesn't apply in this instance.  While the order might be considered helping the extra, it's more important for the scheduled train to receive the order.  If the extra fails to get it's copy, it will clear the scheduled train normally, per the rules.  (The 5 minute clearance being required when clearing schedule time.)  At worst there will be a delay to the scheduled train until orders can be changed.   If the scheduled train doesn't get it's copy, it will continue on expecting any inferior opposing trains to be clear.  Setting up a corn field meet.

Jeff 

[dehusman]

jeffhergert

Of course there is no requirement to be clear by 5 minutes on the meet order.

You are absoluely correct Jeff on all the points.  I really didn't read that paragraph very closely, like who could mess up a meet order?  Oops.

Unless instructed otherwise, the extra would take the siding, although many rule books suggested including that, it wasn't universally required.

There is no need to clear 5 minutes ahead.  It really doesn't matter who gets there first, both are hooked.

As Jeff said, No 6 doesn't have to recieve it "also", it has to recieve it, depending on the circumstances and timing might have to recieve it BEFORE X227W and No 6's crew might have to sign for the order since its being restricted (a form 31 order).

[wp8thsub]

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