Curfew Manifest

[MP173]

What is a "curfew manifest"?  

CSX has a train M369 - Selkirk to Chicago, which frequenty runs as M869 and is li sted as a "curfew manifest" on the Deshler train listing.

Anyone have an idea of the designation?

Ed

[BaltACD]

MP173

What is a "curfew manifest"?  

CSX has a train M369 - Selkirk to Chicago, which frequenty runs as M869 and is li sted as a "curfew manifest" on the Deshler train listing.

Anyone have an idea of the designation?

Ed

A train whose schedule or blocking is modified from the 'regular' train in response to some form of curfew (major MofW work) on some segment of the regular train's route.

When I was working, CSX modified train operations to keep traffic moving AND not overburdening the track segment MofW was doing 'heavy maintenance'.  Rail Gangs, Tie & Surfacing Gangs and Curve Patch Gangs are the type of MofW gangs that require protection of Curfew's to accomplish their work goals.  With these highly mechanized gangs it can take up to two hours to get all the equipment of the gang 'in the track' and working - by the same token, the lead pieces of equipment have to tie up and get their equipment 'out of the track' earlier so as to allow all the following equipment to reach that point and get out of the track so it can be released back to Operations On Time for the operation of trains.

For Curfews, some trains may have their schedules modified, running nights instead of days etc. or they may have their routing changed so they do not operate on the track segment that is having the MofW Curfew.

CSX updates their operating plan weekly as the curfew locations change weekly.

[MP173]

Thanks....excellent explanation.

 

ed

[ChuckCobleigh]

BaltACD

For Curfews, some trains may have their schedules modified, running nights instead of days etc. or they may have their routing changed so they do not operate on the track segment that is having the MofW Curfew.

Good example of this is on display often in Tehachapi. For a while, UP would shut the pass down during daylight hours on Mondays for MOW work. Crews could be found at various places doing various things and no traffic would come through town. MOW would knock off about an hour before sundown, then the parade would start. First would be the WB trains, both UP and BNSF, at about 15-minute intervals, until 10 or 11, then the EB parade would get going. I am guessing that BNSF had the line from Barstow to Mojave heavily loaded, waiting for the go signal.

These days, it seems like it could be any day of the week. I did learn that if a bunch of UP trucks were parked in the Fairfield lot when I pulled in, train watching likely wasn't going to happen on the next day.

[BaltACD]

ChuckCobleigh

 

BaltACD

For Curfews, some trains may have their schedules modified, running nights instead of days etc. or they may have their routing changed so they do not operate on the track segment that is having the MofW Curfew. 

Good example of this is on display often in Tehachapi. For a while, UP would shut the pass down during daylight hours on Mondays for MOW work. Crews could be found at various places doing various things and no traffic would come through town. MOW would knock off about an hour before sundown, then the parade would start. First would be the WB trains, both UP and BNSF, at about 15-minute intervals, until 10 or 11, then the EB parade would get going. I am guessing that BNSF had the line from Barstow to Mojave heavily loaded, waiting for the go signal.

These days, it seems like it could be any day of the week. I did learn that if a bunch of UP trucks were parked in the Fairfield lot when I pulled in, train watching likely wasn't going to happen on the next day.

When I first went back to Dispatching in 1990, CSX had not devised the Curfew Method of accomplishing major MofW work.  The various gangs were 'given time' based on the whims of the Operating Supervision on the territories where the work was being performed.  In many cases it resulted in the gangs which can consist of 100 or more men being 'shorted' on their track time and not accomplishing their goals.  

I don't recall the specific year when the Curfew System was put in place.  I believe it was shortly after Michael Ward replaced John Snow as the top executive in charge of CSX.  In addition to implementing the Curfew System, Division officials had the effectiveness of MofW getting their 'curfews On Time' as one of the metrics for their Performance Review,  wherein not providing the track On Time would end up subtracting money from their Bonus that was calculated with their Performance Review Score.