kolechovski Well, on the nice road runs, the conductor can do just about anything. The engineer is too busy working the controls to do much of anything other than eating. When he goes to the bathroom, the conductor takes over running if he's experienced enough. Of course, some of these things depend on a series of factors. As for the bit about wanting 2 sets of eyes on the road, that's untrue given the trains are about to become 1-crew run from now on. Sure, there'll be a fight to the death (literally) against that happening, but you know with teh current push, it's going to. And a flat-out ban on possession of cell phones is just retarded and should be illegal anywhere. I know you're banned from using when while running the show, but to keep you from having it in case of an emergency where radio contact is lost!?
Well, on the nice road runs, the conductor can do just about anything. The engineer is too busy working the controls to do much of anything other than eating. When he goes to the bathroom, the conductor takes over running if he's experienced enough. Of course, some of these things depend on a series of factors.
As for the bit about wanting 2 sets of eyes on the road, that's untrue given the trains are about to become 1-crew run from now on. Sure, there'll be a fight to the death (literally) against that happening, but you know with teh current push, it's going to. And a flat-out ban on possession of cell phones is just retarded and should be illegal anywhere. I know you're banned from using when while running the show, but to keep you from having it in case of an emergency where radio contact is lost!?
There is no ban on cell phones possession i am allowed to carry mine and i do it in plain sight. and when asked to see it i tell them well look from there but im not giving it to them, and the rule and the law states i dont haft to show my phone to anyone.
I used to hear dispatchers ask crew members to call on a phone (occassionally) but not in quite a while.
Ed
We usually have our cell phones with us, most often off. As conductor (and sometimes as trainman) I will use my phone while the train is in motion (I'm generally in the consist doing so, not on the engine) to contact the dispatcher, since radio coverage in our usual trip area is spotty at best only if there is need to clear up our Form D so another train can get the track. It's not real often. Usually we wait until we get into the station and use the landline. That way we can simply hand the phone to the other conductor to get his/her paper.
We rarely have a need for additions to line 2, and just as rarely get "one-ways" for our locals, preferring to get "both directions".
Any such use occurs after a job briefing ("Engine from conductor, I'm calling the dispatcher now") and at such time as I am not needed for safe operation of the train.
Since having the railroad provide cell phones would be an unnecessary expense for our tourist line, management has simply opted to acknowledge our personal phones as being authorized for use on "company" business.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
http://www.utu.org/WORKSITE/safety/EO-26FlowChart081015.pdf
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
zugmann http://www.utu.org/WORKSITE/safety/EO-26FlowChart081015.pdf
Thanks for this piece of information---certainly clears this up!
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
blownout cylinder zugmann http://www.utu.org/WORKSITE/safety/EO-26FlowChart081015.pdf Thanks for this piece of information---certainly clears this up!
Clears what up? I told you i could use my phone and could have it in the engine and turned on, and i dont haft to show it to anyone and i dont use it for railroad buisness, they are to supply a phone for that.
wabash1 The only rule is Electronic devices are not to be used by the crew while engine is in motion. thats it. anything else is ok to do, I dont even turn mine off
That chart is a UTU chart and has nothing to do with the ban or use of c-phones. I am allowed to use my cell phone when stopped at a meet, my phone does not haft to be off, and as far as records go they can get them , whats it going to show? Nothing, why because im not using it while running but if im sitting still i can talk all i want. and also which phone they going to get records of? I have 4 phones prove which one I am on. and for those that dont know pre-paid phones have no records attached to them so unless you see the engineer on the phone you cant prove nothing. But remember the same rules apply to the conductor also he is not allowed on the phone while train is in motion,
the full order is under the federal register wabash. You can't have the phone on while in motion. I'd give a link, but I'm tired of people messing (excuse me, "editing") my posts. So people can search for themselves.
signed,
an aggravated zug
Just a reminder- let's try to keep this discussion civil.-Norris
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
Well... one person says you can....and one person says you can't.
Which is it??????
Any other Class 1 Rails care to weigh in on this???
-------mmmmmm--------
-------I wonder------------
-------on whose authority will I go on this?----
-------me thinks I'd go on a FRA inspectors say so-------
--------cellphone in a grip----------OFF.
As it is. In my job. When I'm on the road it stays OFF. I drive approx 5,000 miles just for work alone. I want my attention where it should be.
No need for fuss and bother with the dang thing off.
Then again---I started work in this company when we were using beepers---and trying to find ways to "forget the dang thing"-------"Oh the dog ate it"
FRA Emergency Order 26
Summary thereof.
Individual railroad rules may vary, but will generally be more restrictive than the EO.
It's supposed to be off. End of statement. Wouldn't want to push it, I think I'd lose.
It's been an interesting discussion about what the engineer can and can't do and all I can say is, well, maybe I'd better not say THAT!
zugmann the full order is under the federal register wabash. You can't have the phone on while in motion. I'd give a link, but I'm tired of people messing (excuse me, "editing") my posts. So people can search for themselves. signed, an aggravated zug
The whole 30 page report yes ive read it and even had to print it. have a copy of it right here, and yes I know about the editing the post, that is just the pits. All I am saying is they cant prove its on so mine is never turned off. i use mine when i am allowed to ( hence what can i do)
We've been talking about electronic devices, so here's a change in discussion.
You get on an engine. You find a newspaper lying on the window ledge in front of the conductor's console. The newspaper is 3 days old, what to you do?
Jeff
1. Complain about the lousy housekeeping of the previous crew(s).
2. See if the crossword puzzle is done...
Considering that our rules include a provision stating that on-duty crews can only read company-related material, I could probably try to get someone in hot water, but it wouldn't be worth the trouble.
Besides, it was a three day old paper, and I really don't know who was in the locomotive. Could have easily have been someone from mechanical...
wabash1 The whole 30 page report yes ive read it and even had to print it. have a copy of it right here, and yes I know about the editing the post, that is just the pits. All I am saying is they cant prove its on so mine is never turned off. i use mine when i am allowed to ( hence what can i do)
Question, phone is in your pocket turned on. FRA man or RFE,, TM, whatever is riding. phone rings.. (maybe someone dialed a wrong number). Now what?
I keep mine off while moving. I don't go as far as putting it in my grip, though.
zugmannI keep mine off while moving. I don't go as far as putting it in my grip, though.
If I'm driving around to various clients the cell phone is off and in my briefcase. Our company allows it to be on our person but I generally tend to stuff it in my case----it's just a habit of mine
jeffhergert We've been talking about electronic devices, so here's a change in discussion. You get on an engine. You find a newspaper lying on the window ledge in front of the conductor's console. The newspaper is 3 days old, what to you do? Jeff
I'd be wondering what happened to the mechanics that they read 3 day old papers
Or was it the Toyo Shinbun
I'll make a guess about the newspaper, but with assumptions: the rules forbid non-railroad/regulatory reading material to be available to the crew members while they are on the locomotive (I have no idea if this is true, it's just an assumption for what follows..). If so, then there is a violation, and it should be easy to conduct an investigation to find out which of 12-15 people (by that time) might have broken the rules. But then the problems start... The last crew are the ones accountable for leaving the inculpating evidence. Was it the conductor who left the item, or another crewmember who placed it there for convenience while she/he attended to something else, and then forgot it? How would you prove one way or the other? Or, was it someone in servicing who carried it up to the conductor's station and left it by mistake?
-Crandell
zugmann wabash1 The whole 30 page report yes ive read it and even had to print it. have a copy of it right here, and yes I know about the editing the post, that is just the pits. All I am saying is they cant prove its on so mine is never turned off. i use mine when i am allowed to ( hence what can i do) Question, phone is in your pocket turned on. FRA man or RFE,, TM, whatever is riding. phone rings.. (maybe someone dialed a wrong number). Now what? I keep mine off while moving. I don't go as far as putting it in my grip, though.
Oh oh...NOW I know why that guy was so mad at me when I mistakenly dailed his number..
Let it ring or at least tothe person on the other end. My cell phone is always on vibrate or ringer is off, its on so i can see who called and my message also states that im not going to pay 25k to the feds. even at home its on vibrate.
Other than being mad that some guys think everyone else is their personal maid It dont bother me, the paper is from some other town and their is no rule against it being on the engine anyways, the rule is reading it is wrong possession is not.
We can eat, and I certainly do. Too bad they don't make the fast food drive throughs for trains (haha).
Anyway, it is against the rules to have any other electronic devices, with the exception of the company cell phone with a push-to-talk feature.
I find myself singing alot since I often alone in the cab.
joesap1Too bad they don't make the fast food drive throughs for trains (haha).
Some of our local crews have been known to stop adjacent to a convenience store (right next to the tracks) for refreshment. Ice cream sure is good on a hot day!
wabash1 jeffhergert We've been talking about electronic devices, so here's a change in discussion. You get on an engine. You find a newspaper lying on the window ledge in front of the conductor's console. The newspaper is 3 days old, what to you do? Jeff Other than being mad that some guys think everyone else is their personal maid It dont bother me, the paper is from some other town and their is no rule against it being on the engine anyways, the rule is reading it is wrong possession is not.
This question appears on a rules study guide.
The rule(s) applicable are GCOR 1.10 and Safety Rule 70.11 (housekeeping). The answer they want is properly disposing it. We may have non-duty related reading material enclosed in our personnal luggage. If it is out and easily accessible, they figure we are reading it.
Throwing it in the trash bag may not be enough. There was one manager who would look into the toilet compartment and go thru the trash looking for newspapers. If he found one he would then cite the crew for violating 1.10, even for one in the trash.
If that newspaper is from another town and a couple of days old, I'm not going to worry about it. I've have no opportunity or no means to get to Atlanta or St. Louis or some such town in the last couple of days and I'll make that argument. However, if that newspaper is local, I'm not leaving it on the engine, not even in the trashbag. I've heard about the management so desperate to nail a crew that they go, in essence, dumpster-diving. Such a job they have!
As for the rest of it, I fail to see why you leave your phone on, Wabash, if someone wants to leave you a message, it'll be there whether your phone was on or off. Why risk it?
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