Riding the point

[Murphy Siding]

 

     Questions about riding the front end of a rail car- not critisizing the procedure, just curious.

     When a locomotive is pushing a car or cars into a siding, is there always someone riding on the front of the car? Railroad rule? FRA rule?

    Case in point from the only perspective I have: When a rail car is pushed into our spur, a man has to ride the front of the car a half mile in from the mainline. This time of year, he’s doing it when it’s below zero and the wind is howling.

     There is a derail switch that has to be lined about 3/4 of the way in. A roving switchman in a pickup does that switching for the crew. He usually sits in that warm pickup for an hour waiting for the train. As the car is pushed in, the train is   on a gentle right-hand curve, moving about 5 mph through an alfalfa field. Can’t the train crew just ease on into the dock, stop and have the conductor climb down and do his work?

 

[BaltACD]

You can use all forms of 'short cuts' until something happens.  When something happens, if you were not protecting the point of the shove - you are toast.

[mudchicken]

If you can't protect the shove, you don't go.

(This roadmaster got stuck fixing the aftermath of blind shoves regularly. Track bumpers, wheel stops, derails and 6ft rods on rigid switches were constant victims.....and when the threshold of the Unit of Property test is met .....)

Your derail bi-directional or single direction? Got wood chips where your top of ties used to be?

Spent too many nights cleaning up after switchmen brain farts discovering that "gravity works" with crossovers into yards with rigid switches on both ends, engine facility derails and "alligators" (sw. pt. derails with spring loaded mechanical switchmen) 

6.5: Shoving Movements (GCOR)
 Providing Protection Prior to Initiating Shoving Movement Equipment must not be shoved until it is visually determined that:
Engineer and employee protecting the movement must complete a job briefing concerning how protection will be provided.
When not using hand signals, radio job briefing must include:
MOVEMENT MUST STOP WITHIN HALF THE DISTANCE SPECIFIED UNLESS ADDITIONAL .INSTRUCTIONS ARE RECEIVED
Employee must be in a position to provide visual protection of the equipment being shoved. Participating crewmembers must not engage in unrelated tasks while making a shoving movement.
Shoving movements over road crossings must be made in accordance with Rule 6.32.1 (Providing Warning Over Road Crossings).
Employees may be relieved from providing visual protection when:
 Speeds When Shoving When cars are shoved on a main track or controlled siding in the direction authorized, movement must not exceed:
Rule Updated Date
June 19, 2019
Portion of track to be used is clear of equipment or conflicting movements. The track will remain clear to the location where movement will be stopped. Switches and derails are properly lined.
Who will protect the shove. How the shove will be protected. Distance and direction to be shoved (Distance specified must be acknowledged when it is more than four cars.)
Superintendent Bulletin specifies tracks that will be protected with shove lights or monitored cameras. Making back up movements in accordance with Rule 6.6 (Back up Movements). A track has been pulled and cars or equipment of less length will be immediately shoved back into the track and it is visually determined the track has remained clear to the location where movement will be stopped.
20 MPH for freight trains. 30 MPH for passenger trains. Maximum timetable speed for snow service unless the employee in charge authorizes a higher speed