Lining the switch

[Mickhall]

While watching the Rochelle Webcam I noticed that when a string of cars needs to be moved onto the siding that the guy lining the switch arrives in his own car, lines the switch, then leaves only to return when the train heads back. Is this normal procedure? Where does that siding lead? Is it a transfer point with UP? Thanks for any replies.

Mick
Victoria BC

[Anonymous]

What you saw is a "roving conductor" or "roving brakeman". This would be a RR employee who drives around in a company vehicle to preform his duties. The use of a vehicle enables the employee to be much more efficent and perform some of his duties at a accelerated pace. For instance, the roving employee can throw switches in advance of a train's arrival (in observance of the rules and with the permission of the DS of course), and the train can pull into the side track without stopping and having to wait for the Brakeman or Conductor to line the switch. Roving employees are much more common on shortlines and smaller operations than class 1 railroads right now, but there will be a day when all trains that do any amount of switching will most likely be followed by a roving employee. Now I must define the diffrence from what you saw and another kind of roving RR employee. Most terminals of any size now have at least one "rover". Often this rover is assigned a 4-wheel ATV or a ex-USPS mail truck (jeep?). Trains entering or leaving a terminal can call on "rover" to line switches, arm FREDs, preform roll-by inspections, ect., ect., ect.

Ted Curphey
[e-mail]
http://www.icehouse.net/funnelfan/

[Anonymous]

Let me give you another example, here in northwest IL, the Metra commuter rail agency runs a train during the week from McHenry, which is served by a spur off the main line (that used to be part of a bigger wye - but that's another story). The location is named Crystal Lake Junction and it about milepost 42 or so on the UP northwest line into Chicago. Every weekday morning, a roving brakeman from the UP drives out to the little hut by the switch before the train is due, unlocks the hut, moves the switch, and resets it after the train goes by.

Doug Murphy

[Soo2610]

This seems to be normal procedure in Rochelle. They have done it this way everytime I've seen a train go down this siding. The siding serves a Del-Monte plant and also conects with the UP.