Train Tornado Procedures

[zardoz]

 I heard dispatchers give severe weather alerts to train crews on BNSF,dont know what the crews procedure would be tho...

....stop the train clear of any crossings (if possible), and get down on the floor or in the nose of the locomotive.

[zardoz]

but the pigs do fly!

Oh, great!  I think about all those times I've responded to an absurd question with the answer, "Yeah, when pigs fly!".......

[mudchicken]

The Class 1's all have in-house weather forecast  capabilities (national contract services a la The Weather Channel) and will notify trains of watches and warnings (along with earthquakes).

In case of a warning, the trains about to enter a warning zone (Determined by GIS overlay and converted to RR milepost and subdivision) are stopped, the trains inside the warning zone are reduced to restricted speed.

(Having done two accident surveys after a tornado took on TOFC/COFC trains, the results can be dramatic....The locomotive(s) stays on the rail, but the pigs do fly!)

[videomaker]

 I heard dispatchers give severe weather alerts to train crews on BNSF,dont know what the crews procedure would be tho...

[Anonymous]

With all the severe weather, a question comes to mind about the procedures train crews are to follow in-case of a tornado.  If a crew spots a tornado, or is provided with warning that one is nearby, what is the procedure?  Do trains crews out on the line get weather alerts (I assume they do/can)?  What would be the standard procedure if a crew in a train that's underway visually spots a tornado?  Emergency stop and take cover?