Two questions I need answers for

[Anonymous]

Dear Everyone,
Sorry I have not been around lately. I have two questions:

1.) I got my June issue of Trains today in the mail, and on page 35, the article on Montana Rail Link locomotives mentions number 680, which has a "non-compliant cab." I was wondering, what makes a cab non-compliant?

2.) If I'm railfanning, and I see a locomotive with a smoking traction motor, or a freight car with a derailed wheelset, or something similar, is it permissible for me to transmit on my scanner on the line's frequency to let the railroad know?

Sincerely,
Daniel Parks

[Anonymous]

Daniel,

A non-compliant cab would prevent a crew from riding in one due to various factors. Things that would prevent a crew from being able to perform their jobs normally would make a cab non-compliant. An engineer would be able to give you specifics.
As for transmitting information over the scanner; I would rather you use a phone to call a dispatcher or railroad official. I know if I heard some transmission over the radio that wasn't coming from another crew or the dispatcher I'd be a little suspicious myself. You're going to get various answers on this one, as everyone has their own opinion.

[tree68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainjunky29
2.) If I'm railfanning, and I see a locomotive with a smoking traction motor, or a freight car with a derailed wheelset, or something similar, is it permissible for me to transmit on my scanner on the line's frequency to let the railroad know?
Sincerely,
Daniel Parks

First of all, I've never found a scanner that would actually transmit. They may generate some "birdies" (stray frequencies), but none of the scanners I've ever owned had a "transmit" button.

Second (and this is not opinion), if you have a transceiver capable of transmitting on a frequency for which you are not authorized operation (which would be the case in the example you give) and transmit on that frequency, that's a violation of federal law, punishible by, among other things, a fine of $10,000. Don't get caught (which you won't if you don't do it in the first place).

Use your cell phone. The number to call is posted on every crossing.

[adrianspeeder]

Cool, where do i get one of these transmitting scanners?

Adrianspeeder

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by adrianspeeder

Cool, where do i get one of these transmitting scanners?

Adrianspeeder

You don't, legally.

All RRs are required to have FCC licenses to transmit and receive on RR frequencies. In addition, RRs need permission from other RRs to use their frequencies.

As mentioned above, unauthorized use of the spectrum can result in federal or state charges.

LC

[arbfbe]

Noncompliant cabs generally break down to those lacking radios, water coolers, toilets, safety glass and general lack of service on the control stand. MRL 680 meets most of these criteria.

Use your cell phone to call the railroad dispatcher or local 9-1-1 service to give notice of such defects.

[CSXrules4eva]

Yes I think I would have to agree with every one else here about useing your cell phone to call the railroad. I know one thing with all the terrorism out here now days. They might claim you to be a terrorist even if your trying to help them out. Which is stupid but that's how it is.

Heck I wish it was legal for me to some how get a transmitting scanner and actually transmit over it. I could have some interesting conversations. But, since it's not legal that idea is at the bottom of the Susquehanna :( Oh Well I'll be transmitting legally in the next three years.

[Anonymous]

Dear numerous people,
Sorry, I thought scanners which could transmit were fairly common among railfans. I have a Vertex VX-150, which was recomended by another raifan. While chatting extensively with another fan, his scanner could also transmit. You can see my scanner here: http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ht/3187.html#feature.

Where exactly does the authority to transmit end? For example, if Person A is a GCOR certified engineer on UP, can he transmit legally on BNSF? Obviously the volunteer crews of steam fan trips have permission to transmit when they run an excursion, but would they be allowed to when not on an excursion? Can a crew deadheading take a track warrant or something similar for the main crew?

Also, about the locomotive cab, is there a specific section of GCOR as to whether or not a locomotive's cab is acceptable? I mean, closing down a locomotive's cab because the toilet doesn't work seems to me to be rather silly.

Thank you for all your answers so far.

Sincerely,
Daniel Parks

[tree68]

Important point about the Vertex radio - it is a transceiver and says so in the product description. On top of that, it is a ham radio - you need a ham ticket (license) to use it as a transmitter. Even then, you can only transmit on established amateur frequencies. A ham transmitting on a RR frequency can get in just as much trouble as John Q. Railfan.

You must have permission from the 'owner' of a frequency to use that frequency. In some cases, that permission may be a long-standing agreement (ie, joint use trackage). In trainjunkies example, just because the UP engineer is GCOR (or otherwise) certified, he does not have blanket permission to use someone else's frequency. I hold an FCC operators license, but that does not give me permission to transmit on any frequency without the permission of the 'owner.'

Back on the Vertex transceiver - it is a better "scanner" because it is purpose built for the VHF-High frequency range. If you read the description carefully, you'll find that while it will receive signals in the 140-174 MHz range, it will only transmit on Ham frequencies - thus you couldn't talk on the RR frequencies anyhow.

[arbfbe]

Train junky29,

The authority to broadcast on a frequency rests with the FCC. They have allocated certain frequencies to business uses and a section of those to railroads. When a railroad is assigned a frequency they determine who may transmit on that frequency in that geographical area. A UP crew operating their train on BNSF trackage would be authorized to transmit on the BNSF frequency but a UP train operating on a parallel UP mainline would not be authorized to transmit on the BNSF frequency. The railroads allow certain nonemployees to use their frequencies to conduct business with the railroads such as contract van companies to haul crews to trains.

MRL 680 does not have a working toilet, or radio or a full complement of seats for the crew. It was bought from the scrap line at Larry's Truck and Electric. It has not been upgraded to -2 electrical standards and so is not likely to stay on the roster after the SD70ACe units arrive. The UP has a history of relegating older units to B unit status by marking the cabs as not to be occupied. There is certainly a loss of flexibility and the UP has been forced to go back and restore the units to lead status from time to time. It all has to do with the $$$$ at the time. As locomotives get higher horsepower there will be fewer on each train. Once you have all trains down to just two or three units there is less incentive to make some of the units into cabless locomotives.

[Anonymous]

Trainjunky29,
Not all the rules that make a cab non-compliant are in the GCOR. The Federal Railroad Administration has its own rules on what makes a cab non-compliant and those are the ones cited more often by crews. Some managers will be happy to kick a crew out of town with a stinky toilet, but it's a quality of life issue that a good manager will get corrected before he allows the train to leave. Locomotives use chemical toilets and if they are backed up, you don't want to spend 12 hours (or more) sitting several feet away from it.
As for the second question, please call a dispatcher as soon as possible.

[geo19wilshire]

answer for the second question:
If you were able to transmit on a rr frequency, expect to lose your equipment after the dispatcher finishes talking to you, the local law will pay you a visit. Depending on where you were standing at the time, you might even be in jail for tresspassing. If in doubt, dont do it.

[fuzzybroken]

QUOTE: Originally posted by geo19wilshire

answer for the second question:
If you were able to transmit on a rr frequency, expect to lose your equipment after the dispatcher finishes talking to you, the local law will pay you a visit. Depending on where you were standing at the time, you might even be in jail for tresspassing. If in doubt, dont do it.

This reminds me of a story I heard a while back, where a railfan encountered similar on-train problems, tried to wave down the crew, ended up racing ahead of the train and using a track torpedo! He got in trouble big-time!!! [:(!]

Moral of the story is, don't play railroader unless it's in a scale of less than 1:1!!! Don't use the railroad's equipment, it's not for playing with. That's why they post 1-800 numbers at the crossings.

-Mark
http://www.geocities.com/fuzzybroken

[rich747us]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tree68

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainjunky29
2.) If I'm railfanning, and I see a locomotive with a smoking traction motor, or a freight car with a derailed wheelset, or something similar, is it permissible for me to transmit on my scanner on the line's frequency to let the railroad know?
Sincerely,
Daniel Parks

First of all, I've never found a scanner that would actually transmit. They may generate some "birdies" (stray frequencies), but none of the scanners I've ever owned had a "transmit" button.

Second (and this is not opinion), if you have a transceiver capable of transmitting on a frequency for which you are not authorized operation (which would be the case in the example you give) and transmit on that frequency, that's a violation of federal law, punishible by, among other things, a fine of $10,000. Don't get caught (which you won't if you don't do it in the first place).

Use your cell phone. The number to call is posted on every crossing.

I couldint agree more. Just call the number posted on, near, or around the crossing gates from your cell phone. I actually had a ligit reason to do this once. I was railfanning at the Donahue Rd. crossing in Batavia, NY, one December night back in 2002. I witnessed the passing of a eastbound intermodal and noticed that while all the lights on both the north side and south side gates turned on; the gate on the south side of the crossing did not go down. Anybody who is a regular at Donahue Rd. knows this particular crossing gate system always seems to be malfunctioning. So I walked up to the gate to get the 1-800 number, and I called. I explained the problem, and they transfered me to the Jacksonville signal maintenance desk, and I explained the problem once again. After I hung up, I went back to my car and continued to listen to my scanner. I heard NF dispatcher call the intermodal that just went through the crossing. "Uh, yeah, we had a report from a citizen (that's me! [:D]) saying the gates at Donahue Rd. didint go down when you went through. Did you see if the gates were down?" Oddly, the conductor of the train reported no problems. Hmmmm. Well, I left to go drive around and I continued to listen to my scanner. Imagine my surprise when I heard the dispatcher giving an order to protect the (Donahue Rd.) crossing to a westbound Amtrak! Cool! [:D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rich747us

QUOTE: Originally posted by tree68

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainjunky29
2.) If I'm railfanning, and I see a locomotive with a smoking traction motor, or a freight car with a derailed wheelset, or something similar, is it permissible for me to transmit on my scanner on the line's frequency to let the railroad know?
Sincerely,
Daniel Parks

First of all, I've never found a scanner that would actually transmit. They may generate some "birdies" (stray frequencies), but none of the scanners I've ever owned had a "transmit" button.

Second (and this is not opinion), if you have a transceiver capable of transmitting on a frequency for which you are not authorized operation (which would be the case in the example you give) and transmit on that frequency, that's a violation of federal law, punishible by, among other things, a fine of $10,000. Don't get caught (which you won't if you don't do it in the first place).

Use your cell phone. The number to call is posted on every crossing.

I couldint agree more. Just call the number posted on, near, or around the crossing gates from your cell phone. I actually had a ligit reason to do this once. I was railfanning at the Donahue Rd. crossing in Batavia, NY, one December night back in 2002. I witnessed the passing of a eastbound intermodal and noticed that while all the lights on both the north side and south side gates turned on; the gate on the south side of the crossing did not go down. Anybody who is a regular at Donahue Rd. knows this particular crossing gate system always seems to be malfunctioning. So I walked up to the gate to get the 1-800 number, and I called. I explained the problem, and they transfered me to the Jacksonville signal maintenance desk, and I explained the problem once again. After I hung up, I went back to my car and continued to listen to my scanner. I heard NF dispatcher call the intermodal that just went through the crossing. "Uh, yeah, we had a report from a citizen (that's me! [:D]) saying the gates at Donahue Rd. didint go down when you went through. Did you see if the gates were down?" Oddly, the conductor of the train reported no problems. Hmmmm. Well, I left to go drive around and I continued to listen to my scanner. Imagine my surprise when I heard the dispatcher giving an order to protect the (Donahue Rd.) crossing to a westbound Amtrak! Cool! [:D]

Cool [:)]. In my personal experience, I have found that railroads will accept information given to them by the public that may adversely affect the safety of their train operations, but as everyone else has said on here, such things need to be reported to the railroad's appropriate 1-800 phone number (i.e. railroad police, maintenance department or if in doubt, call the local terminal yard office). If you are not near a crossing where an 800-phone number is posted, there are also available on most railroads' websites and / or the local telephone directory, if you have ready access to either one of those.

Even if you happen to have equipment that will transmit radio messages on that railroad's particular frequency, as everyone else here has said - DON'T DO IT.... first it will be ignored because it will sound very suspicious (i.e. terrorist act), and second, it is VERY likely that you will end up with the FBI or the RR Police pressing federal charges against you (as previously discussed) regardless of the good reason you made the original radio transmission.

[Anonymous]

One more comment about using your transceiver to call the railroad. It won’t work. Ham radios like this will transmit on ham radio frequencies only. They can receive railroad frequencies, but can’t transmit on them. If you look at the specs on the web page that was referenced, you’ll see that it can transmit from 144 to 148 MHz, which is the ham radio 2-meter band. It can receive from 140 to 174 MHz, which includes the railroad frequencies.

If you press the transmit button while on a railroad frequency, even accidentally, the radio will indicate that you made an error.