How do I idenify where I am to a railroad dispatch

[Anonymous]

I am a firefighter with the Baltimore County Fire Department which is the County that surrounds the city of Baltimore. On March 23, 2001, My engine company was dispached to a woods fire in the Alberton area of the county. Alberton is located about 20 miles west of downtown Baltimore along what I know to be the CSX's "old mainline subdivision" which runs from Relay, Maryland to Point of Rocks, Maryland (original 1828 route of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Baltimore to Ellicott City, Maryland. Refer to SPV railroad atlas, northeast, page 10-3D). When the Lieutenant asked our dispatcher to call CSX Jacksonville, Fla. to try to make them aware of our presents on or close to the tracks, they had no idea where Alberton was. Jacksonville first asked us if we were on the old Westren Maryland which we were not because that was about 15 miles northwest of our location. (At this time I was unable to assist the Lieutenant who knows nothing about railroads). CSX then asked if we could give them any kind of idenifying markers. Like what? My question is what does the untrained eye look for? Does CSX number their bridges? If so, can we give the bridge number to the dispatcher and they will know where we are? We had a bridge right where we were working. According to my SPV atlas there is a "talking detector and designation- report all trains" close to where we were. Would that work? We did not have the time or the manpower to go looking for a mile post and most of our guys wouldn't know what to look for. Before our location could be established, a coal drag came eastbound which made us all scatter. Thank God it was only going about 25 mph. It was at that time that CSX informed us there would be a train coming through within the hour! Imagine our supprise along with the train crew, I'm sure. We got the number of the lead locomotive but never found out if that helped.

Thank You,
Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator
Paul Wm. Faulkner
Baltimore County Fire Department
Woodlawn, Maryland

[Anonymous]

Hi Paul. The only thing I know of other than milepost is that CSX puts ID numbers on there grade crossings. They are on a small sign usually below the crossing sign. It has the ID num. and if I'm not mistaken it will also have the milepost number. Hope this helps.

[thirdrail1]

After several fatal accidents involving trucks stalled on its tracks, CSXT has identified all its grade crossings and is able to pinpoint locations immediately if you give them the crossing ID number. Bridges are also marked with engineering department valuation numbers, but with as many components as CSXT has (14 predecessor roads) that might take a little more time to identify.

[Anonymous]

WHY DOESNT SOMEONE FROM THE FIRE DEPT.,CALL CSXT,AND ASK WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN THEy ARE CLOSE TO RR TRACKS ??????

[Anonymous]

TO ADD TO WHAT I HAVE ALREADY SAID,MAYBE HAVE YOUR FIRE-DEPT.,DISPATCHER ON YOUR READ-OUTS,WHEN NEXT TRAIN ARRIVAL IS,IF YOU ARE WORKING CLOSE TO TRACKS,I AM SURE CSX WILL BE GLAD TO HELP,WHEN I TOOK AMTRAK LAST MAY FROM L.A.,TO SEATTLE,THEY KNEW OF FIRE NEXT TO TRACKS,BEFORE HAND AND STOPPED,THIS WAS ABOUT 1/2HR NORTH OF L.A.

[Anonymous]

Paul, Go to CSX.com Look for The Community Awareness Guide. They will mail it to you, it has lots of info for Emergency responders. They also include a contact person for your region. Contact the region manager for CSXT to find out what your area of tracks are to them. If its the shortline or a main line. Pre-planning is the name of the game.Find the rail signals nearby. look on the big silver box , the name of the crossing or signal block is written on them. Sgt. Willinger St. Matthews Fire District,KY

[Anonymous]

My name is Eric, I am a conductor for CSX Transportation. Trains give their location by mileposts, similar to the ones on the interstates. Usually on CSX these are made of concrete and painted white with a black number. Also CSX has info on some of its highway grade crossings. In some instances the railroad calls a town a different name than the general popluation, which is probably what happened in your case. Also most train dispatchers have no idea what the territory they are controlling looks like, the just know it on a computer screen. We are trying to improve in this area by having dispatchers ride trains over their territories. However your best bet is to find a milepost.


Sincerely,
Eric Armstrong
Conductor/Safety Man LCL Subdivision
Mt Washington, KY

[Anonymous]

Eric,
Thank you for your reply.
If we were to give the information found at two grade crossings and told Jacksonville that we were between these two grade crossings, would that be sufficent? To find a milepost to pre-plan an incident, someone would have to travel along the rails and I don't think your company thinks to highly of that.
Thanks again.
Paul

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure that would be enough. As far as the mileposts go I brought those up to alert you what they look like. If one is nearby when you arrive on the scene, or you may indentify one while enroute. I am going to print out original question and give it to an official in charge of safety and see if I get some more information for you.

Sincerely,

Eric Armstrong

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Eric.
That would help alot.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your responce Sarg.
I've been in the fire service for 25 years and do very much understand the importance of pre-planing. As to why my department has not done this in the past when involving the railroad, I cannot say. I am not an officer so I can only make suggestions and someone else will get the credit for which I am not looking for. My only concern is the safety of my crew that is why I came to this web site instead of one for the fire service.
Thanks again. I am trying to get something started.
Paul

[Anonymous]

Paul, I mailed your original post to the safety dept. in Jacksonville on 4-7. If you could send me your e-mail address I will write you when I get a response. You can e-mail me at: [e-mail]. Eric Armstrong