Railroad Safety Rules for Backup Movements and Signals

Back Up Movements

Back Up Movements – The crew ensures the movement will not:

• Exceed the limit of the train's authority.
• Exceed the train's length.
• Enter or foul a private or public crossing except as provided by Rule 6.23.1 (provide warning over road crossings).
• Be made into or within yard limits, restricted limits, interlocking limits, drawbridges, railroad crossings at grade, or TB Form B limits.

Back Up Movement (Blocking)

Back Up Movement (Blocking) – Before granting permission for a backup movement to pick up a crew member, do the following:

• Place a block or restrictive tag in the segment where the movement will occur.
• Where overlapping authorities exist, stop all trains within the overlapping limits that will be affected by the move.
• Provide protection against conflicting movements.

Mandatory Directive

Mandatory Directive – Indicate “VOID” on the mandatory directive form when:

• An employee reports clear of authority limits.
• The mandatory directive is made void.

The crew must retain the mandatory directive for the continuous tour of duty.

FRA Expected Track

FRA Expected Track – Requirements:

• Maximum speed must not exceed 10 mph.
• No occupied passenger train will be operated.

What Signals Govern

What Signals Govern – Block signals, cab signals, or both govern the use of blocks. Interlocking signals govern the use of interlocking routes. Where a track is signaled beyond the interlocking limits in the direction of movement, the interlocking signal is also a block signal. All other rules, where required, remain in effect when complying with the indication of block and interlocking signals.

Visual Inspection After Emergency Brake Application

The following trains (excluding key trains) are relieved of the visual inspection required by an emergency brake application if no severe slack action occurred while stopping and brake pipe pressure is restored as indicated by the caboose gauge, end-of-train telemetry device (ETD), or distributed power telemetry:

• Solid loaded bulk commodity trains.
• Any train where the emergency application occurs above 20 mph.
• Any train that is 5,000 tons or less.

Train types in the exception are relieved of further visual inspection after a defect is corrected.

Movements Against the Current of Traffic

Movements Against the Current of Traffic – Movements against the current of traffic must be authorized by track warrant, except as provided by the following rules:

• Rule 6.13 (YL)
• Rule 6.14 (RL)
• Rule 9.15 (Track Permits)
• Rule 9.17.1 (Signal Protection in ABS by Lining Switch)

Overrun of a Block Signal That Requires Stop

If a train overruns any block signal that requires it to stop, the crew must:

1. Warn other trains at once by radio.
2. Stop the train immediately.
3. Report it to Train Dispatcher (TD).

Changing Established Routes

Changing Established Routes – Do not establish or authorize a conflicting route until you have communicated with the approaching train’s crew and ensured that the train has stopped clear of the conflicting route. The control operator must avoid operating a device controlling a switch, derail, movable point frog, or lock when any portion of a train is on or closely approaching the equipment.