15.0 TRACK BULLETIN RULES

15.1 Track Bulletins

Track bulletins must not be changed unless specified by Rules 15.1.1 (Changing Address of Track Warrants or Track Bulletins) and 15.13 (Voiding Track Bulletins). The train dispatcher will issue track bulletins as required. Track bulletins will contain information on all conditions that affect safe train or engine movement. Forms other than track bulletin Forms A and B may be used when necessary.

Receipt and Comparison of Track Bulletins

The conductor and engineer must receive a track warrant at their initial station unless otherwise instructed by the train dispatcher. All track bulletins that affect their train's movement must be listed on the track warrant, unless the track warrant shows "NONE" or "NO." The conductor and engineer must have copies of all track bulletins listed, and each crew member must read and understand them.

At the initial station, when outbound crew members receive track warrants and track bulletins from inbound crew members, the conductor and engineer must compare the track warrants and track bulletins with each other and with the train dispatcher before proceeding.

15.1.1 Changing Address of Track Warrants or Track Bulletins

If the address must be changed on a track warrant used to deliver track bulletins only or a track bulletin that does not grant authority according to Rule 15.3 (Authorizing Movement Against the Current of Traffic), the train dispatcher may change the engine number, direction, or date verbally.

15.2 Protection by Track Bulletin Form B

Display yellow-red flags as specified in Rule 5.4.3 (Display of Yellow-Red Flag).

While trains are within the limits during the time stated in track bulletin Form B, they must:

• Move at restricted speed.
• Stop short of a red flag.

However, trains do not need to comply with the above requirements if instructed otherwise as stated below, or if the entire train has passed a green flag or cleared the limits.

Before entering track bulletin limits, a crew member must attempt to contact the employee in charge by radio to avoid delay and report the train's location and the track being used.

A. Verbal Permission

When granting verbal permission, use the following words:

"Foreman (name) (of Gang NO. ) using track bulletin
NO._______ line NO.________ between MP _________ and MP_________ on ____________Subdivision."

1. To permit a train to pass a red flag without stopping, add the following:

   "(Train) may pass red flag, located at MP_____________- without stopping." The train may pass the red flag at restricted speed without stopping.

2. To permit a train to proceed at other than restricted speed, add the following:

    

   "(Train) may proceed through the limits at MPH (or at maximum authorized speed)." The train may move through the limits at the speed specified, unless otherwise restricted.

3. To require the train to move at restricted speed, but less than 20 MPH, add the following:

    

   "(Train) must proceed at restricted speed but not exceeding - MPH." (Specify distance if necessary.) The train must proceed at restricted speed and not exceed the speed specified.

B. Repeat Instructions

A crew member must repeat the above instructions, and the employee giving the instructions must acknowledge them before they can be followed.

C. Stop Column

When "STOP" is written in the Stop column, a red flag must be displayed at the beginning of the limits. The train must not enter the limits until authorized by the employee in charge.

15.2.1 Protection for On-Track Equipment

Track bulletin Form B may be used to protect on-track equipment, such as rail detector cars, without using flags. Identify protected equipment in the track bulletin.

While trains, engines, and protected equipment are in track bulletin limits, they will otherwise be governed by Rule 15.2 (Protection by Track Bulletin Form B). The same track bulletin must not protect other gangs and equipment.

15.3 Authorizing Movement Against the Current of Traffic

Where Rule 9.14 (Movement with the Current of Traffic) is in effect, a track bulletin may authorize movement against the current of traffic as follows:

1. " ( Train ) will use track against the current of traffic (point) to (point)."

   The train must use only the track specified between these points. Opposing trains must not leave the last point until the train arrives. The train dispatcher must not authorize a following train to move against the current of traffic until the previous train has cleared the last point. Flag protection is not required against a train following on the same track.

   The example may be modified as follows:

   a. "After (opposing train) arrives at (point) (train) will use ________track against the current of traffic (point) to (point)."

   The train that will move against the current of traffic must not leave the first point until the opposing train arrives.

   Trains directly affected in both directions must receive this track bulletin and must not:

   • Clear the main track.
   • Allow a following train to pass.

      

     or

   • Pass a preceding train, unless authorized by the train dispatcher.
2. "(Time) until (time) (date) all trains use track between (point) and (point). All trains must stop before fouling - track between these points unless directed to proceed by employee in charge of switches or by train dispatcher."

This bulletin may also contain information on public crossing protection, switches spiked, intermediate flagman, and so forth.

Following Movement. A train may not follow another train against the current of traffic until the previous train has cleared the limits, passed a designated location, or passed a flagman located at the next intermediate point. Flag protection is not required against following trains.

Flagman Provided. When flagmen are provided, the example will be modified by adding:

a. "Intermediate flagman located at (point). Trains moving against the current of traffic must stop short of flagman unless directed to proceed."

Extending Time. Time may be extended by issuing another track bulletin as follows:

b. "Track bulletin NO. _______ is extended until (time)."

This bulletin will be used when one or more tracks will be removed from service, and all trains in both directions must use the remaining track as directed by the train dispatcher or an employee in charge of switches at each end of the designated limits.

The train dispatcher will authorize movements between the designated points and issue the track bulletin and necessary instructions to the employee in charge of switches. This employee may verbally direct movement or use hand signals. Also, the train dispatcher may use a controlled signal indication to authorize movement.

All affected trains must receive a copy of the track bulletin.

15.4 Protection when Tracks Removed from Service

Before a track is removed from service it must be protected.

A track bulletin may protect tracks removed from service by designating the track and naming the points at each end of the track. Trains must not use this track, unless the track bulletin states the name or title of an employee who may authorize use, and this person directs all movement.

When required, the train dispatcher must advise crews of alternate routes and switch positions.

15.5 Protection when Tracks Blocked with Equipment

Notify the train dispatcher when main tracks, sidings, or other tracks that are normally clear are blocked with equipment and cannot be cleared.

When the main track is blocked, provide protection as specified by Rule 6.19.6 (Protection of Equipment Left on Main Track).

15.6 Change of a Rule, General Order, or Special Instruction

When authorized by the designated manager, a track bulletin may be used to issue, change, or cancel rules, general orders, or special instructions.

General orders or special instructions cancelled by track bulletins must not be reinstated. The track bulletin must remain in effect until the general order that contains the change is posted.

15.7 Copying Track Bulletins

The conductor and the engineer must have a copy of each track bulletin issued to their train, and each crew member must read and understand them. The copy must show the date, location, and name of the employee who copied it. The following must occur when track bulletins are transmitted verbally:

• An employee will enter all of the information on the track bulletin.
• The employee will repeat the information to the train dispatcher.
• The train dispatcher will check it and, if correct, will say "OK" and give the time and his initials.
• The employee will enter the "OK" time and the train dispatcher's initials on the track bulletin and repeat them to the train dispatcher.

Employees may relay track bulletins.

15.8 Duplicating Track Bulletins

Employees who reproduce track bulletins with a duplicating machine do not need to repeat them to the train dispatcher.

Duplicated track bulletins must not be delivered or used until they are checked and verified as:

• Legible.
• Duplicated in their entirety.

15.9 Additional Copies of Track Bulletins

If additional copies of track bulletins are needed, except when duplicated according to Rule 15.8 (Duplicating Track Bulletins), employees must repeat the additional copies to the train dispatcher and verify that they are correct before delivering them.

The train dispatcher will record the date, time, place, and name of the employee who recopied and repeated the track bulletin.

15.10 Retaining Track Bulletins

Employees must keep and comply with track bulletins on all trips during the tour of duty when track bulletins were received.

When directed by the train dispatcher, track bulletins may be retained for use during the next tour of duty. Before initiating movement on the main track on the next tour of duty, a crew member must verify from the train dispatcher that no additional track bulletins are needed.

15.11 Restriction to Crew Members

The train dispatcher will not transmit a restricting track warrant or track bulletin to a train near a point where the restriction applies, until the engineer or conductor confirms that they can comply with it.

15.12 Relief of Engineer or Conductor During Trip

When a conductor, engineer, or both are relieved before a trip is finished, they must deliver all track warrants, track bulletins, and instructions to the relieving conductor or engineer.

If they cannot personally deliver the track warrants or track bulletins to the relieving crew, the conductor will leave them at a location designated by the train dispatcher.

Comparison of Information

The relieving conductor and engineer must compare track warrants, track bulletins, instructions, and pertinent information with each other and with the train dispatcher before proceeding.

15.13 Voiding Track Bulletins

To void a numbered line on a track bulletin, a part of a track bulletin, or an entire track bulletin, the train dispatcher may do one of the following:

A. Voiding Track Bulletins Verbally

Void the track bulletin by verbally using one of the following examples:

1. "Line (number) of track bulletin NO. ______ reading (quote the line to be voided) is void." An employee must repeat this information to the train dispatcher. If the information is correct, the employee must write "VOID" in the margin to the left of the line made void.
2. "That part of track bulletin NO. ______ reading (quote the part to be voided) is void." An employee must repeat this information to the train dispatcher. If the information is correct, the employee must draw a line through the portion made void.
3. "Track bulletin NO. ______ is void." An employee must repeat this information to the train dispatcher. If the information is correct, the employee must write "VOID" across each copy of the track bulletin being voided.

B. Issue Track Bulletin or a Track Warrant to Void a Track Bulletin

Issue a track bulletin or use the line designated "OTHER SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS" on a track warrant using one of the following examples:

1. "Line (number) of track bulletin NO. ________ is void." The employee will keep a copy of the track warrant or track bulletin that made it void and will write "VOID" in the margin to the left of the line made void.
2. "That part of track bulletin NO. _______ reading (quote the part to be voided) is void."