1. automotive and vehicles
2. cars

February 22, 2015
Rules of the Week
Understanding Safety Rules and achieving Safety Goals go hand in hand.
By Working Together Safely, we can reach our safety goals.
15 Corporate Safety Goals
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ARRC Overall Injury Reduction Goals
o 13% overall reduction in injuries (includes “major” and top 3)
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Operational Safety Goals
o No Authority Violations
o No On Track Protection Violations
o No On Track Equipment Collisions
o No Run Away Cars
o No FRA Reportable Derailments
YTD Incident Comparison by Department
2014 - 2015
YTD Incident Comparison by Type
2014 – 2015
Safety Issue Resolution Process: S.I.R.P.
Overview: Employees recognizing a workplace hazard must take immediate steps to correct the problem. If
immediate correction is not possible then protect the hazard so no one will get hurt. Report the situation so
the problem gets addressed. SIRP assists in correcting safety issues through to resolution.
How do I generate a SIRP?
 Get a SIRP form from the intranet or your supervisor
SIRPs to date:
 Complete the SIRP reporting form
 Give the form to your supervisor or the Safety Department
11 Open SIRPs
How can I follow the status of my SIRP or any other SIRP?
 On the ARRC Home Page click the SIRP link
382 Closed SIRPs
 Click on “Access SIRP”
 Username = SIRP and Password = SIRP (must be ALL CAPS)
 Enter the SIRP # or search by area to locate the SIRP
Alaska Railroad ● Rules of the Week
Page 1 of 8
February 22, 2015
Rules of the Week
Understanding Safety Rules and achieving Safety Goals go hand in hand.
By Working Together Safely, we can reach our safety goals.
SAFETY DEPARTMENT MESSAGE: Fire Prevention
S61.0 Fire Prevention
S61.1 General
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Store flammable and combustible material away from ignition sources and in controlled
areas.
Flammable lockers shall be shut and secured when not in use.
Make sure that fire exits and extinguishers are not blocked, locked, or otherwise rendered
inaccessible.
Boxes shall not be stored within 18 inches of any overhead sprinkler system.
Periodically inspect fire extinguishers to make sure inspection tags are current.
If any fire extinguisher is found to be expired or the gauge arrow is not in the green/charged
section of the dial, the unit is to be tagged and department supervision notified to replace the
unit.
Do not attempt to fight a fire. Notify fellow employees, safely evacuate the facility and
contact emergency services.
Alaska Railroad ● Rules of the Week
Page 2 of 8
February 22, 2015
Rules of the Week
Understanding Safety Rules and achieving Safety Goals go hand in hand.
By Working Together Safely, we can reach our safety goals.
SAFETY FLASH
Department: Transportation
PRACTICE:
LEAVING SINGLE CARS UNATTENDED
On 20 February 15 at about 0300, the Anchorage Terminal had an uncontrolled single freight car roll through
the Anchorage Yard. The car was a loaded tank car that apparently suffered from an ineffective handbrake,
causing the car to move on its own due to shifting product. The car was retrieved by the yard crew, and no
damage or injury occurred. Kudos to the crews for keeping their cool and handling the situation.
SINGLE CARS ARE KILLERS
I can speak from personal experience, as there is no feeling in the world like riding an out-of-control car with a
broken handbrake chain…..
When you are switching cars, or leaving single cars unattended, remember there is always the potential for
mechanical failure, no matter how hard you crank that brake down…If you have an option, leave single cars
on tracks that are already occupied or give them a chock in addition to the hand brake. When testing brakes
for effectiveness, let them settle and leave them long enough to be sure.
Personally, this is one time I could care less about fuel conservation…
….put some AIR on ‘em, LEAN on ‘em, and make ‘em SQUEAL…
* EYES ON THE MOVE.
* APPROACH ALL DERAILS EXPECTING TO FIND THEM APPLIED.
* DON’T ASSUME ANYTHING.
* DON’T FOUL MISALIGNED SWITCHES.
* GIVE UPDATED COMMANDS MORE FREQUENTLY THAN HALF-THE-DISTANCE.
* IF YOU DON’T HEAR AN UPDATE……..ASK.
* IF A HAND OR LANTERN SIGNAL DISAPPEARS FROM VIEW…..STOP.
* IF YOU CAN’T SEE……YOU CAN’T SHOVE.
* DON’T TAKE CHANCES.
* PUT SOME AIR ON YOUR CARS WHILE SHOVING…KEEP ‘EM WARM.
* TOO MUCH, TOO SOON IS BETTER THAN TOO LITTLE…..TOO LATE.
IF YOU SEE SOMETHING…..SAY SOMETHING.
Alaska Railroad ● Rules of the Week
Page 3 of 8
February 22, 2015
Rules of the Week
Understanding Safety Rules and achieving Safety Goals go hand in hand.
By Working Together Safely, we can reach our safety goals.
Rule of the Week
Department: Transportation
RULE:
SIGNAL ASPECTS & INDICATIONS
DISCUSSION:
General Order #35 has addressed discrepancies in some verbiage of our signal
indications, including an entire change, “Stop & Proceed” to “Restricted Proceed”.
Restricted Proceed has been adopted by many railroads over the years to keep trains & engines moving on
the road. Restricted Proceed basically amounts to another Restricting indication, allowing you to PASS the
signal at Restricted Speed without stopping. The important thing to remember with this rule change is to
make sure you are AT RESTRICTED SPEED AS YOU PASS THE SIGNAL.
Do not fall into a sloppy assumption of “I’m at 20 mph”, or “we’ll get there”…The broken rail or equipment
protected by the signal could be immediately past the signal mast, so….”at RESTRICTED SPEED” means
exactly what it says….”HALF the range of vision, SHORT OF…”
Of course, you will not see this indication at Control Points.
keep your head in the game
Remember to
. Rules and instructions are only as good as
the men & women implementing them, and your rules department is counting on YOUR effective and
deliberate application of these rules. You are only as good as your last run.
GCOR 9.1.14 – RESTRICTED PROCEED
John D. Brahaney
Manager of Operating Rules & Training
Alaska Railroad ● Rules of the Week
Page 4 of 8
February 22, 2015
Rules of the Week
Understanding Safety Rules and achieving Safety Goals go hand in hand.
By Working Together Safely, we can reach our safety goals.
Rule of Week
Department: Mechanical
QUESTION: What should I know about operating grinding/wire wheels?
ANSWER: S-78.2 Power Tools and Machinery Operation – Grinding/Wire Wheels.
RULE: S-78.2 Power Tools and Machinery Operation
Grinding/Wire Wheels:
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Perform a ring test prior to use.
Do not use grinding wheels that is cracked or chipped.
Follow manufacturer’s specifications for dressing the wheel.
Do not grind on the side of an abrasive wheel.
Keep grinding wheels and abrasive saw blades dressed.
Adjust the tool rest to within 1/8 inch of grinding wheel and adjustable tongue guard is
within 1/4 inch of grinding wheel.
Use grinding wheel only on materials for which the wheel is designed.
Aprons and face protection shall be worn during wire wheel and grinding operations.
Alaska Railroad ● Rules of the Week
Page 5 of 8
February 22, 2015
Rules of the Week
Understanding Safety Rules and achieving Safety Goals go hand in hand.
By Working Together Safely, we can reach our safety goals.
Rule of the Week
Department: Maintenance of Way
QUESTION: During our morning job briefing we were having a discussion about speed restrictions
and whether or not they applied to track car operations. The group could not agree that they did
because the rule only talks about trains. Are track cars required to comply with temporary or
permanent speed restrictions?
ANSWER: All on track movements must comply with all track restrictions permanent, temporary or
otherwise.
RULE:
MOM Section I Introduction
and
MOM 5.4.2 Display of Yellow Flag Restriction Specified in Writing
SECTION I: INTRODUCTION
The goal this year for the Maintenance Operating Manual was to bring it more inline with
maintenance operations as opposed to operations of trains and engines. While the manual does
follow GCOR closely it is not a mirror image. Where there is a conflict with GCOR the Maintenance
Operating Manual will be the applicable rule for employees governed by this manual. Where a craft
specific rule, ie…Hours of Service, is not covered in the Maintenance Operating Manual, the GCOR
will be the governing rule application.
Where careful consideration was given to editing the Maintenance Operating Manual to conform to
ARRC Track Car Operations and Roadway Worker Protection policies, any reference to train and
engine operations within this manual, that are applicable to Track Car operations, should be
considered the governing rule and must be complied with.
Employees governed by this manual are required to possess and be familiar with the information
contained within the current Timetable Special Instructions and all General Orders in effect. In
addition employees governed by this manual are required to possess all current Operating Circulars
and comply where applicable.
5.4.2 Display of Yellow Flag Restriction Specified in Writing
Two Miles Ahead of Restricted Area. Yellow flags warn trains to restrict
movement because of track conditions or structures. To make sure train
movement is restricted at the right location, employees must display a yellow flag
2 miles before the restricted area.
Alaska Railroad ● Rules of the Week
Page 6 of 8
February 22, 2015
Rules of the Week
Understanding Safety Rules and achieving Safety Goals go hand in hand.
By Working Together Safely, we can reach our safety goals.
[Diagram B.]
Less Than 2 Miles Ahead of Restricted Area. When the restricted area is close
to a terminal, junction, or another area, employees will display the yellow flag
less than 2 miles before the restricted area. This information will also be included
in the track bulletin, mandatory directive, or general order.
[Diagram C.]
Once the Train Reaches the Restricted Area. The speed specified by
mandatory directive, track bulletin, general order, or radio speed restriction must
not be exceeded until the rear of the train clears the restricted area.
DISCUSSION: The introduction to the Maintenance Operating Manual is included in the rule of the
week this week to address the continuing concept that “If the rule doesn’t say Track Car and only
says trains it doesn’t apply to Track Cars”. In a nutshell, all the rules in the MOM apply to track cars
unless they are specifically exempted in the rule.
As for the speed restrictions, maximum authorized speed for a track car is 35mph unless restricted
to a lower speed by the manufacture of the hyrail gear. Trains operate at a speed dictated by track
conditions and FRA Track Standard requirements, which can be significantly higher than 35 mph. If
we slow trains down to a safe operating speed because of track conditions, why would we not
require Track Cars too slow down as well? Let’s look at Hurricane Gulch Bridge as an example; it
has a permanent speed restriction of 10 mph. While there are guard rails on the bridge, to keep
equipment on the bridge in the event of a derailment, the higher the speed across the bridge the
less likely it is that the equipment will remain on the bridge. Trains weigh considerably more that
Track Cars, derailing a Track Car on that bridge at a speed in excess of 10 mph would likely send
the Track Car over the edge of the bridge.
Alaska Railroad ● Rules of the Week
Page 7 of 8
February 22, 2015
Rules of the Week
Understanding Safety Rules and achieving Safety Goals go hand in hand.
By Working Together Safely, we can reach our safety goals.
Rule of the Week
Department: Operating Practices - Air Brake and Train Handling
Fuel Conservation
QUESTION: How do I know how many locomotives to have on-line while operating my train
on the main line?
ANSWER: The answer can be found in Chapter 107 in the ABTH Manual dated 1/24/2006.
107.1
Isolating or Shutting Down Locomotives En Route
When isolating locomotives in a consist en route for fuel conservation purposes, follow these
guidelines:
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Isolate any excess locomotives that are not required to make track speed.
Do not place any locomotive on-line while the train is moving on a heavily ascending
grade.
Be aware that it may be necessary to isolate or to place on-line additional locomotives
after setting out or picking up tonnage.
Conductors are responsible for noting on their delay report which locomotives were
isolated and the mileposts between which they were isolated.
If the ambient temperature is 40°F or above, shut down the locomotive. Do not drain.
NOTE: This includes locomotives equipped with automatic start/stop
systems.
If the ambient temperature is below 40°F, isolate the locomotive. Do not shut down.
Exceptions to the above guidelines include the following:
• Do not isolate locomotives that are not equipped with freeze protection equipment if the
temperature is below 32°F.
• Do not shut down DP remote consists for fuel conservation purposes. Isolate them instead
by placing them in remote mode IDLE. This prevents all throttle activity by the remote
consist but allows for continued air brake function by the remote consist. Continue to
perform the DP train check as required.
Specifically, Engineers can calculate the HPT (Horsepower Per Ton) by dividing the total
horsepower of their engine consist by the trailing tonnage. In most instances, an HPT of 2.5 or less
will be sufficient to get a train over the road at track speed and be the most fuel efficient. Having
more power on-line simply wastes fuel. Making a small dent in a $13 million fuel bill will make a
big difference to our bottom line giving us all better job security.
Be a Student of your Craft!
Brett Brown, RFE
Alaska Railroad ● Rules of the Week
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