CE 515 Railroad Engineering
Line-haul Operations
Source: Armstrong Ch 13
“Transportation exists to conquer space and time -”
Line-Haul Operations
• “To safely and efficiently conduct its line-haul
operations a railroad must coordinate many
otherwise independent activities across a rail
network.” – Armstrong Ch. 13, pg 221
• What does this mean?
Line-Haul Operations
• Communication
• Operational practices
• Safety
• Coordination
Line-Haul Operations
• We’ve already done this, so what?
Line-Haul Operations
• We’ve already done this, so what?
Let’s see just how everything fits together.
Line-Haul Operations
– We are going on a train trip, on our very own EastWest Railroad from chapter 2.
– Train: High-priority General Merchandise train
H-CHINYC [What does this code mean?]
– Where? Chicago to New York
East & West
RAILROAD Co.
ABS
Chicago
CTC
New York
Pick-up
TWC
Line-Haul Operations
East & West
RAILROAD Co.
• Train schedule in database is activated to
initiate operation
• The following happens:
– “Crew Call System” identifies the crew to be called
for duty
– Locomotives are prepared by Dispatcher & Service
Track Foreman.
– Yardmaster and mechanical crews ready cars
ABS
Chicago
CTC
New York
Pick-up
TWC
Line-Haul Operations
East & West
RAILROAD Co.
• When ready, locomotives are connected to the
“head end of the train.”
• Air brake system is charged and brake test
performed.
• When ready and given the highball by
Yardmaster and Dispatcher, train departs.
ABS
Chicago
CTC
New York
Pick-up
TWC
Line-Haul Operations
East & West
RAILROAD Co.
• On the Steel Highway!
• When encounter “yard limits” along the way.
– Main track controlled by track warrant or dispatcher
authority
– Is considered priority in yard limits, but must be
prepared to stop within one-half of line of sight
unless signal indicates otherwise
ABS
Chicago
CTC
New York
Pick-up
TWC
Line-Haul Operations
East & West
RAILROAD Co.
• Most likely encountering CTC communications
– Dispatcher has setup schedule so that the “Meets”
and “Overtakes” are consistent with our priority
level to other trains.
– Can have priority change, if we are early, late, or
cause early/late actions to other trains. [Even
problems with the exceeding of Federal hours of
service rules.]
ABS
Chicago
CTC
New York
Pick-up
TWC
Line-Haul Operations
East & West
RAILROAD Co.
• As we are a general merchandise, might have
to set out or pickup blocks of traffic requiring;
– Head end crew movement on ground alongside of
train
– Additional brake tests, one for each time the train is
broken up or added to
– May result in delays or needed help from yard
mechanical crew.
ABS
Chicago
CTC
New York
Pick-up
TWC
Line-Haul Operations
East & West
RAILROAD Co.
• Enter upon ABS control, where;
– Must get dispatcher permission to enter the
“current of traffic”
– Once in, signal indication is first level of
communication
– IF moving on single train against signals, are
moving “against the current of traffic”, a track
warrant will dictate the movements and extra care
must be exercised
ABS
Chicago
CTC
New York
Pick-up
TWC
Line-Haul Operations
East & West
RAILROAD Co.
• If we happen to travel onto un-signalized
territory, unlikely, but…
• Must operate in blocks on DTC or TWC
• Must obtain instructions and permission to travel
within each and every block or “authority”
• Use of forms to document instructions
• Anything done in given “authority” must be
documented and viewed carefully!
ABS
Chicago
CTC
New York
Pick-up
TWC
Line-Haul Operations
East & West
RAILROAD Co.
• Beware! We might encounter a train defect.
– If we encounter an automatic detection on hot
bearings, dragging equipment, truck-curving
performance, or wheel defects we must;
– Result, delays and possible loss of priority!
ABS
Chicago
CTC
New York
Pick-up
TWC
Line-Haul Operations
East & West
RAILROAD Co.
• Defects might be communicated from new
system
– AEI – Automated Equipment Identification, which
reads computer chips that store information on cars,
trailers, containers, locomotives, etc.
– Railroad computers take any AEI notice, cross
references to find out what train the offending item
is on to report the defect to the crew.
ABS
Chicago
CTC
New York
Pick-up
TWC
Line-Haul Operations
East & West
RAILROAD Co.
• We arrived!
– Upon arrival, enter into destination yards to
receiving yards
– Crew or local hostlers will disconnect locomotives
for servicing
ABS
Chicago
CTC
New York
Pick-up
TWC
Line-Haul Operations
East & West
RAILROAD Co.
• Paperwork
– Crew files reports including
– If ending at home terminal, drive on home,
– Otherwise lodging food and rest until next
assignment back home.
ABS
Chicago
CTC
New York
Pick-up
TWC
Line-Haul Operations
East & West
RAILROAD Co.
• Review
– Train operations to build the train
– Communication systems to traverse the
route
– Train operations for en route changes
– Actions for any defects or issues
– End all operations with documentation
Questions?