Eastern Railroad Discussion > CSX System Bulletin #005

This truly falls into the category of "What were they thinking?" All you CSX'ers...how's it being handled in your area?

don't know yet--sounds to me like an attempt to violate the HOS law.
Basically, this notice says that if there is a train in a siding, and there are no derails associated with that siding, then the train *must* be occupied at all times by someone.

The unions have already put notices out regarding managers taking over the "sitting on the train" responsibility...I can see a LOT of limbo time as a result of this. And more unhappy railroaders.

Does anyone know what sparked this latest knee-jerk reaction from the company?

A recent incident down South that somehow escaped being posted on here.

I haven't yet seen SB 005, just the division level bulletin that came out right after the incident. The trainmaster that brought it up in conversation with me described it as a "knee-jerk" reaction as well. I see HOS compliance issues and an increase in limbo time as a result as well.

"Quality of life"

the Sys. Bull. is the exact same as the General Bulletin on the System level. It's the first time I've ever seen a System and Division level bulletin say the same thing.

I was surprised the incident last Thursday in AL did not get mentioned as well...some of these guys can pry things loose I'm not even aware of!

Have not seen the bulletin, but from what I gather from postings on the Yahoo/finance/CSX board it's going to create a real mess.

This Bulletin came out as a result of the following:

Atlanta Division Birmingham Mineral Subdivision Derailment of Q522-06

AT 0125 Hours this morning, Q522-06 with 3 engines, 18 loads and 32 empties reports that while waiting to copy the Brookwood DTC block at milepost OKL 429, The crew observed the grade crossing signals ahead of them start to activate. The crew got off their train and shortly thereafter 3 engines and a cut of cars that had been secured at Dudley Al (milepost OKL 421) struck the train in a head-on fashion causing crash on the main track resulting in the derailment of 3 engines and 5 cars. This caused 1 engine to lean and at least one engine to leak fuel (don't know if they are the same engine). At the moment, there are no injuries to report. The local police and fire department are at the scene. SWS environmental out of Birmingham are en route with an ETA of 0530. R J Corman, en route out of Atlanta have an ETA of 0530. Trainmaster, RFE and Mechanical notified.

UPDATE: 1930 Hours

2 engines and 10 cars derailed of a loaded rail train (A01204) and 2 engines and 4 cars derailed off the Q522-06. AT 1935 hours, the 2 engines and 4 cars off the Q522-06 have been re-railed or are in the clear. Currently 7 spans of 50 on the loaded rail have been removed. It will be necessary to remove 43 more spans before re-railing can begin.

Equipment damage: $279,000.00 Track Damage $100,000.00

Last Car re-railed:____________

What about trains that are tied down on the main?

First of all, most local management wouldn't know what end of the train to occupy. Secondly, it hasn't been mentioned that this new thing covers trains outside of terminal limits. Locally for me, as far as I know, Benning, DC is not a terminal as it has no yard boards or terminal llimits set in the timetable or any other paperwork I have seen. So trains tied down at Benning on 4 or 5 main will have to be occupied (unless they change that to meet their needs as they often do). I haven't seen any portable derails (to carry with our brake stick. lantern, grip, radios etc) so I don't know what will happen. The fact that they have yard air on a mainline track, on a 1.5% or so grade, 4 car lengths away from a major interlocking and bridge thats half out of service (where derailment cleanup is still going on) means nothing. The fact that new hires get no training on air brakes and how they work means nothing. The fact that we have conductors with 3 months on the ground training new hires means nothing. CSX will not listen to anybody outside of Jacksonville when it comes to changing anything. What may sound good down there might not be the best plan up here but local management bends over backwards to follow it to a Tee without any regards to reality. Their priorites are askew. This a typical knee jerk reaction (as was already stated) to cover the fact that CSX really doesn't know how to manage itself...

These things keep happening and all they do is create more rules instead of fixing the problem(s)...

I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, but I did back my car into a parking space today, the current rule of the mighty Trainmasters...

Al Moran,
The SD80MACKing

What happened to CSX? They seem to used to run the railroad with some kind of common sense. Anymore, it's fire, intimidate, and harrass anyone until we get what we want. It doesn't even just pertain to their employees. Everyone can kiss their butt or else.

This new rule has already been brought to the attention of the FRA and you will most likely see it taken back as per CSX practice shortly. The biggest problem is that they will not listen to common sense. Period. I could post local bulletins that change what the rule book says about how many hand brakes are required where. With in 1000 ft there are 7 different requirements by general bulletin in my area. This is stupid.

Here is my fix which the NS already had:

When tying down trains, all hand brakes on locomotives that are equipped must be applied. At minimum 2 hand brakes on cars must be applied plus a sufficient ammount that may be needed. To accertain whether or not more are needed, you must TEST your hand brake effectiveness. This is done by applying the hand brakes, the releasing the air brakes. Make sure that with the air brakes released that the cars will not roll away. If the brakes hold, consider the hand brakes applied sufficient.


This only make sense.

-Joe

90%+ of CSX bulletins can be classified as a 'knee-jerk reaction'

Just like Baskin & Robbins 'Flavor of the week' -- so too with CSXT's 'Rule of the week'

They're really not interested in running trains after all

Anybody remember the 'Use of cellular phones forbidden while on company property' bulletin they issued (and then subsequently rescinded) last spring?

I was fully prepared to comply with that rule, seriously.

They did this on the Albany Division last Christmas. All trains that were tied down on a Main Track were secured at each end with portable derails. But that's not the kicker ... The kicker was that the Train Dispatchers had to issue a Dispatcher Message concerning EVERY SINGLE TRAIN that was tied down and secured with portable derails. The message contained the lead engine number, the rear car number, how many cars the train had, the milepost location of the head end of the train, the milepost location of the rear end of the train, and the milepost locations of the portable derailers associated with each train tied down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good grief, Michael Ward!!

fmw Wrote:
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> Good grief, Michael Ward!!

That's Tony "Two Toes" Ingram behind this BS. The NS got rid of him for a reason.

ESPEEFAN Wrote:
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> That's Tony "Two Toes" Ingram behind this BS. The NS got rid of him for a reason.

Actually, you probably have the Operating Rules Department to thank for these responses. Last I checked neither Tony Ingram nor Mike Ward were in charge of those departments.

Just your typical "Someone screwed up and didn't follow a rule, so we need to make two rules to cover the situation so it doesn't happen again." Graniteville on the NS is a prime example. They didn't line the switch back but yet reported in the clear. Now we have to have forms and radio proceedures etc to prevent that from happening again. But it still happens.

That crew on the rail train didn't secure their train, plain and simple. Now we all pay the price because that is how the Operating Rules Department figures they can keep it from happening again. Maybe those employee's in the Operating Rules Department should be acting as that "Transportation Manager" and sitting on these trains while they wait for a recrew. Easy to issue edicts from up on high when they aren't the ones effected by it.

Practice Safe CSX

Those who can, do. Those who can't write useless rules from their Ivory Towers...

MakeChooChooGoNow Wrote:
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> Anybody remember the 'Use of cellular phones
> forbidden while on company property' bulletin they
> issued (and then subsequently rescinded) last
> spring?
>
> I was fully prepared to comply with that rule,
> seriously.

I heard the FRA is attempting to ban cellphone use on locomotives completely.

Knucklehead

I had 40mins. left to work the other night. The dispatcher was going to hold us up at Mulberry Ave. (Wyoming). I called and told him our situation and he ran us around two other trains in order to get us to Queensgate.

Knucklehead Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> MakeChooChooGoNow Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Anybody remember the 'Use of cellular phones
> > forbidden while on company property' bulletin
> they
> > issued (and then subsequently rescinded) last
> > spring?
> >
> > I was fully prepared to comply with that rule,
> > seriously.
>
> I heard the FRA is attempting to ban cellphone use
> on locomotives completely.
>
> Knucklehead

We have been being told lately that in FRA reportable accidents, the FRA has the authority and has been subpoenaing cell phone records of crew members involved to determine activity and possible role...

It's a wonder that railroad employees everywhere don't just quit and walk off the job. But then again, that's what the railroads want... they would love to hire 'undocumented immigrants' and high school kids at minimum wage.