Page 18 - March 2021 Track N Times

TECHNICAL TRAINING

Lesson Learned the Hard Way - Out of Service Tracks

By Ralph Spicer, Manager Operational Standards

In December of 2018 we had a machine that cleared up in an out of service track at the end of the operat-
ing shift. I’m sure all of you at one time or another have pulled up to a switch off of a siding and have been
told by the Railroad EIC that the track is out of service and have done one of two things, gone into the
switch or at least asked why the track was taken out of service, and then probably walked your machine
into the track usually looking out for wide gauge or poor ties which are a couple of the normal reasons for
the Railroad taking a track out of service.

Here’s the problem with this situation, at the beginning of the shift the Railroad EIC said that they were go-
ing to tie up the machine on the connecting track that is out of service with blocks on both ends. Given
that information when the machine arrived at the location, the switch was thrown, and the machine went
into the connecting track and was tied down. Unfortunately, in this situation the machine went into a con-
trolled track what was not taken out of service.

Going Forward

When you are asked to tie the machine up on an out of service track, you must ask the questions on why it
is out of service, and is the track controlled or non-controlled. If the track is controlled you must have a
clear understanding of the track authorization to enter the out of service track, and how you will be pro-
tected while your machine is in a track that is controlled and deemed out of service.
Do not assume that when entering an “out of service track” that you can just go into it. If it
is a controlled track you must have authorization to enter it. Going into an “out of service
track” without protection is considered an out of limits violation that will follow the same
protocol if it were on the mainline.
Tying a machine or equipment up on a controlled track that is out of service can be a sticky situation when
it comes to placing derails on a controlled track. Some railroads allow this practice and others do not.
Contact your Assistant Manager, Manager or your Direct Railroad contact if you are unsure of the protec-
tion that needs to be provided in this situation.

Volume 2 : Issue 2 Page 16