May 2024 Update
Hotel Complaints - Notify your Local Chairman about any inadequacies / complaints you have about AFHT Lodging. We’ve heard several complaints recently and the easiest way to get the issues resolved is by having documentation.
Handbrakes - I’m sure everyone has seen the new bulletins about Inspecting Trains (OB-14) and Handbrake Communication SOP (OB-15). In the wake of several incidents involving handbrakes that have been left on, NS is on a major push to prevent any further incident. As mentioned in last month’s update, they are handling handbrake issues with START Letters, so ensure all handbrakes are released when you’re doing a line of road pick-up and comply with all the relevant rules / bulletins regarding handbrakes. Now is also a good time to familiarize yourself with specified handbrake locations at various yards. This info can be found in the Division Timetable.
Track Authorities - We’ve had a few Track Authority Violations lately, so I want to remind everyone to take the time to read their Track Authorities before accepting a new TA or releasing an old one. If you are in a situation where having the TA pulled up is going to be a hinderance to the operation of your train, tell the dispatcher that you’ll have accept / release the TA at a latter time.
I also want to point out that if you’re running on Track Authority # 9999, any TA issued after that will roll back around to Track Authority #0001 or greater. The PTC system displays Track Authorities in sequential order and not in the order that they were received, so in that situation, the newest TA would be listed on top, instead of at the bottom as many are accustomed to seeing. If everyone takes the time to read their TA’s before accepting / releasing, there should be no issue.
Off Day / Vacation Agreement - The 2023 On-property Agreement brought some changes to Conductor Rest Days / Vacations that I haven’t seen anyone take advantage of yet, so I’d like to bring everyone’s attention to them. Listed below is a short description of the rules regarding starting your Weekly Vacation and Scheduled Rest days. A more in depth description can be found in the 2023 On-property Agreement (listed in the Agreements page of this website). And a Flow-chart can be found HERE.
Home Terminal
If you are at the Home Terminal within 24 hours of the beginning of your scheduled Weekly Vacation or Off day, you may elect to either be repositioned to the bottom of the board (if you choose this option, you will only be subject to call if the Pool or Extraboards are exhausted) OR (for Weekly Vacation only) elect to use a PL day / Single Vacation Day.
If you are at the Home Terminal with 16 hours of the beginning of your scheduled Weekly Vacation or Off day, you may elect to start your Weekly Vacation or Off Day when you tie-up. Using this option before a Weekly Vacation will allow you to come off vacation with PWS at 11:01pm (but a 7am Monday morning Mark-up can be requested before PWS awards go into effect). Conductors using this option before their Off days will be marked up after 48 hours.
Away From Home Terminal
Conductors at the Away From Home Terminal within 24 hours of the start of their Weekly Vacation or Off days may elect to be repositioned to be 1st out in their pool. (Conductors in the same rest day group that elect to use this option will remain in the same relative standing. Run-around claims will not be paid to the Conductors that are skipped over)
Conductors at the Away From Home Terminal within 4 hours of the start of their Weekly Vacation may elect to be Deadheaded home if not already called for a train. Will be paid a time-consumed deadhead.
The Safety Committee is making progress on some of the issues that have been brought to their attention over the last several months, but I’m sure there are many more issues out there. Examples of some of the things that might be reported are: bad walking conditions, improperly functioning skates or gate latches, tree limbs obstructing views or walking paths, etc.
Reminder that any safety concerns can be reported on the LSSC page of this website, but for any safety concern that creates an immediate danger, please contact a Local Chairman or Supervisor to have the issue resolved promptly.