Can you guys take this up with the Union and get some common sense into the application of this rule? There are lots of rules in the rulebook that don’t apply when applying them would constitute a serious safety violation, why not this one also?
Sure if a train goes into emergency, you have to go out and walk (probably both sides) of the train to inspect where a knuckle broke or air hose damaged or even a derailment. But suppose this happens in a howling snow blizzard and then you look back and see an avalanch of snow or rockslide about to cover the rear of your train. The sensible thing is to forget the rulebook and power you and your conductor and the locomotive to a safe spot, leaving the freight train behind to be picked up after the emergency to human beings is well over.
Back in the day’s when there were real station agents, I watched as a agent friend of mine did roll bys. His first words to me were “watch out for shifted loads.” He had just missed being hit by a broken band from a lumber load the previous night.
I probably knew Mike Crouse, because he may have been a brakeman or conductor on the passenger train (Amtrak or RGZ) on one of my many Denver -Salt Lake and return trips. I think the name is familiar. The trainman I remember the most was named Jason and also played the "cello, sometimes with either or both the Denver Symphony and the Colorado Springs Symphony. A real loss, they were (are) all great people.
Hi group my name is Rodney I worked as a conductor for a litte over 2 years before getting in the engine program to become a engineer. The above statement is right the rule book is writen in blood and the cover should be in red and not black. Getting off the motor for a roll by is a judgement call I know that the rule says that a roll by must be done from the ground but when it is not safe to do it I will stay on the motor. The above statement is right stuff can fly off cars. The biggest share of the time I inspect passing train standing by my trains motors.
If I get off to inspect I am standing right underneath the engineer behind the motors. I have told the Chief RFE in my area and he agrees that what I do is okay. I most cases the territory I ride on does not allow to get off on the other side due to steep grades right off the ballast into a water filled ditch, etc. If the company is so crazy about safety, then I will get off when I feel it is safe to do so, otherwise I’ll just keep a real good eye on the passing/oncoming train from inside the cab.