On CSX I hear them using “controlled speed” occasionally. Can someone explain how controlled speed is different from restricted speed?
Well, I don’t have my definitions right in front of me but I can give you a reasonable answer. Controlled speed is a speed that a train runs at so not to run into another train, obstruction, bad switch, derail, etc. Restricted speed is the same for the exception of looking out for broken rail and cannot exceed 15 mph. Personally, I don’t have a use for controlled speed and I take the approach better safe than sorry.
the only major diffence is…controlled dosnt have a speed cap…restricted speed is capped at 15mph…but both speeds require that the engineer be able to stop his trian withing 1 half the range of vision
csx engineer
Does CSX have their own restricted speed rule? In the General Code, it is not exceeding 20mph. But I know some RR’s rewrite definitions for themselves…
yes…csx’s restricted speed rule writin for csx… it is 5 mph slower then alot of other railroads i have come to find out…
and the csx restricted speed is
A speed that will permint stoping within 1/2 the range of vistion…stoping short of a train, a car, an obstruction, on track equipment, improprly lined switch, derail or stop signal, it must permit looking out for broken rail, it will NOT exceed 15mph…
csx engineer
We do not have controled speed on BNSF but we do have restricted speed, at restricted speed we can run up to 20mph I do not go that fast, the thing about restricted speed is stopping within half the range of vision just for the fact something i.e. train, banner or fusee could be in the way. Also on the look out for broken rail.
Rodney
Thanks for all the good answers everyone.
I would imagine the actual speed you would run at in either restricted speed or controlled speed would vary quite a bit depending on things like the weight of the train, grade, visibility, etc.
Now i’m wondering if it’s ever unsafe to move a train at all if the conditions are all at their worst . Heavy train, maybe some blowing snow or very heavy rain causing limited visibility, and a restricted speed rule in effect. What happens then?
From the GCOR, in regards to weather…
6.21 Precautions Against Unusual Conditions
Protect trains and engines against any known condition that may interfere with their safety.
When conditions restrict visibility, regulate speed to ensure that crew members can observe and comply with signal indications.
In unusually heavy rain, storm, or high water, trains and engines must approach bridges, culverts, and other potentially hazardous points prepared to stop. If they cannot proceed safely, they must stop until it is safe to resume movement.
Advise the train dispatcher of such conditions by the first available means of communication.
GCOR restricted speed…
6.27 Movement at Restricted Speed
When a train or engine is required to move at restricted speed, movement must be made at a speed that allows stopping within half the range of vision short of:
Train
Engine
Railroad car
Men or equipment fouling the track
Stop signal
or
Derail or switch lined improperly
The crew must keep a lookout for broken rail and not exceed 20 MPH.
Comply with these requirements until the leading wheels reach a point where movement at restricted speed is no longer required.
Norac version of restricted speed is in essence the same rules, almost word for word.
The FRA allows each railroad to change the top limit of restricted speed, as long as it is more restrictive, or lower, than the 20 MPH mentioned in the GCOR.
The Norac rule already does so, outside interlocker limits, it is 20 mph, inside interlocker limits, 15 mph.
Ed
and if what ed says isnt good enough engineers have sent the conductor walking ahead of the engine on bad blocks and most generally trainmasters get mad when they meet a conductor instead of a engine.
When did it change? From what I’ve read, it used to be 15 mph on all roads.
Been that way for a while…
My entire railroad, the PTRA, is considered by the FRA to be within yard limits, so our maximum speed on PTRA tracks is restricted speed, not to exceed 20 mph.
We work under the GCOR, and it states the same, not to exceed 20.
I let my engineer decide what he feels comfortable running at, after all, he knows more about how the train is handleing than I do…if its a cruddy train and we have a good thunderstorm blowing, we might move as slow as 5 mph…on the other hand, if its a good, clean unit train and my engineer feels like it will behave, we run 20.
There is no set speed for restricted, only a maximum, 20 according to the GCOR, 20 and 15 mph according to Norac…you can run at any speed lower than the max, as long as such speed allows you to stop within 1/2 the visual range of…
Ed
Once again our forum greats have hit this topic to the tee and I couldn’t explain it better myself. [:D][bow]
As long as I’ve been working for the railroad (and we had the Consolidated Code of Operating Rules before we had GCOR), our Restricted Speed was 20 m.p.h. I know that most eastern railroads used 15 as the maximum.
The Consolidated Code used to have “reduced” speed, which sounds an awful lot like the “Controlled Speed” that’s being talked about here.