I have been doing some thinking, and I was just wondering, are engineers allowed to listen to the radio/music while running their train? And what happens if they have to go to the bathroom? Who runs the train while they’re on the john? Surely, they can’t just “pull over” for a potty break.
Crews are not to listen to music while on duty … yet many crews bring radios all the time. Just don’t get caught.
Aslo, I am not sure about other railroads, but on CN in Canada all the conductors go through training to operate the train for temporary relief for the engineer. I have yet to go through that training but thats what its like her.
Since the units are in Noth 8 most of the time anyway, all the conductor would have to do is blow the horn and hit the RSC if the engineer steps out.
During the Buffalo Bills[#offtopic] near championship runs in the 90s a switching line in the area had the games on one of their radio frequencies-no none cared about the violation of a rule-they wanted to listen to the games! It was weird to hear the games on my scanner![#dots][:-,]
The only carrier I know of that might have a “potty” break problem would be Amtrak, which has only an engineer in the cab of their shorter distance trains. Then station stops are welcomed by the engineers all the more than otherwise might be the case.[:O]
<>Anything that can distact you from your duty is aginst the rules… but like someone said befor…donst stop crewman from bringing radios…portable DVD players…laptop computers… and small portable TVs with them…and as far as going to the bathroom… if you have to go pee… most of the time you pick a spot where there isnt any crossings to blow for… any speed changes that might need you to slow down…or a signal you need to stop at… just jump out of the seat… and do your biz as fast as you can… the conductors will hit the alerter for you if it should go off while your doing what you need to do, as far as haveing to make a set off of your own… in the US…unless your conductor has a FRA card… you either try to hold it till you stop… or till your shift is done (the toliets on locomotives are worse then a port-a-john on a hot summer day in the sun at an outdoor sporting even or concert… ) if you realy have to go and cant wait… and if your conductor dosnt hold a FRA card to run the engin… you stop… and go…
csx engineer
We’ve made a lot of progress since using a shovel in the tender was the normal method. No radios in those days either.
dd
Don’t forget, in addition to prohibiting radios/TVs/Laptops and other electronic devices, the regs also prohibit non-railroad reading material, playing cards, etc. However, these regs are almost universally ignored.
In my territory, it best for the engineer to hold it for a stop signal.
Nick
CP Rail (US) takes the position that if no other crew member in the cab of the controlling locomotive is a certified engineer and qualified on the territory being operated, the train MUST be stopped for the the engineer to relieve him(her)self.
Electronic devices not furnished by the carrier are not to be used while on duty (where/when you might get caught).
In the nose of most road units is a toilet.
Unknown Amtrak.