Sorry, I’m not in GCOR territory.
CNW in TWC we will get a warrant from point a to point b and an example I can give is our Muscatine line ( former RI) You get a warrant from mp 219 to mp 226 either a line 2 or line 4 if joint with others. Ours never states the switch for a spur to an industry.Usually just a MP just beyond it.
Now with the industry tracks. DM&E/IC&E started a program where every year we will come out and inspect the tracks with a rep from that industry.We also send reminders for good housekeeping practices and a reminder our crews can refuse to switch a track if there is a hazard ( has to be legit not just well we didnt want to switch them today lol)I think its a great policy and should cut back on injuries and derailments due to bad track and junk laying about you can trip over.
This entire issue can be really complicated and causes a great deal of heartburn in the railroad industry.
While railroads use different terms, the Federal Railroad Administration has very clear terms for tracks.
First, a siding is a track used to pass trains. Switches on each end are not required. In fact, there are several well known locations where trains pull into a stub track to pass and the track is legally considered to be a siding.
An industrial track or spur is more properly termed “other than main track or siding”. As stated, if it is not a main track (track between stations) or a siding (as defined above), it falls into a separate category. This category includes most yard tracks, industry tracks, etc. In fact, many tracks that get called sidings are not considered to be such since they are used for car storage, serving industries, etc.
On the issue of how long a track can lay unused, the FRA requires a month inspection of “other than main track or sidings” that are in service for railroad-owned facilities. If the track is out of service, you simply inspect it before putting it back into service.
However, this track sounds like it is insular (inside a fence, no public grade crossings, etc.) and not owned by the railroad, thus it gets a bit more complicated. The owner of track is responsible for the safety of the track, but the FRA will not enforce the FRA Track Safety Standards in such a case, and probably will not even inspect it, instead, they simply give a pass or fail if they have to go in based upon a complaint, accident, etc. However, if someone gets hurt and it goes to court, the first question of a wise lawyer will be about what standards the track owner is using.
For a railroad, the other issue is that they must make sure that any track that they put their equipment and employees on is safe to do so. This is why many railroads do inspections of their shippers’ tracks.
If you want r
A siding is “A track adjacent and connected to the main track which is so designated in the time table, GBO or operating bulletin.” As per Canadian Rail Operating Rules. If the timetable or operating bulletins say it’s a siding, even if it is only connected at one end, it’s a siding.
Thanks, Tyler. So much to learn…
-Crandell