Commercial truckers have to be careful about their weight and about the height of their trailers. They also have to make sure their load is secured.
Do freight engineers and conductors have the same concerns? I know the distribution of loaded vs. unloaded cars has been mentioned elsewhere. Power is determined for overall movement based on the weight of the train.
Seems to me that there’s a bit more to this engineer thing than just hopping in the cab, releasing the brakes, throttling up and happily zipping down the track. Might be just me.
Train crews are responsible for:
1.) The proper distribution of loads and empties.
2.) The proper placement of restricted cars
3.) The proper placement of HAZMAT cars
4.) That the cars meet the lines clearance profile
5.) That the train has enough power
Most railroads have departments that are responsible for oversized loads . Sometimes a special train is run exclusivly for the shipper.
There are some places that do not have clearance for double stacks … I remember seeing a film somewhere that showed the results of this attempt. As I recall the engineer was told that his train would clear an underpass , against his judgement he proved the higher ups wrong and somene was there to get it on video .
Back in the days before doublestacks, TRAINS would sometimes carry photos of “instant convertibles” that were created when an auto carrier tried to go thru a space with insufficient vertical clearance. Ouch!
It always has been the responsibility of a trains crew to assure that their train’s consist will make it along the line they are to operate on. I have heard crews call the Dispatcher to report high/wide, heavy cars that were"missed" when the consist was put together at their originating yard. More recently there have been “talking” high car detectors at points where a train will be going to a restricted height or width track. Then the crew must acknowledge the train does not clear the line’s restrictions, and must set out the offending cars, or get re-routed to an appropriate track. Failing to acknowledge this can lead to a 15-60 day unpaid vacation for the crew. [#oops][:-^]
Place excessive dimension loads on or near the head end of trains.
Instructions will be issued to trains handling excessive dimension loads. If no instructions have been issued regarding handling the car, the conductor will immediately notify the train dispatcher.
Crew members handling excessive dimension equipment must ensure that the equipment will clear nearby objects, including equipment on adjacent tracks. If the train cannot reach a point with enough clearance, crew members must make sure protection is provided against movements on adjacent tracks.
Your train sheet should list all excessive height and wide /shiftable loads.
The dispatcher should be aware of the load, but it is a good idea to inform them of it and the placement of it in your train when you fist notify them your ready to occupy the main or leave the yard.