What is a Track Warrant?

[BaltACD]

dehusman
Not all railroads use track warrants, the NORAC (north east US) use “Form D” and Canadian roads use OCS. All are very similar, but not exactly the same.

Living near some dark territory on CSX, I hear a lot of their “EC-1,” and I’ve copied a lot of NORAC Form D’s. As noted, the information is basically the same, only the lines are changed.

EC-1 is the CSX form that is used to copy a variety of ‘Mandatory Directives’ from the Train Dispatcher which also includes Track Warrant information when necessary.

EC-1’s are used to communicate Slow Orders, Change of Status of Defect Detectors, Crossings that need ‘manual’ protection, Do No Pass orders and virtually any other happening that restricts the operation of a train.

[SD70M-2Dude]

Not all railroads use track warrants, the NORAC (north east US) use “Form D” and Canadian roads use OCS. All are very similar, but not exactly the same.

In Canada the term “track warrant” refers to a written authority in CTC-signalled territory, when the RTC needs to give a train further intructions the signals alone cannot.

Some examples would be authority to pass a Stop Signal, permission to manually operate a power (dual-control) switch, or “work” (move in both directions as required) within specified limits.

We simply call a Occupancy Control System (dark territory) authority a Clearance.