[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 49, Volume 4]

[Revised as of October 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 49CFR218.24]



[Page 198-199]

 

                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION

 

       CHAPTER II--FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF 

                             TRANSPORTATION

 

PART 218_RAILROAD OPERATING PRACTICES--Table of Contents

 

               Subpart B_Blue Signal Protection of Workers

 

Sec. 218.24  One-person crew.



    (a) An engineer working alone as a one-person crew shall not perform 

duties on, under, or between rolling equipment, without blue signal 

protection that complies with Sec. 218.27 or Sec. 218.29, unless the 

duties to be performed are listed in Sec. 218.22(c)(5) and the 

following protections are provided:

    (1) Each locomotive in the locomotive engineer's charge is either:

    (i) Coupled to the train or other railroad rolling equipment to be 

assisted; or

    (ii) Stopped a sufficient distance from the train or rolling 

equipment to ensure a separation of at least 50 feet; and



[[Page 199]]



    (2) Before a controlling locomotive is left unattended, the one-

member crew shall secure the locomotive as follows:

    (i) The throttle is in the IDLE position;

    (ii) The generator field switch is in the OFF position;

    (iii) The reverser handle is removed (if so equipped);

    (iv) The isolation switch is in the ISOLATE position;

    (v) The locomotive independent (engine) brake valve is fully 

applied;

    (vi) The hand brake on the controlling locomotive is fully applied 

(if so equipped); and

    (vii) A bright orange engineer's tag (a tag that is a minimum of 

three by eight inches with the words ASSIGNED LOCOMOTIVE--DO NOT 

OPERATE) is displayed on the control stand of the controlling 

locomotive.

    (b) When assisting another train or yard crew with the equipment the 

other crew was assigned to operate, a single engineer must communicate 

directly, either by radio in compliance with part 220 of this chapter or 

by oral telecommunication of equivalent integrity, with the crew of the 

train to be assisted. The crews of both trains must notify each other in 

advance of all moves to be made by their respective equipment. Prior to 

attachment or detachment of the assisting locomotive(s), the crew of the 

train to be assisted must inform the single engineer that the train is 

secured against movement. The crew of the train to be assisted must not 

move the train or permit the train to move until authorized by the 

single engineer.



[60 FR 11050, Mar. 1, 1995]



    Effective Date Note: Section 218.24 was added at 60 FR 11050, Mar. 

1, 1995, effective May 15, 1995. At 60 FR 30469, June 9, 1995, Sec. 

218.24 was suspended, effective May 15, 1995.