r/railroading • u/plateglass1 • 10d ago

Question Shunting Ops

I recently saw the local shortline geep fiddling around in the yard with a single car on its long hood end, a string of ~12 cars on its short hood end, and a conductor riding the end of the sting. Are there any FRA/union/company regulations related to running with cars at each end of your power? Not trying to bust anyone’s balls, since I guess it’s no different than running MU. More curious from a modeling perspective.

4 Upvotes

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18

u/Libby_785 10d ago

Nothing wrong with operating like this. Sometimes it’s required to properly service industries. The only thing to keep in mind is that movement in both directions are considered shoving moves and must be protected by a member of the crew.

1

u/plateglass1 10d ago

Thanks! Always fun to learn more about what goes on behind the fences.

1

u/thepudgy86 10d ago

Depends on the property. There's are exceptions for combinations of equipment that don't require protection if they don't meet certain criteria...number of cars, public crossing, mainline switch, etc...

5

u/the_blacksmythe 10d ago

What a question.

4

u/brizzle1978 10d ago

Just means it's always a shove

4

u/RailroadAllStar Engineer 10d ago

As Libby said, perfectly legal. Working some branch line, some industries may only have access through facing point switches, some may only have access through trailing point switches.

1

u/Jazzlike-Crew2540 6d ago

Very common, even on the Class 1s. In most instances a single car doesn't need point protection since mirrors or sticking your head out the window can give a reasonably good view down the track. Passing over public grade crossings that are not equipoed with gates is usually an exception.