The Dispatcher issues Form D's to restrict or authorize movements. Form D's are also issued to convey instructions in situations not covered in the Operating Rules.

160. Issuing a Form D
For movements or other purposes requiring its use, Form D must be issued by the Dispatcher. Form D's must be numbered consecutively each day beginning at midnight, and the number must be prefixed with the letter designation of the issuing railroad as follows:

161. Completing Form D Properly
Information shown on Form D must be legible and without erasure or alteration. Only authorized abbreviations may be used in Form D's. Commas must be used to separate numbers or locations listed in a series. Applicable Form D line numbers must be circled. Employees must review the entire form for additional information.

Operators must keep an office copy of each Form D received.

162. Addressees
Form D's must be addressed to those who are to execute them, indicating the date and naming the location at which each is to receive his copy.

a. Form D Addressed to a Train
Form D's for a train must be addressed to the Conductor and Engineer, and to anyone who acts as its Pilot. These forms must include the identity of the train. Scheduled trains will be identified by the abbreviation “No.” plus the schedule number and engine number, for example: “No. 101 Eng 903.” Extra trains will be identified by the word “Extra” plus the engine number, for example: “Extra 933.” If the engine belongs to another company, that company's initials must precede the engine number, such as in “Extra CN 2502.” Blanket addresses may also be used, such as “Eastward Trains.”

b. Form D Addressed to a Track Car
Form D's for a track car must be addressed to the Foreman, Track Car Driver or Pilot. Track cars must be identified by the abbreviation “TC” plus the letters and numerals of the equipment, for example: “TC A8876.” If more than one track car is to operate on the same Form D authority, the number of additional pieces must be specified, for example: “TC 7922 plus 3.”

163. Photocopies; Additional Written Copies
A photocopying machine may be used to make additional copies of a Form D. When a photocopying machine is used, employees must examine each copy for completeness and legibility before delivering.

When additional copies are written, Operators must repeat them to the Dispatcher and initial them below the Dispatcher's name before delivering. The Dispatcher must ensure that the Form D is repeated correctly. For each additional writing, the Operator must keep an office copy showing the time and date of the repetition.

164. Examination before Delivery
Copies of Form D's made with pressure sensitive or carbon paper must be examined for legibility before delivery.

165. Form D Delivery
The Dispatcher may personally deliver Form D to addressed employees, or he may transmit Form D to an Operator, who will then be responsible for delivering the Form D. Form D may be physically delivered to addressed employees; it may be dictated to them by radio, telephone, or in person; or it may be delivered to them by electronic transmission.

a. Physical Delivery of Form D
When a Dispatcher or Operator physically delivers one or more Form D's to an employee, the Dispatcher or Operator must complete the delivery portion of the top Form D in the set delivered, indicating the numbers of all Form D's delivered. Receiving employees must see that the information shown in the delivery portion corresponds to the Form D's received, and must deliver a copy of the Form D to other crew members addressed.

b. Dictation of Form D by Radio, Telephone or in Person
Form D's may be dictated only to employees who are qualified on the Operating Rules. Form D's must not be dictated to or copied by an employee operating the controls of a moving train.

When dictating and repeating Form D's, employees must read aloud and plainly pronounce all applicable preprinted and written portions. Numerals in lines 1 through 13 of Form D's must be pronounced digit by digit. For example, “105” will be pronounced “one-zero-five.”

Before dictating a Form D, the Dispatcher must specify the number of copies to be made if more than one copy is required. The Dispatcher must not give “Time Effective” until Form D has been repeated correctly. Once the Dispatcher has given his name, receiving employees must repeat immediately from their copy in the same order they were addressed, unless otherwise directed. Employees must listen while other addressees repeat Form D and call attention to any discrepancies. Once all addressees have repeated the Form D correctly, the Dispatcher will give “Time Effective,” which must then be repeated by the receiving employees.

When a Form D is dictated to an employee on a train, the receiving employee must ensure that employees on the train who are addressed in the Form D receive a copy of it before reaching the first
location where employees must act upon the Form D. If physical delivery of the Form D is not practical, the receiving employee must dictate the Form D information to other employees addressed, who must copy and repeat the Form D information.

When Form D's are relayed by employees, the dictating employee must follow the procedures outlined above for Dispatchers. “Time Effective” must not be transmitted until the receiving employee correctly repeats the Form D.

c. Electronic Transmission of Form D
Employees receiving a Form D by electronic transmission must examine each copy for completeness and legibility. They must communicate with the Dispatcher to verify the number and date of each Form D received.

166. Reading and Complying with Form D
Employees addressed must immediately read the Form D and are responsible for compliance with its requirements. When practical, Form D must be shown to other employees on the train or track car. These employees must read the Form D and remind employees addressed of the requirements of the Form D, if necessary.

167. Communication Failure
If communication fails before a Form D has been given a “Time Effective,” trains addressed must not proceed nor be given permission to proceed until communication has been reestablished.

168. Errors Discovered
If an error is discovered in a Form D before “Time Effective” has been given, the Dispatcher must direct receiving employees to destroy their copies. The Dispatcher must mark “Void” on his copy in the Form D booklet, then reissue the Form D under another number.

If an error is discovered in a Form D after “Time Effective” has been given, the Form D must be canceled.

169. Additions to Form D
Once a Form D has been given a “Time Effective,” only the following information may be added to the form:

1. Form D cancellation information. See Rule 177, “Cancelling Form D's.”
2. Track is clear information. See Rule 805, “Track Car Following Other Movements.”
3. Additional line 2 authorities. See Rule 400, “Occupying DCS Territory” and Rule 804, “Additions to Form D Line 2.”
4. Additional line 3 authorities. See Rule 804, “Additions to Form D Line 2.”

170. Delivery at an Interlocking or Controlled Point
When a Form D is to be delivered to a train at an interlocking or controlled point, the Dispatcher must ensure that blocking devices are applied to prevent addressed trains from leaving the interlocking or controlled point without the Form D. These blocking devices must not be removed until Form D has been delivered or until the Engineer has acknowledged that he is to receive a Form D.

Blocking devices are not required at locations where crews are required to inquire about Form D's prior to departure.

171. Physical Delivery to a Moving Train
When a Form D is to be physically delivered to a moving train, the train must not exceed 30 MPH until delivery is effected. If delivery is not effected, the train must be stopped.

172. Delivery to a Train That Will Have Movement Restricted in Immediate Vicinity
When a Form D restricting the movement of a train covers a portion of the track within 3 miles of the point of delivery, the train must be stopped. Form D must be delivered before the signal to proceed is displayed, unless the Engineer has been fully advised of the situation.

173. Delivery to Relieving Conductor or Engineer
When a Conductor or Engineer is relieved, all Form D's and instructions that have not been fulfilled or canceled must be delivered to the relieving Conductor or Engineer. The relieving Conductor and Engineer must compare these Form D's and instructions to confirm that the information in them is the same.

The relieving crew must contact the Dispatcher if they are unable to communicate with the crew they are to relieve. The Dispatcher must ensure they have received all instructions affecting the movement of their train before proceeding.

174. Receiving a Form D at a Temporary Block Station (TBS)
When a TBS is placed in service, approaching trains must be notified by Form D line 10 or Bulletin Order. Trains must approach a TBS prepared to stop. They must not pass a TBS or foul associated hand-operated switches without receiving a hand signal to proceed from the Operator or verbal permission from the Dispatcher. They must receive a Form D before departing a TBS on a main track.

If a train passes the last holding point (interlocking, TBS or controlled point) in approach to the TBS while it is still open, and the train reaches the TBS after it is scheduled to be closed, it must approach the closed TBS prepared to stop. It must not pass this location without verbal permission of the Dispatcher.

The Operator at a TBS must contact the Dispatcher for instructions prior to permitting a train to depart the TBS. When no Form D's have been issued by the Dispatcher for a train, the Operator must issue an unnumbered Form D addressed to the train. The Form D must be completed as follows:
1. The address and date portion must be completed.
2. “NONE” must be written in the delivery portion.
3. “Time Effective” must be indicated.
4. The Operator must sign his name in the place of the Dispatcher.

175. Speed Restrictions
Speed restrictions must be listed in sequential order. The limits of the restriction must be designated by Timetable locations, mile post locations, signal locations, bridge numbers or catenary pole numbers.

When speed signs cannot be displayed immediately, the Dispatcher must not use portions of a mile on the Form D, unless used in conjunction with a physical characteristic location.

176. Effective Period of a Form D
Form D's are in effect until fulfilled or until canceled.

Form D's which have been fulfilled or canceled must be marked with an “X” then retained and held available for inspection for a period of 7 days.

177. Canceling Form D's
Form D's which need to be canceled will usually be canceled on the same form. Under some conditions, however, a Form D must be canceled by a separate Form D.

a. Cancelling a Form D on the Same Form
A Form D will be canceled on the same form, as follows:
1. The Dispatcher must contact the addressee(s) and state his intent to cancel the Form D.
2. The Dispatcher must state the Form D number and date, the cancellation time and date, and his initials.
3. The Dispatcher and the addressee(s) must record all cancellation information on the appropriate section of their copy of the Form D.
4. The addressee must repeat the Form D number and date, and all cancellation information to the Dispatcher.
5. The Dispatcher must ensure that all cancellation information is repeated correctly.

When cancellation information is transmitted to an employee on a train, the receiving employee must ensure that all addressed employees on the train receive the cancellation information and mark their Form D accordingly.

Operators who have received a copy of the original Form D may be directed by the Dispatcher to relay cancellation information to other employees. The Dispatcher must not mark an “X” on his copy of the Form D until he has canceled the Form D to all affected addressees.

b. Canceling a Form D by a Separate Form
When cancellation information is to be relayed by an Operator who does not have a copy of the Form D to be canceled, the Dispatcher must issue a separate Form D Line 13 to the Operator to cancel the original Form D.

The Digitized Conductor - Version 1.0
All Manuals copy written by their respective Companies.
Created and Maintained by ModernRailroading.com
(c) 2005