Form D Control System (DCS) Rules apply only where designated by Timetable, Bulletin Order, or Form D line 6. Their purpose is to control the movement of trains. DCS Rules may be used in signaled territory or non-signaled territory. (Signaled territory is territory where ABS Rules are in effect for the direction of movement, and non-signaled territory is territory where ABS rules are not in effect for the direction of movement.) CSS Rules do not apply when non-signaled DCS rules are in effect. Form D line 2 is required for movement in DCS territory.

400. Occupying DCS Territory

a. Form D Authority

A train must not occupy DCS territory outside yard limits without Form D line 2 authority. All Operators involved must receive a copy of the Form D. Form D line 2 may be issued into or through yard limits in lieu of verbal permission. All other provisions of Rule 93, “Movement within Yard Limits,” apply. Three exceptions to the Form D line 2 requirement are:

1. Paragraph d of this rule, “Entering DCS Territory at a Hand-operated Switch.” 2. Rule 503, “Train Movement against Current of Traffic at an Interlocking.”
3. Movement at an interlocking may be made one train length beyond the home signal on verbal permission of the Dispatcher.

Before granting verbal permission the Dispatcher must ensure that the track on which movement is to be made is clear, and no opposing movements have been authorized.

The limits of the Form D authority must be designated by station names or whole mile post numbers. However, when a train is authorized to enter DCS territory at a hand-operated switch that is not at a station or whole mile post, the location of the originating hand-operated switch may be used as the beginning of the Form D line 2 authority. The following table describes the limit of the authority when line 2 ends at a station:

Before issuing a Form D authority in non-signaled DCS territory, the Dispatcher must determine that the track to be used is clear for passenger trains and clear outside of yard limits for other trains.

Overlapping Form D authorities for opposing movements must not be issued.

b. Operating Against Current of Traffic

Before authorizing a train to operate against the current of traffic, the Dispatcher must ensure that opposing movements are restricted by blocking devices or Form D.

c. Additions to Form D Line 2

The Dispatcher may direct addressee(s) to add additional line 2 authorities to a specified direction Form D which is still in effect.

In non-signaled DCS territory, these additions may be issued only after the Dispatcher has determined that the track to be used is clear, as outlined in paragraph (a) of this rule.

Additional line 2 authorities will be added to an effective Form D as follows:

1. The Dispatcher must contact the addressee(s), state his intent to give them an additional line 2 authority, and state the number and date of the Form D to which the line 2 authority will be added.
2. The Dispatcher will then transmit the additional line 2 authority and his initials. The addressee(s) will repeat the authority. The Dispatcher must not transmit the “time” of the addition to the addressee(s) until they have correctly repeated the authority. The addressee(s) must not act upon the additional authority until they receive the “time” of the addition.
3. The Dispatcher and the addressee(s) must record all additional information on line 2 of their Form D. When an additional line 2 authority is transmitted to an employee on a train, the receiving employee must ensure that all addressed employees on the train receive the additional information and mark their Form D accordingly. When additional line 2's are relayed by employees, the dictating employee must not transmit the “time” of the addition until the receiving employee has correctly repeated the authority.

d. Entering DCS Territory at a Hand-operated Switch

The Dispatcher (or Operator when authorized by the Dispatcher) may verbally authorize a train to enter DCS territory at a hand-operated switch, in order to clear the switch and proceed in the opposite direction. Before verbally authorizing the move, the Dispatcher must ensure that:
1. The segment of track to be used is clear of opposing movements,
AND
2. The train has received a Form D for movement in the opposite direction.

This movement is limited to one train length beyond the switch, and must be made at Restricted Speed with a crew member preceding the movement and providing flag protection.

401. Operating in Non-signaled DCS Territory

a. Maximum Authorized Speed

Passenger trains must not exceed 70 MPH and freight trains must not exceed 60 MPH, unless otherwise restricted.

b. Approaching Home Signals, Controlled Point Signals, and Signals at the Beginning of ABS Territory

Trains must approach home signals, controlled point signals, and signals at the beginning of ABS territory prepared to stop, unless a distant signal is in service. If a train is delayed after passing a distant signal, it must approach the home signal or controlled point signal prepared to stop.

402. Operating In a Specified Direction

a. Reverse Movement In Non-signaled DCS Territory

To make a reverse movement in non-signaled DCS territory, a train authorized by Form D line 2 to operate in a specified direction must follow one of the procedures listed below:

1. The train must receive another Form D, line 2.
OR
2. The train must receive verbal permission from the Dispatcher and must proceed at Restricted
Speed. The Dispatcher must specify the location to which the train is authorized to reverse. The Dispatcher must not authorize the train to reverse beyond the last point by which it was reported clear. A crew member must be stationed on the leading end of the movement to observe conditions ahead and take action to properly control the movement of the train.
OR
3. The movement must be preceded by a crew member and must proceed at Restricted Speed. Reverse movement must not go beyond the last whole mile post or station.
OR
4. If a train is operating against the current of traffic, the Dispatcher may verbally authorize it to operate with the current of traffic according to ABS rules. Before granting permission, the Dispatcher must ensure that the track to be used is clear of opposing movements, and must cancel the Form D line 2.

b. Reverse Movement in Signaled DCS Territory

To make a reverse movement within the limits of the same block in signaled DCS territory, a train authorized by Form D line 2 to operate in a specified direction will be governed by ABS Rule 501, “Reverse Move within the Limits of the Same Block.”

To make a reverse movement beyond the limits of the same block in signaled DCS territory, a train authorized by Form D line 2 to operate in a specified direction must receive a new Form D, line 2.

c. Clearing DCS Territory

When a train operating in a specified direction clears the limits of its line 2 authority, the line 2 authority is fulfilled. When a train leaves the track specified on its Form D line 2 authority at a hand-operated switch and that switch has been restored to normal position, the movement has cleared. A new Form D must be
issued for any further movement.

403. Operating in Both Directions

A train authorized by Form D line 2 to operate in both directions has exclusive occupancy of the track, and may operate in either direction. The Dispatcher must not authorize other movements within the line 2 limits. The line 2 authority remains in effect until canceled. Switches within the designated limits may be left in reverse position and unattended. Before the Form D is canceled, however, the Conductor must ensure that all switches used by his crew are locked in normal
position.

If a crew is relieved while their Form D line 2 is still in effect, the crew being relieved must inform the new crew of any switches left reversed. If physical contact cannot be made with the new crew, the Dispatcher must be notified of any switches left reversed, and the new crew must check with the Dispatcher to obtain
this information before proceeding.

405. Reporting to Dispatcher or Operator

The crew of a train must ensure that the Dispatcher or Operator is promptly notified when their train has:

1. Entered DCS territory, except when entering at an interlocking, controlled point, or TBS.
OR
2. Cleared the limits of their specified direction line 2 authority, except when clearing at an interlocking station or TBS, or when verbally relieved from clearing by the Dispatcher.

NOTE: The Dispatcher or Operator must not use panel board indication lights to determine that the track is clear.

Trains may be reported clear of DCS territory or intermediate points only after an employee has determined that the rear car has cleared by one of the following means:

1. Observing the marker.
2. Observing the last car number.
3. Observing the telemetry device indication on the head end to ensure that air pressure indicates brake pipe continuity, once the head end of the train is 3 miles beyond the clearing point.
4. Receiving a correct axle count from an equipment defect detector. This method may be used only when the axle count from the detector agrees with the count of a previous detector or with an actual axle count made by a crew member.

406. ABS Failure: Non-signaled DCS Substitution

a. Form D Line 6 or Bulletin Order

When an ABS failure occurs, non-signaled DCS rules may be substituted by Bulletin Order or Form D line 6.

All trains and Operators affected must receive a copy of the Form D line 6 or Bulletin Order. Before the Dispatcher issues the Form D line 6 or before the Bulletin Order becomes effective, the Dispatcher must ensure that:

1. Interlocking and CP signals governing entrance to or within the affected limits are in Stop position,
AND
2. Blocking devices are applied to the controls of switches and signals leading to the affected limits.

Interlocking or CP signals governing entrance to or within the affected track may be displayed to authorize movements that have received Form D line 2 authority. Signal indication will govern movement within interlocking limits or CP only. These signals must be immediately restored to Stop position and blocking devices reapplied once the head end of the authorized movement has passed the signal.

b. Rules-in-effect

ABS and CSS rules do not apply when non-signaled DCS rules are substituted for ABS.

c. Highway Grade Crossings

Unless otherwise instructed by Bulletin Order or Form D line 13, trains must stop and provide on-ground warning at highway grade crossings equipped with automatic warning devices, unless:

1. The automatic warning device has been operating at least 20 seconds,
OR
2. If equipped with gates, they are in the horizontal position.

The leading end of the movement must not exceed 15 MPH over the crossing.

d. Form D Line 7: Interlocking or Controlled Point Removed from Service

Interlocking and controlled point signals remain in service unless otherwise specified by Bulletin Order or Form D line 7. Before the Dispatcher issues Form D line 7 or before the Bulletin Order becomes effective, the Dispatcher must ensure that switch points at interlockings or controlled points to be removed from service have been spiked or wedged for the route to be used. If the route to be used is diverting, Form D line 1 or Bulletin Order item must be issued to indicate speed over diverting route.

Interlockings that include a movable bridge or a railroad crossing at grade must not be removed from service in this manner.

The Digitized Conductor - Version 1.0
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(c) 2005