Track Warrants

Under Track Warrant Control a dispatcher dictates train orders, referred to as Track Warrants, to train crews. The dispatcher and train crews use radios (FRS radio head sets on the BC&SJ) to communicate.

A valid track warrant is normally required for a train to occupy any portion of the mainline. However a track warrant is not required for the following situations:

• The train is on a siding
• The train is on the mainline within yard limits - this track is controlled by the yard master. But the crew better get the yard master's permission before entering his yard!

A track warrant also is used to

• determine which track a train will occupy at a meet.
• restrict a trains speed in certain areas
• determine how far a train may proceed before needing another track warrant
• give joint authority for two or more trains on the same track - used in conjuction with a restricted speed order to allow two or more trains to get by each other usually when one of them is working a town.
• hold a train in a location until a certain time or until a specified train (or trains) have arrived.

When operating under track warrant control a train is only allowed to move foward. NO reverse moves are allowed!

However this applies to the caboose of a train. The caboose may not BACKUP. But if the train has been split the engine may move foward and back (as long as it doesn't move beyond the track(s) named in the warrant. This is useful for trains needing to pickup or drop helpers or water cars.

However, trains that are switching industries in a town generally get a work-between order (check box 4.) that authorizes it to use any tracks between two named points.

This would be a major problem when switching an area. So a work-between order will often refer to sidings before and ahead of the area to be switched. For example: a warrant is issued with Check box 4. Work between Deschutes Junction and Salem.. This warrant allows the Oakhill turn to use all tracks in Oakhill plus the mainline in either direction up to but NOT INCLUDING the turnout at Deschutes Jct. and the east turnout at Salem.

A checkbox 2. track warrant gives authority for a train to proceed to the far limit of a named siding. For example Checkbox 2. Proceed from Mill Bend to Oakhill and Checkbox 10. Hold main track at last named point. That train is authorized to proceed to the (far) west Oakhill turnout. But the train can not foul or move beyond that west turnout.

But if Checkbox 2 authority is given to proceed to a Junction outside a siding, the train must hold short of the junction not fouling it.
When a train is directed by Checkbox 9. to clear last named point the warrant doing so may be cleared once the train is completely in the clear and named point. The warrant must not be reported clear until the train is COMPLETELY in the clear and the turnout behind it aligned to the main route.

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Reporting for Duty

When a train crew is called and reports for duty they do the following:

• Report to the crew caller who hands out throttle, train card, and the carcards/waybills for their train. If the train is being built in a yard they will get the paper work from the yard clerk (aka yardmaster).
• Locate their train and walk it looking for dangling, mismatched, or broken couplers and derailed wheelsets
• The conductor checks the carcards to ensure they match the physical consist
• The engineer checks to make sure his throttle can talk to the train
• Simulate a brake set and release - the engineer gently backs up the train until there is motion in the caboose then gently pulls foward until there is again motion in the caboose checking for break in two problems.

The train and crew are now ready to hit the iron. But first the conductor must radio the dispatcher and request a track warrant.

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Radio Protocol

Here's a quick example of the conductor of the Bear Creek Hauler East in Salem requesting a track to run to South Jackson. The conducotr waits for a break in the radio chatter then:

Conductor: Bear Creek dispatch this is SP5334 at Salem. Over

Dispatch: Go ahead SP5334. Over

Conductor: We are the Bear Creek Hauer East requesting a track warrant to run to South Jackson. Over

Dispatch: SP5334 how many loco and cars do you have? Over
(the DS needs this information to know where he can have BCHE meet other trains).

Conductor: SP5334. We have two SD7s pulling 24 cars including caboose. Over.

Dispatch: SP5334. Are you ready to copy a warrant? Over

Conductor: SP5334. Ready to copy. Over.

Dispatch: SP5334. This is track warrant number 13 dated March 17, 1952. To Espee 5334 at Salem, Checkbox 2. proceed from Salem to Oakhill. Checkbox 9. clear main track at last named point. Over

Apparently there is a west bound coming up the hill so the DS wants to put us in the hold at Oakhill for the meet.

Conductor: SP5334. Reading back warrant number 13 dated March 17, 1952. To Espee 5334 at Salem, checkbox 2. proceed from Salem to Oakhill. Checkbox 9. clear main track at last named point. Over.

Dispatch: SP5334. That is OK at 11:07 am dispatcher JQR. Over

Conductor: SP5334. OK at 11:07 am dispatcher JQR. Copied by TDF. Over and out.

Train BCHE is now authorized to proceed from Salem to Oakhill. At Oakhill it will head into the siding. Once in the clear the conductor will call the dispatcher again to report being in the clear and ask for anothe warrant.

Conductor: Bear Creek dispatch this is SP5334. We are in the clear at Oakhill and are ready to copy another warrant. Over

Dispatch: SP5334 this is dispatch. This is track warrant number 16 dated March 17, 1952. To Espee 5334 at Oakhill, Checkbox 1. track warrant number 13 is void. Checkbox 2. proceed from Oakhill to South Jackson. Checkbox 7. Not in effect until after arrival of BCSJ 32 at Oakhill. Over

BCHE is getting a warrant conditional on the arrival of the train they are to meet at Oakhill. In this case they should expect to see a train pulled by BCSJ 32 show up. After BCSJ 32 (and train) have pulled completely past the Oakhill west end turnout, BCHE can depart for South Jackson. Because South Jackson is within yard limits BCHE's crew will need to call the yard master before entering the yard.

Conductor: Bear Creek dispatch this is SP5334. Reading back track warrant number 16 dated March 17, 1952. To Espee 5334 at Oakhill, Checkbox 1. track warrant number 13 is void. Checkbox 2. proceed from Oakhill to South Jackson. Checkbox 7. Not in effect until after arrival of BCSJ 32 at Oakhill.

Dispatch: SP5334. That is OK at 11:49 am dispatcher JQR. Over

Conductor: SP5334. OK at 11:49 am dispatcher JQR. Copied by TDF. Over and out.

After BCSJ 32 shows up BCHE can proceed from Oakhill to South Jackson. After finishing their work in South Jackson the conductor will need to get another warrant to authorize their trip to Pocatello.

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