Unit 7 Railroad Equipment Records

Objectives Student will identify the various types of records associated with railroad operations that relate to the fire investigation. Student will identify the various types of records associated with railroad operations that relate to the fire investigation. Student will describe how to interpreting each type of record. Student will describe how to interpreting each type of record. Student will describe why time is of the essence in obtaining railroad records. Student will describe why time is of the essence in obtaining railroad records.

Specialized Investigative Records Event recorder printouts Event recorder printouts Hot box detector activation records Hot box detector activation records Dragging equipment detector records Dragging equipment detector records Dispatch records Dispatch records Radio records from dispatcher Radio records from dispatcher Operational period train warrants Operational period train warrants Mechanical repair and inspection records Mechanical repair and inspection records Internal policy and procedure manuals Internal policy and procedure manuals Consist manifests Consist manifests Statements from crew Statements from crew Railroad timetables Railroad timetables System map System map Track profiles Track profiles Conductor’s log Conductor’s log

Initial attack protocol Do the locomotive (s) have event recorder (s)? Yes Get crew and witness statements Obtain event recorder printout from each locomotive ASAP Get crew and witness statements No

Investigation protocol Do the locomotive (s) have event recorder (s)? Yes Get crew and witness statements. Obtain event recorder printout from each locomotive ASAP Railroad Dispatch records Radio Hotbox detector activation Dragging equipment activation No Railroad records Operational period warrants Consist manifests Mechanical records Railroad specific documents Railroad time table Track profile System map Policies and procedures

Event recorder

Event recorder printout information Locomotive Number Locomotive Number Event Recorder Number Event Recorder Number Milepost Milepost Speed (mph) Speed (mph) Direction of Travel Direction of Travel Load (Amps) Load (Amps) Horn Status Horn Status Brake (psi) Brake (psi) Loc Brakes Loc Brakes Throttle Position Throttle Position Idle or Position Dynamic Brake Status Minutes X 10 Minutes X 10 Date And Clock (24 Hour Time) Date And Clock (24 Hour Time) Location Downloaded Location Downloaded

Event Recorder printout

Event Recorder Printout

Train crew interviews Conductor and/or Engineer - Did the crews on any trains you passed or met mention anything about your train ? Conductor and/or Engineer - Did the crews on any trains you passed or met mention anything about your train ? Engineer - How were you handling the train, power, dynamic brake, combination power and air brakes? Was there sufficient power to operate the train ? Engineer - How were you handling the train, power, dynamic brake, combination power and air brakes? Was there sufficient power to operate the train ? Conductor and/or Engineer - Did the crew that brought this train into your terminal say anything about activations or trouble with the train ? Conductor and/or Engineer - Did the crew that brought this train into your terminal say anything about activations or trouble with the train ?

Train crew statement “I went back to isolate the engine from the other two and saw flames and sparks coming from a small hole in one of the dynamic brake cooling grids, as well as hot molten metal surrounding the hole. When I isolated the engine, the flames, smoke and melting ceased.”

Dispatch and initial report of fire records Written or recorded Conversations between train crews and dispatchers. Conversations between train crews and dispatchers. Reports to police, fire, or other public agencies. Reports to police, fire, or other public agencies. Reports to local news media. Reports to local news media. Initial attack size up, report of conditions, requests for resources. Initial attack size up, report of conditions, requests for resources. List of reporting parties to include phone numbers, addresses and other pertinent information. List of reporting parties to include phone numbers, addresses and other pertinent information.

Hot box detector Dragging equipment detector Hotbox and dragging equipment notifies the train of: Milepost number Milepost number Total axle count Total axle count Suspected axle number Suspected axle number Time of notification Time of notification

More on detectors… Some detectors may report both dragging equipment and hot axles or journal boxes or spikes in the temperature. Some detectors may report both dragging equipment and hot axles or journal boxes or spikes in the temperature. Procedures for dealing with hot box activation on concrete ties is different than wood. Procedures for dealing with hot box activation on concrete ties is different than wood. May or may not detect a stuck brake or set brake. May or may not detect a stuck brake or set brake. Dragging equipment detector has paddles set below track level that are struck by whatever is dragging. Dragging equipment detector has paddles set below track level that are struck by whatever is dragging.

Crew records Conductor’s log is usually retained for five trips. Conductor’s log is usually retained for five trips. General orders tell the conductor what has to be recorded and the format to use. General orders tell the conductor what has to be recorded and the format to use.

Train operation records Track warrants for the train or trains involved Track warrants for the train or trains involved Train consist manifests Train consist manifests Mechanical records Mechanical records

Consist line up

Locomotive maintenance record

General railroad specific documents Time tables Time tables System maps System maps Track profile maps Track profile maps Internal policies and procedures Internal policies and procedures

Fire agency documents Inspection notices Inspection notices Past correspondence relating to enforcement of area laws Past correspondence relating to enforcement of area laws Past fire history documentation Past fire history documentation

Summary The various types of records associated with railroad operations that relate to the fire investigation have been discussed. The various types of records associated with railroad operations that relate to the fire investigation have been discussed. The investigator should seek outside experts to interpret some of the more complex records. The investigator should seek outside experts to interpret some of the more complex records. Time is of the essence in obtaining these railroad records. Time is of the essence in obtaining these railroad records.

Question 1 Event recorder printouts are kept indefinitely by the railroad. TrueIncorrect

Question 2 Dragging equipment detectors produce a print out daily. A. True B. False

Question 3 Track profile map can be used to identify: A. Milepost B. Grade profiles C. Elevation D. All of the above E. None of the above

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