NORAC 700s: Radios, Telephones, and Electronic Devices

705: Radio transmission and reception procedures

• before transmitting by radio, employee must listen to ensure that the channel is not in use

• all transmissions must be repeated by the employee receiving them EXCEPT (1) transmissions used in yard switching operations and (2) transmissions that do not contain any information, instruction or advice that could affect the safety of the railroad operation

• ensure radio contact with the proper persons has been made and must not take action until certain that all conversation with them has been heard, understood, and acknowledged

• any communication not understood or not completed in accordance with requirements shall not be acted upon. emergencies are an exception

• employee receiving a call must acknowledge it immediately unless doing so would interfere with safety

708: Radio messages (content)

When originating or initially responding to a radio call, employee must:

• identify their employing railroad

• identify their base station, wayside station, or yard station by name or other designation of station and location

• identify their mobile radio unit by: (a) schedule number if on a scheduled train (b) symbol and engine number if on an extra train. if engine for another company, their initials must precede engine number (c ) TC followed by the number of the car if on a track car (d) other appropriate mobile unit identification

708: Radio messages (code words)

• roger: message was received and understood. for rule 705, it can also mean that you have repeated the instructions correctly

• over: at the close of each transmission to which a response is expected

• out: at the close of each transmission to which a response is not necessary. except for transmissions relating to yard switching operations, out must be preceded by proper identification

• emergency: transmitted 3x to obtain use of radio channels for initial report of conditions endangering train movements

709: Prohibited transmissions

employees shall not knowingly transmit:

• any false distress communication

• any unnecessary, irrelevant, or unidentified communication

• any obscene, indecent, or profane remark

711: Radio communication instead of hand signals

Employees must take the following actions when radio communication is used instead of hand signals to direct a movement that is controlled from other than the leading end:

• prior to initiating movement, all crew members must participate in a job briefing and review everyone’s duties during the move, the details of the move, and the location of each crew member

• employee directing the movement must specify a distance to be traveled. distance specified must not exceed distance known to be clear

• movement must stop in ½ the specified distance, unless additional instructions are received

• names of fixed signals affecting the movement must be communicated to the engineer

If the instructions are not understood or radio contact is not maintained, the movement must be stopped immediately. If the means of communication is changed, no movement may be made until all crew members have been notified

712: Signal indications

• dispatchers or operators must not advise the aspect, name, or indication of any fixed signal, and crew members must not request this information

• crew members may use the radio to communicate a fixed signal to other members of the same crew

• except as provided in rule 241, radio communication may not be used to convey instructions that would have the effect of overriding the indication of a fixed signal. radio communication may only be used to impose a more restrictive action than the indication of a fixed signal

713: Radio communication concerning passing trains

A dispatcher may accept info regarding the movement of a train from:

• the conductor or engineer of another train

• a track car driver

• another qualified employee

When necessary to report the passage of a train prior to fouling or occupying a track, employees must identify the passing train by engine number and proper marker display. Dispatchers must not grant track occupancy or fouling authority until this info is received