Signalman's Responsibilities: back
An eastbound hot shot departs the west coast early in the morning bound for Chicago and eastern terminals. A young couple with three excited children leaves Minneapolis by automobile for Orlando, Florida, to visit Disney world and rendezvous with grand parents who are also traveling by automobile from Arizona. A day later and miles from the original departure terminal the eastbound hotshot running on clear signals approaches a busy highway crossing a half mile away at 70 MPH. A quarter of a mile past the crossing a westbound empty coal train waits in the clear on the siding for the eastbound to pass and for clear signals to allow him to proceed west. The young family is also approaching the railroad crossing about a half mile away and at about 70 MPH. A couple seconds later the crossing warning detection device detects the approaching train and activates the crossing warning system; lights flash, bells ring, and gate arms lower. The vacationing family's automobile comes to a stop a safe distance from the crossing as the train speeds by. A minute later the train clears the crossing and the gate arms raise, lights and bells shut off. The vacationing family once again on their way - has unknowingly witnessed a signalmen's greatest responsibility.
The responsibility which requires signalmen to provide a signal system which allows the safe passage of trains and provides motorist with crossing warning systems which give proper warning of approaching trains. A responsibility that is unforgiving if a signalman's actions or lack of proper actions results in a car-train accident, train collision or derailment. Responsibilities where the liability, consequence, and risk is so great that there is no room for shortcuts. There are many requirements which a signalman needs to perform to ensure that safe signal and crossing warning systems are provided.
Performing complete and proper FRA tests and inspections along with carrier required tests, inspections, and instructions is probably the most important of all requirements. Without complete and proper tests and inspections what is to ensure the proper operation of signals and crossing warning systems. Everyone knows incidents where maintenance or repairs were made or new installations were installed and there was a flaw or malfunction which prevented proper operation of the system and without proper testing and inspecting to discover, such flaw or malfunction could have possibly caused or contributed to an accident, collision, or derailment. Be governed by and follow the test procedures and instructions issued by the carrier. For the Union Pacific Railroad these can be found in the "Signal Maintenance, Inspection, Test and Standard Instructions" notebook, more commonly referred to as the "Yellow Book", which are based on federally mandated requirements. There is no justification for falsifying or tool-housing reports. The risk, liability, and consequence are of such magnitude that such actions can not be tolerated.
If you don't have time to properly perform all of the required tests and inspections per railroad instructions, then notify your manager in writing with copy to your Local or General Chairman. Briefly give reason to justify why tests and inspections can not be completed on time: such as on vacation, attending signal school, heavy train traffic, no track time, excessive or overloaded territory, working with track maintenance or construction gangs, etc. Don't wait until the last day that the test is due to send written notification to your manager. Allow time for the manager to respond and provide additional help. Any incomplete or unfinished tests and inspections should be shown as such on the proper FRA reports. Again send copies of such reports to your Local or General Chairman. FRA regulations allow the issuance of civil penalties and fines for knowingly failing to comply with the tests and inspections.
Consider time spent testing and inspecting as your signature of quality. A motorist approaching a grade crossing warning system does not question its reliability. The motorist takes it for granted. It's there. It works.