CN Car Control Manual – 1983/06 – Halifax, Dartmouth, Bridgewater and Area

CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAYS
CAR CONTROL MANUAL
Halifax, Dartmouth, Bridgewater and Area Car Control Manual

This book is for the information and guidance of Yardmasters, Yardmen, Foremen,
Conductors, Trainmen and Yard Office staff. It is the property of the Railway
and is to be returned on request.

ISSUED TO:
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________

ISSUED BY:
General Superintendent Transportation
Moncton, N.B

June 1983

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CONTENTS

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INTRODUCTION

The instructions contained in this manual will govern operations in the territory under
Car Control. All personnel affected by the Car Control program are expected to familiarize
themselves with these instructions and are required to have a copy available while on duty.

Special or supplementary instructions will be issued by proper authority when required.

For the System to work, all car moves or changes in condition must be recorded and reported
to car control. All reports must be based on the designated spins numbers shown on the
attached schematic maps. Since demurrage
bills will be set on information submitted, all reports must be correct especially time of
“placements”, “constructive placements”, and “set-offs”.

The Car Control Centre is the main contact for customers to order cars, release cars or
arrange placement. Toll free telephone facilities are provided for this contact. When
customers arrange car moves, full details of the request and the person making the request
must be recorded for reference should there be a demurrage dispute or other complaint.

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THE CAR CONTROL SYSTEM

PURPOSES

For better yard and siding control by rapid and accurate listings of car locations and conditions.

For better service to customers through prompt placement and removal of loads and empties.

For better utilization of cars and public siding through prompt car movement and faster collection
of empties after release.

For improved and up-to-date records of car placements and movements.

HOW CAR CONTROL WORKS

The Carload Centre maintains a computer inventory of every car on all tracks and sidings within its
territory, i.e., “Yard Inventory System”.

Information pertaining to a change in each car’s status and location is transmitted to the computer
as the event occurs.

Current computer car records are used to prepare switch lists and other documents for yard and
train operations.

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GENERAL PROCEDURES

A – SWITCH LISTS

1. The Yard Foreman & Conductors will receive one or more copies of each switch list depending on requirement.

a. The hard-back copy must be completed & returned to the Car Control section or designated location.

b. The paper copies can be discarded after the switching has been performed.

2. Switch lists will contain cars which must be handled. The lists will show where the cars are to be taken from
and where they are to be placed at.

3. Each customer or yard track is assigned a zone, track, & spot number which is defined by the
acronym “SPINS”.

a. The zone is made up of two positions as follows:

(i) An alphabetic & a numeric character, or,

(ii) Two alphabetic characters.

b. The track number is always two positions numeric.

c. The spot or spot range can be either numeric or alphabetic and may identify certain
special switching instructions.

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(i) The following SPOT indications are to identify specific switching instructions:

00 [infinity] – Car left on or to be left on the lead

90 – Place cars any order

91 – Place car at 1st special unloading area from North or East end of track

92 – Place car at 2nd special unloading area from North or East end of track

93 – For local application as required

94 – For local application as required

95 – Place car at open area where not possible to identify spot number

96 – Place car at storage area of track

97 – Place car at Team Track area of track

98 – Industry will furnish list

99 – Place car on stop block

(ii) Double alphabetic spot characters will identify Team Track Customers with the exception of any spot starting
with character “X” which is used for special computer processing.

4. To assist in train make-up of outbound or through traffic, a three digit number is used to identify such
traffic and is identified by the acronym “TAG” number.

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(a) The 980-999 TAG series is used to identify “Car Handling Required” for cars located at a line station
as outlined below:

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B – MARKING OF SWITCH LISTS BY THE FOREMAN OR CONDUCTOR

1. a. Cars not in the track

If a car appears on the switch list, but is not in the track indicated and cannot be found
elsewhere, stroke that car off the list by putting a line through it.

b. Cars not moved as instructed

If a car is moved to a track other than the one shown on the
switch list, or for some reason it is a “throw back” to the track it came out of:

(i) Cross out the track number where the car should have gone.

(ii) Write in the track number where the car was left and the reason.

c. Repetitive Information

Where the track number or the same place or pull times can be used against a list of cars:

(i) Check marks may be used for repetitive information, but should be distinct.

(ii) A vertical line may be used for repetitive information, but should be distinct.

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      (iii) DO NOT USE ditto marks (“).

d. Returning Switch Lists to Car Control Section

(i) The marked hard-back copy of switch lists must be returned to the Car Control section.

(ii) Any switch lists prepared manually by the Yard Foreman and those supplied by
Industries must also be forwarded to the Car Control section.

e. Identification on Switch Lists

The Yard Foreman must sign each switch list prior to returning it to the Car Control section.

f. Maintaining Sequence of Yard Tracks

In order to provide switch lists of yard tracks in sequence listing, it will be
necessary for the Foreman to advise the Car Control Section of the order in which cars were handled.

(i) If the cars are switched from the opposite direction to that shown on the switch list,
this should be noted on the lists.

(ii) If the track is switched in more than one cut, the cuts should be identified by
drawing a line across the page and shown as “Cut 1”, “Cut 2”, etc.

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      (iii) If cars are thrown back on the original track or temporarily held out to
facilitate the switching and it disrupts the sequence, the Car Control section must be notified of what happened.

g. Reporting Work Completed

In order for Car Control to keep up to date and be prepared to provide switch
lists for other crews as soon as required, it will be necessary to report some moves upon their completion even
though the Foreman records the track number on his switch list.

(i) The Foreman working within train yards will inform the Car Control
section of what he has done, on completion of each list.

(ii) The Foreman bringing cars in from Industrial Zones to train yards will inform
the Car Control section as to where the cars were left or what switching was performed with these cars.

(iii) The Foreman will indicate the reasons for not performing assigned switching
on the appropriate car line of the switch list; i.e., gates locked, truck blocking track, dirty car, etc.

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2. Train Yard Procedures

a. Switching Not Completed

If for any reason work assigned on the switch list cannot be completed:

(i) Draw a horizontal line after the last car handled.

(ii) Draw a bracket to cover the list of cars not handled and write “NOT HANDLED”.

(iii) If the cars not handled are left in a track other than the one shown
on the switch list, show the new track number where the cars were left.

3. Industrial Zone Procedures

a. Cars spotted for loading/unloading

(i) Show the time car was placed.

(ii) If the car was placed at a location other than that shown in the
“Place At” field of the switch list:

(a) Draw a line through the SPINS where the car should have gone.

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            (b) Write in the new track where the car was spotted.

b. Loads and Empties Pulled from Siding

(i) Show the time car was pulled.

(ii) If the car was not brought to the train yard, show the SPINS
where car was left.

c. Cars Constructively Placed or Placed Off Spot

(i) Draw a line through the SPINS where the car should have gone.

(ii) Write in the new track (SPINS) where the car was left.

(iii) Show the time placement attempt was made.

(iv) Give a short explanation of why the car could not be spotted,
e.g., gates locked, frozen switch, etc.

NOTE:

If the car was left “off spot” on the track where it should have been
left disregard (i) and (ii) above; write the words “off spot” and the reason.

d. Cars and Request Moves Now Shown on Switch Lists

If a car is moved and it does not appear on the switch list, record the car moved
either on the switch list supplied, or on a separate form showing:

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      (i) Car Initials and Numbers

(ii) Load/Empty Status

(iii) Track (SPINS) taken from

(iv) Time Pulled/Placed

(v) Track (SPINS) where placed

This also applies to customer requests to move a car, which was placed for loading or
unloading, to another “spot” on the same track or to another “track” within his plant.

C – SPECIAL HANDLING DESCRIPTION

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ZONE “CH”

ROCKINGHAM YARD

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ZONE “RG”

ROCKINGHAM YARD

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ZONE “FV”

FAIRVIEW YARD

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ZONE “RZ” AND “FC”

BASIN YARD

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ZONES “RY” AND “H9”

RICHMOND YARD & PIER 9 & DEEPWATER

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ZONE “RW”

WILLOW PARK

Page 26
ZONE “HA”
H.O.T. “A” YARD

SPINS / DESIGNATION / USABLE FOOTAGE

• HA10 Storage Track – A Spur – 55
• HA11 Storage Track – A1 Spur – 55
• HA12 Storage Track – A2 Spur – 130
• HA13 Storage Track – A3 Spur – 220
• HA14 Storage Track – A4 Spur – 310
• HA15 Storage Track – A5 Spur – 405
• HA16 Storage Track – A6 Spur -500
• HA17 Storage Track – A7 Spur – 595
• HA18 Storage Track – A8 Spur – 690
• HA19 Storage Track – A9 Spur – 760
• HA20 Storage Track – A10 Spur – 675
• HA21 Storage Track – A11 Spur – 855
• HA22 Storage Track – A12 Spur – 765
• HA23 Storage Track – A13 Spur – 665
• HA24 Storage Track – A14 Spur – 590
• HA25 Storage Track – A15 Spur – 480
• HA26 Dover Mills – 160
• HA27 Dover Mills – 250

Page 27
ZONE “HB”
H.O.T. “B” YARD

SPINS / DESIGNATION / USABLE FOOTAGE

• HB10 Storage Track – B Spur – 160
• HB11 Storage Track – B1 Spur – 180
• HB12 Storage Track – B2 Spur – 265
• HB13 Storage Track – B3 Spur – 350
• HB14 Storage Track – B4 Spur – 430
• HB15 Storage Track – B5 Spur – 510
• HB16 Storage Track – B6 Spur – 780
• HB17 Storage Track – B7 Spur – 870
• HB18 Storage Track – B8 Spur – 960
• HB19 Storage Track – B9 Spur – 105
• HB20 Storage Track – B10 Spur – 1150
• HB21 Storage Track – B11 Spur – 1105
• HB22 Storage Track – B12 Spur – 895

Page 28
ZONE “HC”
H.O.T. COACH YARD

SPINS / DESIGNATION / USABLE FOOTAGE

• HC01 OCS Stores – 695
• HC02 Passenger Car Shop – 200
• HC03 Passenger Car Shop – 305
• HC04 Coach Storage – 300
• HC05 Coach Storage – 755
• HC06 Coach Storage – 845
• HC08 Coach Storage – 945
• HC09 Coach Storage – 1000
• HC10 Coach Storage – 1030
• HC11 Coach Storage – 1050
• HC12 Coach Storage – 1080
• HC13 Coach Storage – 1115
• HC14 Coach Storage – 1115
• HC15 Coach Storage – 855
• HC16 B & B Dept. – 275
• HC17 Storage Track  – 240
• HC18 Car Dept. – 250

Page 29
ZONE “HE”
ELEVATOR YARD

SPINS / DESIGNATION / USABLE FOOTAGE

• HE10 Storage Track – L1 – 1800
• HE11 Storage Track – E1 – 970
• HE12 Storage Track – E2 – 890
• HE13 Storage Track – E3 – 660
• HE14 Elevator Dumper – E4 ) 1460
• HE14E Above Elevator Dumper – E4E)
• HE14S Above Elevator Dumper – E4S)
• HE15 Elevator Dumper – E5 ) 1250
• HE15E Above Elevator Dumper – E5E)
• HE15S Above Elevator Dumper – E5S)
• HE16 Storage Track – E6 – 540
• HE17A Grain Elevator – E7 ) 930
• HE17B Vacant )
• HE18A Storage ) 1555
• HE18B Vacant )
• HE19A Storage ) 1295
• HE19B Vacant )

Page 30
ZONE “HL”
“L” YARD – H.O.T.

SPINS / DESIGNATION / USABLE FOOTAGE

• HL12 “R” Yard Lead – L2 – 840
• HL13 “S – N – A” Yards Lead – L3 – 920
• HL14 “BL Yard Lead – 925
• HL15 Storage Track – 925
• HL16 Storage Track – 1020
• HL17 Storage Track – 960

Page 31
ZONE “HN”
“N” YARD – H.O.T.

SPINS / DESIGNATION / USABLE FOOTAGE

• HN11 Storage Track – N1 – 370
• HN12 Storage Track – N2 – 545
• HN13 Storage Track – N3 – 465
• HN14 Storage Track – N4 – 415
• HN15 Storage Track – N5 – 440

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