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Algoma Central RR Operating Instructions

I have selected these guidelines from the 1982 employee's timetable. These have been selected for their relevance for model railroaders, or for the general interest of railfans. I have attempted to include all those instructions and guidelines that deal with the outward operation of trains. Most of the rules not included deal with the onboard conduct of train crews.

Special Operating Instructions

1. Occupied boarding equipment must be handled at the rear of train unless otherwise instructed.
2. All occupied cabooses and occupied service equipment, other than flangers, plow, spreaders, test cars and official business cars, shall be marshalled in and moved at the rear of freight trains just before the operating caboose.
   Where track configurations require extreme care in set-off movement, such occupied service equipment may be moved on the headend of freight trains behind locomotive units, but for no greater distance than twenty miles and at no greater speed than 20 MPH.
3. High loads must be handled next to engine.
4. Cars must not be spotted within 15 feet of end of tracks or stop block in spur track unless such can be accomplished without hazard to equipment.
5. Hoist must be hauled with boom trailing, and train hauling hoist must not exceed 25MPH, with special care being taken on grades and extremely sharp curvature.
6. A speed of 12 MPH must not be exceeded while passing through sidings.
7. ACR trains have no timetable authority between Hearst Jct. (mile 294.3) and Hearst (mile 295.7), and all movements will be governed by CNR dispatcher.

General Operating Instructions RE explosives/poison gas/other dangerous goods
(instructions below also apply to cars carrying placarded trailers or trucks)

Fuel oil is not considered a dangerous commodity.

There are no switching or marshalling restrictions for cars placarded empty.

No car moving under its own momentum shall be allowed to strike any car placarded "EXPLOSIVE" or "POISON GAS", nor shall a coupling be made with any more force than is necessary to complete the coupling.

In switching operations, cars placarded "EXPLOSIVE" must be separated from the engine by at least on non-placarded car. Closed cars placarded "EXPLOSIVE" must have their door closed before they are moved.

Cars placarded "EXPLOSIVE" should be placed in yards or on sidings so that they will be safe from all probable danger of fire and provision made for quick removal and isolation in case of fire. Such cars shall not be placed under bridges or overhead highway crossings, nor in or alongside of passenger sheds or stations, except for loading or unloading purposes. Engines on parallel track must not stand opposite or near them.

Cars placarded Poison Gas or containing Poison Liquid Class "A" in drums, tank or bombs, must not be next to cars placarded Explosives or Dangerous; these cars shall at all times be next to and ahead of the car occupied by the gas handling crews when accompanying such car.

Explosive

When length of train permits, cars placarded Explosive must be placed not nearer than sixteen cars from both the engine or occupied caboose. When length of freight or mixed train will not permit it to be so placed, then it must be near the MIDDLE of the train, except when moving in a freight or mixed train performing a pick up/set off service, it shall be placed not nearer than the second car from both the negine and occupied caboose.

Restrictions: Cars placarded Explosives must not be handled next to cars placarded Dangerous, Poison Gas, or Class "D" Poison; Engine; Wooden underframe car; Loaded flat car; open top car when lading or protrudes or extends above the sides thereof; cars equipped with automatic refrigeration of the gas-burning type; cars containing lighted heaters, stoves, or lanterns; cars loaded with live animals occupied by an attendant; occupied caboose; passenger or combination car other than when occupied by Gas Handlers or military personnel accompanying shipments.

Loaded Placarded Tank Cars

When length of train permits it must be SIX cars from engine, occupied caboose or passenger car, but in no case nearer than the second car from engine, occupied caboose, or passnger car, unless the reaminder of the train consists of placarded loaded tank cars.

Restrictions: Loaded placarded tank cars must not be handled next to cars placarded Explosive, Dangerous, Poison Gas, or Class "D" Poison; Engine, occupied caboose or passenger car (except when train consists of only placarded tanks cars; Wooden underframe car; Loaded flat car; open top car when lading or protrudes or extends above the sides thereof; cars equipped with automatic refrigeration of the gas-burning type; cars containing lighted heaters, stoves, or lanterns; cars loaded with live animals occupied by an attendant; occupied caboose; passenger or combination car other than when occupied by Gas Handlers or military personnel accompanying shipments.

Flammable gas must be separated from tank car shipments of chlorine, anhydrous ammonia, sulphur dioxide by at least five cars.

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