THE ANN ARBOR RAILROAD COMPANY
OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT
Bulletin No. 37
Owosso —- October 6, 1965
610 10-9-65
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO BLOCK OPERATORS:
For blocking trains commencing 9:30 AM, October 9, 1965, as required by Bulletin #36.
Dispatcher’s telephone will be used. NORMAL POSITION OF BLOCK (train order) SIGNAL * * STOP.
To open BLOCK STATION, Operator must ascertain from dispatcher if any trains in block in each direction, place Block Signals in each direction at “STOP”. If there are no trains in blocks in each direction, Operator will record under space “Clear block” the time such information is obtained from dispatcher. If there are trains approaching in adjoining blocks, Operator will permit passage only after arranging for block with adjoining block operator in advance, as herein provided.
Block Operators must use Form OD-23, register sheet, to record arriving, clearing and leaving time of all trains at their own station, leaving time of all trains at adjoining station in rear, and time of all trains at adjoining station in advance.
If a train is passed at a block station by another train, it must be re-entered in register. The last train to enter a block must be last recorded. As soon as train enters a block, Block Operator will report its departure to Block Operator in advance and after rear car displaying markers has passed beyond his signal, he will report clearance of same to adjoining station in rear.
When a Block Operator reports a train on block wire, Block Operator at next station will acknowledge receipt by saying “OK” and giving his personal signal and office call, and such signal and call when given by station in advance will be entered on right hand side of the “Time” and in same column which is headed “Departed”. When given by station in rear, entry will be made in column “Cleared Block”.
Upon approach of a train, Block Operator will first execute any train orders he may have. CLEAR BLOCK INDICATION MUST NOT BE DISPLAYED IF THERE ARE ANY TRAIN ORDERS ON HAND. After ascertaining from his register sheet that last preceding train has cleared block in advance, clearance card (AA-848) will be endorsed “Block Clear at ________M” as prescribed in Para. 7, Bulletin No. 36, and delivered with train orders.
When there are no orders and block is clear for approaching train, the signal will be changed to “CLEAR INDICATION” as soon as engineman sounds station whistle, so train may enter block without reducing speed. Until the last preceding train has cleared block in advance and time of its clearance is reported by adjoining Block Operator and entered on register sheet, BLOCK IS NOT CLEAR. SIGNAL MUST BE LEFT AT STOP INDICATION AND FOLLOWING TRAINS HELD UNTIL BLOCK IS CLEAR, after which clearance card will be issued properly endorsed per Para. 7, Bulletin No. 36. In case of failure of all means of communication, be governed by Para. 9, Bulletin No. 36. Block stations must not be closed nor will a Block Operator absent himself at any time (except upon the authority of Dispatcher). The province of the block system is to insure safety by preventing trains from following into blocks that are not clear. All other rules and instructions remain in full force and effect.
Register sheets from temporary block stations are to be sent to Superintendent upon closing of the station.
W. O. Peecher J. E. Schlosser
