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Operations through Midland
Author: OPRRMS
Date: 11-17-2012 - 15:31
Allow me to address some apparent misconceptions.
Midland is on UP's former Texas & Pacific main line that extends between Fort Worth amd Sierra Blanca. The line segment that includes Midland is called the Toyah Subdivision, for the town of the same name. It is single-track CTC.
Maximum Authorized Speed through Midland is 70 M.P.H. At one time, there was a city ordinance restricting train speed to 25 M.P.H. while the headend was passing through Midland, but that is no longer in effect.
A "Quiet Zone" is in effect across crossings in greater Midland. However, what is known as "Item 9" in UP's System Special Instructions requires the horn signal 5.8.2(7) - two longs, a short, and a long - be sounded as follows:
"Horn may be sounded to provide a warning to animals, vehicle operators, pedestrians, trespassers or crews on other trains in an emergency situation when the engineer believes such action is appropriate in order to prevent injury, death or property damage."
The "Item 9" requirement is the same as what's required under federal law for operation in "Quite Zones."
The crew of the ZLCAL 14, an eastbound stack train operating from Los Angeles to Shreveport for interchange to the KCS railroad, was complying with all railroad and federal requirements.
The moral of the story here is: Never stop on railroad tracks!
Midland is on UP's former Texas & Pacific main line that extends between Fort Worth amd Sierra Blanca. The line segment that includes Midland is called the Toyah Subdivision, for the town of the same name. It is single-track CTC.
Maximum Authorized Speed through Midland is 70 M.P.H. At one time, there was a city ordinance restricting train speed to 25 M.P.H. while the headend was passing through Midland, but that is no longer in effect.
A "Quiet Zone" is in effect across crossings in greater Midland. However, what is known as "Item 9" in UP's System Special Instructions requires the horn signal 5.8.2(7) - two longs, a short, and a long - be sounded as follows:
"Horn may be sounded to provide a warning to animals, vehicle operators, pedestrians, trespassers or crews on other trains in an emergency situation when the engineer believes such action is appropriate in order to prevent injury, death or property damage."
The "Item 9" requirement is the same as what's required under federal law for operation in "Quite Zones."
The crew of the ZLCAL 14, an eastbound stack train operating from Los Angeles to Shreveport for interchange to the KCS railroad, was complying with all railroad and federal requirements.
The moral of the story here is: Never stop on railroad tracks!
